Cattle Were Frightened; Animals Careened Round the Fields - The First Run of the New Haven Line Through Pelham in 1848

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One of the principal catalysts in the development of the Town of Pelham was the opening of the New York and New Haven Railroad line through the area that came to be known as Pelhamville in 1848.  Another was the opening of the Harlem River branch of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1872 through the area that became the Village of Pelham Manor.  

The New York and New Haven Railroad line in 1848, as one would expect, was vastly different than the line today.  It was a single track line on which ran early steam locomotives.

"ENGINE No. 27 OF N.Y. & N.H. R.R."

Image of an Early New Haven Steam Locomotive (About 1860).

Source:  Wikipedia.

Construction of the line occurred in 1847 and 1848.  When opened, the line snaked its way in a surprisingly winding course passing through Westchester County from the Connecticut line through the following towns (at that time):  Rye, Harrison, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Pelham and Eastchester.  The winding nature of the original line has been explained as follows:  "[t]he numerous curves on the road were caused by the restricted financial condition, making it necessary, as far as possible, to avoid cuttings and embankments.  The desire had been to build the road in a substantial and permanent manner, but it was found difficult to complete it in any shape."  Source:  Scharf, J. Thomas, History of Westchester County, New York, Including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms Which Have Been Annexed To New York City, Vol. I, pp. 480-81 (Philadelphia, PA:  L. E. Preston & Co. 1886).

Detail from 1845 Map Reflecting Survey of Planned Route of

the New York and New Haven Railroad Line.

Source:  Anderson, P., Map Exhibiting The Experimental and Located

Lines for the New-York and New-Haven Rail-Road . . . Projected

and Drawn by P. Anderson Civil Engr. (NY, NY:  Snyder & Black

Lithographers, 1845) (Strip map over ten feet long, digitized by the

David Rumsey Map Collection, DavidRumsey.com).

Although many sources indicate that the line opened "before" or "by" 1849, there are sources that indicate that the line was completed when the last rails were laid over the Cos Cob Bridge on Christmas Day, 1848.  The same day, a trainload of "gentlemen" departed from New York for a trip on the line to New Haven.  They returned the next day.  According to Scharf, the line then "opened for business on the following day."  (See below.)

Scharf further notes that elements of the administration of the new railroad line relied on the traditional techniques used to administer stage coach lines.  "It is a curious fact that when the trains first commenced to run, the passengers were booked as in the old stage-coach times, their names being duly reported by the conductors to the company."  Scharf, supra, pp. 480-81.

The Stamford Historical Society uncovered two entertaining accounts of the first day the New Haven line ran including one by the founder of the Stamford Sentinel who was a guest on the first trial run.  William H. Holly wrote:  "The train had to remain at Cos Cob Bridge some three hours for the last rails to be laid over it and the delay gave ample opportunity to the people to come and witness the wonderful feat.  The general impression among them seemed to be, that the first train that attempted to cross this pass would also be the last."  Source:  Cos Cob (Metro-North station), Wikipedia.com > (visited Sep. 7, 2014).

Edgar Hoyt, editor of the Stamford Advocate, wrote more colorfully:  "The citizens of the village as well as the horses, cattle, etc., were nearly frightened out of their propriety . . . by such a horrible scream as was never heard to issue from any other than a metallic throat.  Animals of every description went careening around the fields, snuffling the air in their terror."  Id.  

Below is an account of the opening of the New York and New Haven Railroad line in 1848 and the opening of the Harlem River branch of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1872 published in 1886, followed by a citation to its source.

"The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad extends through the county, making a junction with the Harlem, at Washingtonville in the town of East Chester, and so passes into the city.  It runs in its course from the Connecticut line through the towns of Rye, Harrison, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Pelham and East Chester, covering a distance of 13.61 miles.  The work of contructing this part of the road was carried on during the years 1847 and 1848.  On Christmas day, 1848, a party of gentlemen made an excursion over it from New York to New Haven, returning the next day.  The road was opened for business on the following day.  The character of the ground of the road in this county is described as 'heavy with rough heavy cuttings.'  It was at first a single track road.  The line as surveyed was followed.  At Pelhamville the original embankment was as it is now.  The numerous curves on the road were caused by the restricted financial condition, making it necessary, as far as possible, to avoid cuttings and embankments.  The desire had been to build the road in a substantial and permanent manner, but it was found difficult to complete it in any shape.  Mr. Sidney S. Miller, one of the original contractors and most active of the projectors of the road, is still living at Madison, N.J.  It is a curious fact that when the trains first commenced to run, the passengers were booked as in the old stage-coach times, their names being duly reported by the conductors to the company.  This company was originally 'The New York and New Haven,' but in 1872 was consolidated with the Hartford and new Haven Company, and the new system took the name by which it is now known.  In 1873 the company leased the Harlem River and the Port Chester Railroad, between the Harlem and New Rochelle, and opened it for use.  It runs from its depot at the Harlem River through the towns of Morissania, Westchester, Pelham and New Rochelle, where it joins the New Haven road.  It is sometimes denominated, the Harlem River Branch of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, and has opened out one of the most beautiful portions of the county.  In the spring of 1872, the work of construction began by filling in the bulkhead at the Harlem River, and a fine dock and slip of land was formed.  Blasting had to be done on the Morris estate where rock of a laval-like appearance was found, and seams and colors of the same in fine curves, angles, etc.  The pile building came in for a share of careful attention, as after passing Port Morris piles of sixty and eighty feet in length were used, which made a substantial job throughout.  The rock cut at Hunt's Point bridge caused a great deal of trouble on account of the wet, spongy nature of the soil, -- one would have expected the softest nearest the water.  The Bronx River was bridged by a strong Jackknife Draw.  Filling for embankment across Pelham Salt Marsh was a tedious job, as firm bottom was hard to find.  East Chester Bay reached a fine piece of work was done in building the pile-bridging across it.  Too much praise cannot be given to E.W. Reid, General Superintendent of the New York, New Haven and signed and was succeeded by Robert M. Galloway, who has retained the position till the present time.  The first secretary was Calvin Goddard, who still holds the position.  When the road was built, its New York terminus was at High Bridge, but an extension, something over a mile in length, connects with the Eighth Avenue Elevated Road.  This extension was made under a separate organization known as 'the West Side and Yonkers Railroad,' and furnishes the most direct road for rapid transit between New York and the interior of Westchester County."  


Scharf, J. Thomas, History of Westchester County, New York, Including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms Which Have Been Annexed To New York City, Vol. I, pp. 480-81 (Philadelphia, PA:  L. E. Preston & Co. 1886).

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