beech creek railroad beech creek railroad narrow gauge railroad blair pennsylvania operated late 19th early 20th century carried passenger traffic vicinity coal timber originally constructed develop coal mines resort traffic atop involved complicated ultimately unsuccessful scheme break control profitable went conversion standard gauge improve situation railroad abandoned charter construction railroad chartered surveyed northern suburb spring run climbed twisting route gap terminate newly established resort town time annual meeting held january miles road completed narrow gauge line board ultimately decided complete remaining miles gauge attorney elected president vice president rails finished june train arrived june railroad formally opened july extension miles begun september order serve mines newly formed headed involved coal company serving secretary extension legal battle wished extend line miles finance extension shareholders november authorized mortgage property allowed issue additional shares stock paid money company treasury january railroad changed reflect projected extension built year far struggle control railroad ensued agreed sell company stock expected turn sell stock station line terminated transfer stock directors railroad including contracted sell majority interest railroad controlled short line area southern end reach miles intended connect railroads use enter claimed control majority company stock february rival boards directors elected loyal figures issue shares authorized turned issue validity ultimately upheld board directors ordered seated promptly petitioned appointed joint receiver took responsibility operations responsible having installed late railroad engines mountain lifted july took control railroad railroad failed cover operating expenses shortly appointed receiver september february sold behalf group allied march reorganized beech creek railroad fellow good reason seek control railroad failure deliver control road brought suit exchange dropping suit agreed lease holding company formed highly favorable terms new company operate planning convert standard gauge extend railroads junction near extended south baltimore period line known december chartered extend new terminal 9th street 15th avenue unable carry plans lease march appeals legal maneuvers able hold december ejected employees returned dissolved reported having extended miles appear extension fact built railroad built short branches miles end line left main line near broadway north serving local industries reaching main line near 2nd avenue 10th street branch ran southwest near 25th avenue broadway end neighborhood 23rd avenue 10th street despite battle waged possession railroad profitable passenger traffic declining coal traffic limited installed rock atop mountain provided revenue major forest fire destroyed coal april railroad appointed receiver june sold april reorganized conversion abandonment original directors elected president newly organized company board remained largely unchanged finally severed association railroad remained davis turn sold line morris incorporated november acquire line northern merged january morris planned convert railroad standard gauge extend connect beech creek railroad subsidiary morris unable execute plans group new_york_city investors took railroad converted railroad standard gauge operating initially pennsylvania railroad replacing found unsuitable track conversion failed railroad pay company went august passenger train operated july coal train july negotiations resume service successful rails removed equipment engines initially owned engines national baldwin purchased pittsburgh western railroad bought baldwin depleted state railroad finances unable pay legal proceedings having locomotive transferred paid baldwin coal known existed bought control lost lease railroad litigation ensued ownership time declared favor sold sussex sold respectively railroad converted standard gauge initially purchased built numbered found unsuitable light track steep grades sold replaced new truck railroad bought truck sold lumber companies railroad abandoned passenger freight equipment details railroad rolling stock obscure owned passenger freight cars addition coaches supported passenger runs fourteen trains day season railroad car built observation cars contemporary photographs railroad built open air cars excursion service photographs taken destruction decline passenger traffic number cars coal traffic railroad continued maintain standard gauge fleet years existence stations following stations existed line going south north scenic points road included cut sandy gap bend high right way
Altoona and Beech Creek Railroad