Pittsburgh, Westmoreland and Somerset Railroad
The Pittsburgh, Westmoreland and Somerset Railroad (PW & S) was an American railroad in Pennsylvania. The company existed from 1899 to 1916 and served mainly the transport of timber from the Laurel Hill in the Allegheny Mountains.
History
The forestry companies Byers -Allen Lumber Company started in May 1899 with the construction of a 40.3 km long standard gauge railway line from Legonier to Somerset. The Pittsburgh, Westmoreland and Somerset Railroad was founded with a capital of $ 220,000 on July 20, 1899. Besides the two landowners Charles Nelson Byers and Lauro H. Allen were involved in financing the Mellon Bank and the Pennsylvania Railroad. The latter especially to e
The railway line should thus serve not only the removal of the felled timber, as well as providing public goods and passenger transport.
In June 1900, the track reached after 20.1 km the crest of Laurel Hill. From the summer of 1901, a round retreat to Rector (today Mechanicsburg ) and Bluestone were each offered. However, the completion of the line up to Somerset lasted until 1906. Advantageously, it turned out that one the route of the unfinished Southern Pennsylvania Railroad, was able to use including the Quemahoning Tunnel on the last kilometers to Somerset. On April 28, 1906 Finally, the train service was taken to Somerset. Daily morning drove back a train of Ligonier Somerset and afternoon. From Ligonier to Somerset the train took 90 minutes and 100 minutes in the opposite direction.
As of 1909, the forest resources is exhausted along the railroad track. The lumber camps and saw mills therefore had to be shut down. However, the remaining traffic is not ensured adequate resources. The line was therefore discontinued on September 23, 1916. The following year, the line was dismantled.
Remains of the route are still in Linn Run State Park available. In the eastern part of the way the path was built over by the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Operation
In Ligonier had the route following the route of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road and Somerset to the route network of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. On the crest of Laurel Hill was in 1908 still a connection to the forest path of Blair Luber Company.
The route from Legonier to Rector was relatively flat. Then began the ascent to the ridge. This could only be achieved through greater slopes and construction of curves. On the eastern side of the mountains were also overcome steeper gradients in the upper part between Laurel Summit and Allenvale. To secure talfahrender trains were erected protective turnouts with ascent. The following then subgrade of the Southern Pennsylvania Railroad project had lower slopes.
On the Laurel Summit a pavilion for dances was built.
In addition to the main line routes were built with around 16 kilometers in length to the individual logging camps by the Byers -Allen Lumber Company yet. This reported in individual cases on inclines up to 12%.
In addition to the felled timber and the passenger also stones, coal and other goods were transported. The operation of steam locomotives caused multiple severe forest fires.
Rolling stock
1900 were available for the operation of two locomotives and two boxcars and 24 flat cars available. 1901, a passenger car was purchased.
In use on the track made in the Lima Locomotive Works Shay locomotives No. 3 in the year 1905 and the number 395 from 1892 were. Both locomotives were sold after 1909.
In addition, the Company had conventional steam locomotives acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad.