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Welcome to the New York and Eastern Rail Road

Freelanced History

NY & Eastern RR is a joint venture of the C&O and the Pennsylvania, presided over by the brother-in-law of Melville E. Ingalls. Once the C&O completed its merger of the former Richmond & Allegheny Railroad in 1889, Ingalls met with the principal bankers of the Pennsylvania, and arranged using the displaced original Central route as a hedge against certain competing railroads in West Virginia. Ingalls installed his brother-in-law, James "JJ" Loweel as the owner of record for developing coal interests. JJ was socially connected with a shrewd banking executive in New York, David K. Krestal. They formed the NorthEastern Appalachians Land Development, Inc. with major investors from New York and Boston hotels and financiers. Krestal had been involved with the expansion of the White Sulphur Springs mineral springs resort, and decided to develop an area of steep slopes and rugged terrain previously owned by the Quilly Coal Mining company. By extending the current railline to a higher elevation, two plateaus could be reached for the construction of two resorts.

These resorts, unlike the famous White Sulphur Springs, would cater to the exploding entertainment activities of skiing, rough country exploring and gambling. The railroad provides the only accessible means of access to these resorts from the town of Williamsport. The coal line had developed the road out of Williamsport using a series of switchbacks to the mine area and built a small village, Quilly, to support the needs of the mine personnel. Unexpected costs and delays, and the foresight of Krestal, caused the mine company to go into default on the loan. The major investors became majority stockholders in the mining company and finished construction of the resorts in 1901.

Quilly continues as a company town and now also supports the regular resort employees. Williamsport becomes a booming city as the exchange point and supplier of goods to the resorts. All freight is stored and transferred by the Northern Service Shipping Company headquartered in Williamsport. The mining company continues with daily coal consists, which are picked up by the major lines on its coal run across the NY & Eastern trackage. But the majority of traffic is passenger and light freight to the resorts. The C&O's metropolitan passenger services have regular schedules to and from Williamsport, as does the Pennsylvania. The Quilly special is an early morning goods consist that makes a stop in Quilly to supply the general store before delivering the daily requirements of the resorts. Occasionally a Tom Murphy express is sent to the resorts whenever a unique request has been made by the resorts commissary manager. During ski season, the Glacier Regular leaves Williamsport on a Friday night and returns late Sunday afternoon.

Freelanced Corporate History of the NY and Eastern Railway Company

NAME - Northern Lights Railway Company

INCORPORATION

Incorporated under the General Laws of the State of West Virginia. Articles of incorporation dated January 6, 1880.

ACQUISITION

By deed dated May 31, 1881, the Quilly Coal Mining and Railway Company conveyed to the Northern Lights Railway Company all of its property, rights, franchises, railrod etc. Deed recorded in the County Court of Millihawan County State of West Virginia, June 14, 1881.

ORGANIZATION

January 24, 1880 - Directors elected and By-Laws adopted.

INCORPORATION

Incorporated under the General Laws of the State of West Virginia. Articles of incorporation dated January 4th 1880.

CONSTRUCTION

commenced June 1884 (2004)

Still Look, N. of Seesaw, W. Va. to Gambit Cut, N. of Seesaw, W. Va.     23.5 marks
- completed and put into operation February 9, 1885.

Owens Fill, Seesaw, W. Va. to Still Look, N. of Seesaw, W. Va.          5.5 marks
- completed and put into operation March 7, 1885.

Owens Fill, Seesaw, W. Va. to Skina Pond, W. Va.          5.0 marks
- completed and put into operation April 25, 1885.

Owens Fill, Seesaw, W. Va. to Williamsport Station Williamsport, W. Va.          16.5 marks
- completed and put into operation May 14, 1885.

Xina Pass, W. Va. to Williamsport Yard Williamsport, W. Va.          70.0 marks
- completed and put into operation Nov 14, 1888.

Becs Bend, W. Va. to Xina Pass, W. Va.          21.0 marks
- completed and put into operation Jan 24, 1890.

James Crest, W. Va. to Becs Bend, W. Va.          22.5 marks
- completed and put into operation July 18, 1890.

Stan's Knob, W. Va. to James Crest, W. Va.          20.5 marks
- completed and put into operation Nov 11, 1891.

Stan's Knob, W. Va. to Williamsport Yard Williamsport, W. Va.          134.0 marks
- Total operational on Nov 11, 1891.

Layout Specifications

HO scale with point to point operation. An abbreviated mainline connection provides for traffic flow.
Construction is with 24in x 36in modules, modified for the corners. The framework is 1in x 3in boards with a Homasote (cookie cutter approach) top, with risers to form the contours. Screen mesh is used to define the mountain slopes.