Re: (erielack) Goshen & Deckertown Railroad

["Russell Hallock" <rhallock_@_frontiernet.net>]

The Goshen & Deckertown was organized Feb. 22, 1867.  Construction cost 
$291,700 for 11.7 miles of line.  The Houston family of Florida  was 
prominent in its affairs.  It was opened to Florida on April 10, 1869 and to 
Pine Island on Nov. 15, 1869.  At that time it was said that construction to 
Deckertown (Sussex) was prevented by "legal obstructions which are as yet 
undetermined".  It was expected that this would be resolved by 1870 when the 
line would reach Deckertown, but of course it never happened.  It was never 
operated independently but leased to the Erie upon opening, but still had 
its local officers.  The Erie's main train on the branch was long called the 
Pine Island Milk, but of course the main traffic was the overhead L&NE 
trains., which operated 1889 thru 1961.  The branch was abandoned in 1963. 
Of interest is the fact that Pine Island didn't really exist until the 
railroad arrived.  The post office there first opened in 1870.  The ties had 
to be extra wide to help keep the roadbed from sinking into the swampy 
"black dirt" toward Pine Island.
- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Stuy" <njmidland_@_verizon.net>
To: "EL List" <erielack_@_lists.elhts.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 4:13 PM
Subject: (erielack) Goshen & Deckertown Railroad


> Can anyone give me a little history of the Goshen & Deckertown Railroad? 
> I
> know that it was essentially the Erie's Pine Island Branch.  Given the 
> name
> I assume originally it intended to reach Deckertown (Sussex), NJ.  Was it
> ever an independent railroad or just a paper company?
>
> Tim
>
>
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