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Venango County PA
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TRAINS

*
The photo dates about 1905.
Pictured on the left with the oil can is Arthur Baker,
on the right, Elmer "Busty" Morrison 1861-1938.
The second photo is that of Charles Baker, father of Arthur.

New York Central Engine number 5833,
Robert Free Espy, Engineer, right side

September 1, 1937

Robert Free Espy, 930 Liberty Street, Franklin, having completed 48 years of continuous service with the New York Central Railroad has been placed on the retired list of employes of the railroad today.
Mr. Espy, a resident of Franklin almost continuously since 1907, made his last run between Franklin and Stoneboro Tuesday.
He began his railroad career with the Lakeshore and Michigan Railroad on Nov. 13, 1889 in Ashtabula. He was promoted to engineer in 1909.
Mr. Espy has been in three wrecks and was injured in each of them. In 1893 he was a fireman on a freight train that ran into another freight in a fog at Fowler Ohio. The engine turned over and Mr. Espy saved himself serious injury by jumping. In the secnd wreck in 1906 at Ashtabula the freight on which he was struck a switch engine and he was hurt as he jumped from the cab of the locomotive before it turned over.
He was engineer in 1909 on a milk run north of Youngstown when his train was wrecked. he was cut and brused in this mishap.
Mr. Espy has been retired under the railroad retirement act. He has no immediate plans for the future other than a good rest. He is in robust health.

1879 History of Venango County - - p 447 Originally the mail facilities were not good. For a time the county was without post routes. The first United States mail that come into the county was in 1802. It was carried on horseback in saddle-bags, and came once in three weeks, and even then brought but a few letters. The route was from Erie to Pittsburgh. The mail carrier was Mr. John Ash, who was always punctual, unless detained by high water or deep snows. In course of time the trips were more frequent, but it was long before the mail was carried on wheels. Up to 1848, the county was without a daily mail to facilitate the transaction of business.

Venango Citizens Press - Sept. 8, 1881 Fourteen regular passenger trains arrive and depart daily on the three railroads leading into this city.

Venango Citizens Press - January 16, 1896 Two Allegheny Valley freight trains - rear end collision on bridge 11 miles North of Kittanning. Only injuries to two locals, Fred Patrick and John Gray.

1879 History of Venango County Jamestown and Western RR completed in 1867, the Erie in 1869, which had succeeded the Atlantic & Great Western.

The Weekly Derrick - Feb. 16, 1882 Survey mad of new railroad line to run from Utica, on the N.Y.P. & O. railroad across the country to Jackson Center, where it will connect with the New Castle and Oil City road.

Seneca Kicker - May 12, 1911 Train service between Franklin and Clarion will start on June 1st.

Seneca Kicker - Nov. 26, 1911 Arrangements being made for the running of a free excursion train on the Jamestown, Franklin& Clearfield on 1 June... Expected 800 will make the trip to Franklin.

Seneca Kicker - Nov. 28, 1913 General Charles Miller, president of the Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion RR has a new private car, named "Franklin".

Venango Citizens Press - July 22, 1909 View of Tunnel #1 about 7 miles east of Franklin. It is double tracked and is 967' long. A double 90' girder span crossed East Sandy creek immediately adjoining each end of this tunnel. The tunnel is lined throughout with concrete side walls and a brick arch.

Venango Citizens Press - Oct. 5, 1905 For some years the old Oil Creek Railroad between Titusville and Pioneer has been a standing joke on account of the PRR Co. running a train over it semi-annually to fulfill the requirements of the charter and nothing else. Now there is considerable business done from the old Miller farm where a sawmill has been set up and the owners are cutting trees and small timber.

Citizens Press - June 30, 1870 The tunnel on the Jamestown & Franklin railroad at Oil City will be completed by the end of the week. When completed will be one of the grandest achievements of the kind ever accomplished in Pa.

Leonard D. Kistler, of Oil City ....he did railroad work four years, firing and running an engine on the Western New York & Pennsylvania railroad. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen.

Thomas E. Keating, of Oil City .... His strength and skill made him trustworthy and capable, and the railroad officials selected him for the honor of driving the connecting spikes joining two or three systems at Oil City. He was employed on the Pennsylvania and Erie roads until his death...in 1887.

Lyman D. Rhoades, of Oil City ....One of his first undertakings in the line was the construction of a mile of the Bellefonte and Erie pike. Conneaut Lake was developed from a swamp as a feeder to the Erie extension canal by him; in 1852 he built a part of the Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad (originally the Ohio & Pennsylvania road); he built part of the old Allegheny Valley railroad (now included in the Pennsylvania system); a bridge across the Allegheny at Kittanning; and from there went South to lay part of the Iron Mountain railroad in Missouri and Arkansas.

Contributed by
Sheila Helser
ESPY- picture of New York Central Engine number 5833

Joyce Neidich
photos on top of page & information

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