Schoharie Valley RR No. 5, 4-4-0 Scranton, 1873 16x24-63” Acquired 7/10/1902 ex-Lackawanna & Bloomsburg #205, DL&W #105. Scrapped ca. 1925.
The Railroad
The Schoharie Valley Railway was founded by Jacob Vroman and built in 1866. The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad was founded in 1867. The first Chairman of the railroad was Jacob Vroman and S.L. Mayham as Secretary. David Becker was named President of the railroad in 1868. The railroad was constructed at a cost of $105,000. Despite the construction, shares in the railroad dropped by ninety percent. The Railroad was aided by the fact that most of the terrain between Middleburgh and Schoharie is flat, reducing costs and engineering complexity.
The Middleburgh–Schoharie Railroad served not only as a major passenger line in the Schoharie Valley but also as an artery of industry. Hops were frequently sent over the line when Schoharie County was one of the major grower of hops. Fares for the railroad were cheap for the contemporary times and encouraged travel across the Schoharie Valley. This had not happened before this except for travel by horse or walking.
The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad operated in conjunction with the Schoharie Valley Railroad, although they were separate companies, they frequently used each other's locomotives, equipment, and facilities. The SVRR ran between Schoharie and Schoharie Junction.
Its Final Years
The coming of improved highways and automobiles spelled the death knell of many railroads. The hop business also faded away. Then the Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad began to decline. The railroad's last day of service was September 24, 1936. The railroad had become unprofitable during the twentieth century. Reluctantly the historic railroad was closed, although there is speculation that it could be reopened in modern times as a tourist attraction. The sister railroad, the Schoharie Valley Railroad continued operation until September 17, 1942 when it too was abandoned.
Present Status
The depots of Middleburgh and Schoharie still exist. The one in Schoharie is preserved and the other has been used as a house. The depot in Middleburgh was purchased by the Village and restored as a museum.
A passenger car and a caboose of the old line are preserved in Schoharie and are open to the public. Within the passenger car is a model railroad of the original Middleburgh & Schoharie.
Another view of Number 5.
