Here is a question for the scholars of rail antiquity. What is the oldest railroad junction in the U.S.?

Being familiar with the Philadelphia area, I’ll suggest a couple local contenders. “Intersection” station, in what is today Malvern, PA was established as a rail junction October 18, 1832 when the first section of the Philadelphia & Columbia RR opened and connected to the previously completed West Chester RR. The WCRR then began operations between Philadelphia & West Chester, diverging from the P&C at Intersection. Operations here were initially all horse-drawn though, so some may not consider it “real” railroading. This junction was bypassed and abandoned in 1880.

Another early one is “16th Street Junction” on the former Reading RR in Philadelphia, Pa. This junction dates to October 18, 1834, exactly two years later than the WCRR, when the Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown RR opened a branch to Manayunk that diverged from its original mainline between Philadelphia and Germantown. These locations today are all within the city limits of Philadelphia, but back in 1834 were all distinct towns, with open countryside in between and regularly scheduled trains between the end points. At the time, the PG&N was using both horses and steam locomotives for motive power. This junction is still in heavy use today as part of SEPTA’s Regional Rail system.

IÂ’ve seen some claims that Branchville, SC is the oldest railroad junction, but from what I can determine, the junction only dates to 1842.

Can anyone suggest another contender?

This question came up while researching an article for our historical society magazine. Thanks for your help.

Rick Bates
Publications Editor, RCT&HS


glenonoko@yahoo.com

Something possibly along the same lines:

The Strasburg RR claims it was begun in 1832 (which I understand is a polite stretching of the truth). It had to connect to somewhere. When was the junction at Leaman Place built? [Kurt?]

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

Branchville does not use the "In the US" disclaimer on any of their road signs. I have always wondered what our British brethren would make of that claim.

dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

> Here is a question for the scholars of rail
> antiquity. What is the oldest railroad
> junction in the U.S.?

Junction as in "intersection of two lines, even from the same company" or as in "intersection of two lines from two different railroad companies"?



eledbetter@rypn.org

> Junction as in "intersection of two
> lines, even from the same company" or
> as in "intersection of two lines from
> two different railroad companies"?

Erik,
I would say a junction could involve either the same or different railroad companies.

I thought about trying to define "junction" in my original post. To me, its simply a place where rail lines cross or diverge and continue onward to distinct destinations. A junction may involve issues of scheduling so that freight and passengers can make connections, also rules and signaling so that trains don't collide. On the other hand, there were situations where the early railroads interchanged cars in cities by hauling them with horses on trackage in the streets. I would not consider these junctions, but perhaps others would.

Rick Bates

Sandy,

As best as we can determine by the few surviving records, the SRC interchange at "Leaman's Place," as noted in a P&C timetable from the period, opened for service about late August 1852. Although the SRC was chartered in 1832, the line was partially graded but laying of the rails was delayed by the Panic of 1837; in fact, it wasn't until the company was incorporated in February 1851 when a second effort to finish the SRC was initiated and constructed was completed. All of this historical minutae will be covered in my forthcoming book on the history of the Strasburg Rail Road Company. Stay tuned.

K.R. Bell

> Something possibly along the same lines:

> The Strasburg RR claims it was begun in 1832
> (which I understand is a polite stretching
> of the truth). It had to connect to
> somewhere. When was the junction at Leaman
> Place built? [Kurt?]

Canton Junction, MA, dates back to April 7, 1845. The Boston & Providence Railroad opened in 1835, and in 1844 the Stoughton Branch Railroad Company was incorporated to construct a branch line from Canton to Stoughton. The SBRR opened April 7th the following year.

The historic Canton Viaduct is located a few thousand feet south of the junction. The junction is still active.