[PRCo] South Fork - Portage Railway

[Daria Phoebe Brashear]

https://thetrolleydodger.com/tag/south-fork-portage-railway-co/

I think one of Rohrbeck's books mentions they (as Penn Central) sold car #1
because the line had no passing siding. It also mentions the bumping block
at the edge of South Fork.

The 3.5 miles ending in a Portage railroad cut presumably is this one:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3758462,-78.7459077,3a,75y,268h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRaj3HTi9NkeR_xKXp0oN0g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DRaj3HTi9NkeR_xKXp0oN0g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.TACTILE.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D268.0924%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i3328!8i1664
and the street they climbed out of South Fork is presumably Maple, given
they also traversed St James Cemetery (news clipping to follow) but I'd bet
what killed the line early is not making it to Portage, and given the right
of way the PRR allowed them, I'd bet the state deciding to not share the
railroad underpasses on what is now route 53 with the company (and making
them lift their tracks) is what did it. They built the most expensive part
of the line first, leaving South Fork. The rest, along right of way the PRR
nominally allowed them, should have been easy!

Text of clippings follows:

Altoona Mirror, 24 May 13:
SOUTH FORK PORTAGE RY. ON PENNSY TRACK
Valuable concessions. which will hasten the completion of the trolley line
from this city to Johnstown, have been granted to the South Fork • Portage
Railway Company by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The concessions have been
secured by Mr. George Holeman, who is promoting the new railway. The line
between South Fork and Portage is nearing completion, and cars will be
operated there before many days, be(sic) those two points. Following is a
summary of the agreement which has been secured from the Pennsy by Mr.
Holman : "The exclusive use of the Old Portage and New Portage roadbeds
between SummerhiII and Gallitzin. The use of the Pennsylvania's own right
of way and property at six places—through Cassandra borough ; a piece of
land, east of Cassandra upon the main line right of way at the deep cut.
between Cassandra and Lilly; a plot of land in Cresson borough, and a plot
of ground between Cresson and Gallitzin." The right is also granted to
cross the P. R. R. main line at eight under-grade and five overhead
crossings. together with the right to cross branch tracks at grade. Mr.
Holman is to be congratulated upon the successful negotiation of this
valuable right to the trolley company. He expects to be able to announce
the date of the opening of the line within the next few weeks.

Altoona Times, 27 May 13
BURY CORPSE ON
    RIGHT OF WAY OF
      S. F.-P. RAILWAY

 Effort Is Made To Prevent
 Trolley Line From Crossing Cemetery

 SOUTH FORK, May 26.—In an effort
to check work of the South Fork•Port-
age Railway company upon the proper-
ty of St. James Cemetery Association
for the reason, it is understood. that the
right-of-way has not been paid for, in-
terested persons are alleged to have
disinterred a body from the burial
ground near Summerhill last evening
and buried it again just in front of the
steam shovel used in constructing the
trolley line. This was not accomplished
however, until two foreigners, laborers
for the trolley company, lead been ar-
rested for trespass.
 About 9 o'clock last evening people
who are protesting against the progress
of the traction line over cemetery prop-
erty before legal matters are adjusted
went to the right-of-way and dug a
grave in front of the steam shovel. They
then went to that section of the burial
ground known as the "potters' field," it
is said, and disinterred the body of an
unknown man, killed on the Pennsylva-
nia Railroad tracks several months ago.
Before they removed the body to the
prepared grave, officials of the traction
company learned of the move, and sent
two foreigners to the shovel to till the
grave. This was done, large stones be-
ing dropped into the hole. Undaunted,
however, the other party dug a new
grave close to the shovel and placed
the body in it, it is said.
 The two foreigners were then arrest-
ed on charges of trespass. The body
was placed close to the winding road-
way that leads from the township
highway up through the cemetery.
 Attorney Arthur C. Simler, an official
of the South Fork - Portage line,
said today that permission to construct
the line hail been given by Bishop Eugene
A. Garvey, pending the granting
of a petition by the court.
 "The title to all church property in
the diocese is vested in the Bishop."
said Mr. Simler. He was willing that
we build the line through the St.James
cemetery. as the tracks are beside the
township road, on a strip separated
from the cemetery proper by a fence. '
We have the option on the property,

 but can't close up the right-of-way
 til we get an order from the Court for
 the transfer. Our petition for that
 must be presented during a session of
 a court. and it it will be presented
 the first Monday in June. Pending the granting
 Monday in June. Pending the granting
 of the order Bishop Garvey indicated
 his willingness that we proceed with
 the grading."
  The body will not be moved, at least
 not for a short time, said Mr. Simler.
 The steam shovel will be moved to the
 other end of the cemetery strip, from
 where work will be done toward the
 grave. Squire Schofield has not given
 the two foreigners a hearing, as an at-
 tempt is being made to settle the case.
  Thomas McGuire. who made the in-
 formations against the foreigners,
 could not be reached today. and an ef-
 fort to communicate with Father
 Quinn. pastor of St James Church this
 afternoon elicited the information that
 he was at the cemetery.
  The body that was placed in the right
 of-way was never identified, it is said.
 The man was thought to have been
 from Sharon. He was killed near South Fork
(unintelligible) a freight train.


Harrisburg Telegraph, 17 Aug 15:
Cunningham Insists

   on Public Utilities Co.

     Complying With Law

 Highway Commissioner Cunningham and Chief Engineer Uhler served
notice to-day by a ruling that public utilities corporations must conform
with the law when dealing with the State Highway Department. The
South Fork..Portage Railway Company, in Cambria county, has been
endeavoring for some time past to secure right of way along a State
highway route. Permission to pass beneath a subway, now occupied by
the State highway, had been denied, but, through a misunderstanding, the
railway company proceeded to lay tracks without a permit along this
road.

Chief Engineer Uhler ordered the tracks removed and, on the failure
of the company to do so, the State highway employes tore them up. Not-
withstanding this, the railway company relaid the tracks and then se-
cured a preliminary injunction in the Cambria county courts preventing the
Cambria county courts preventing the State Highway Department from re-
moving the tracks. Officers said the work had been done without orders. '
Commissioner Cunningham observed that the officers of the company were
responsible for the acts of subordinates.
 The representatives of the company were told that unless the tracks were
voluntarily removed and the preliminary injunction not acted upon, the
department would be perfectly
willing to take the subject into the courts for a ruling. After some
argument the railway officials acceded to this demand and the tracks in
dispute will be removed.

-- 
Daria Phoebe Brashear
AuriStor, Inc
dariaphoebe.com



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