Elmira Car Works - Later Pullman

  Pullman shop crew picture in Elmira Star Gazette,  March 12, 1952. Photo submitted by DeWitt Collson,  720 German St., Elmira.

American Railway Times, 1853

Elmira Republican

Friday, October 31, 1851

   Preservation Plate. - We learn from the Tribune of last evening, that Hall, Tompkins & Black, the makers of the Collins gold service, have just completed a silver set of five or six pieces, grape pattern and elaborate workmanship, to be presented by the citizens of Elmira to William E. Rutter, Esq., as a testimonial of esteem and regard.

   The New York Express says: - “A splendid Tea Service, consisting of a later waiter, tea pot, sugar bowl, creamer, and slop bowl, is now exhibiting in the show room of Ball, Black & Co’s. extensive establishment in Broadway. It is intended for presentation to William E. Rutter Esq., by the inhabitants of Elmira, as a testimonial of the esteem and regard in which that gentleman is held.

  “It was originally intended to present only a silver pitcher, an a subscription having been started for that purpose, a much larger amount was collected that would be necessary for the purchase of such an article. Mr. Rutter has been for the last two years agent of the Susquehanna Division of the New York & Erie Railroad. The Tea Service cost $500.”

Daily Republican, Elmira, N.Y.

Friday, January 14, 1853

   Rutter’s Car Manufactory. - But a few days since the Car Manufactory of William E. Rutter, Esq., was a heap of smoldering ruins. Yesterday we passed with Mr. R. through his works. We were surprised to observe the shop erected with more than its older glory, the machinery all in motion, and the scores of hands vigorously employed.

   If Mr. Rutter had not possessed business talent, enterprise and tact, far above mediocrity, such results would not have been so speedily attained. We saw some cars lettered for the Buffalo and New York City, and also for the Canandaigua Railroads, which, as to substantially of workmanship and elegance of finish are unsurpassed by those of any other establishment of the kind in the country.

   His contracts for cars already amount to One hundred thousand dollars. His lucidity and coolness of judgment, his executive talent and ready skill, afford a sure omen and pledge of his successful fulfillment of his contracts, and of his future rapid prosperity his favorite department of  mechanic genius and toil.

 Erie Under Gold and Fisk. A comparison of the past and present management, respectfully dedicated to the stockholders and bondholders generally. By George Crouch, New York, 1870.

   At Elmira the Erie Company has some extensive works, principal among which are the car shops, which are superior in some particulars to the kindred establishments located at Jersey City, Port Jervis, and Buffalo. The magnificent drawing-room coaches and luxurious sleeping cars of the Erie line, which so far surpass those of any other road in the country, are mostly built at the Elmira shops, as also the superb first-class carriages now in use. The machinery of the Erie car shops is marvelously complete - performing almost everything but the joining and upholstery work. The greater portion of the elaborate carvings and costly ornamental wood-work which decorates the palatial drawing-room coaches is, of course, the result of artistic handiwork.

   Fresco artists of rare ability are employed to gild and fret the roofs with rich designs, and landscapists of considerable genius enrich the panels and fixtures with charming little bits of picturesque scenery. Occasionally fruit, flower, and every figure pieces enliven the interiors, and transform the drawing-room coaches into ambulatory art galleries.

   Of the men employed in the Elmira shops, 150 are skilled artisans of the first-class. Mr. Rutter, the superintendent of the works, is engage upon some very new cars of his own design, which promise to be marvels of railway architecture, and will inevitably attract much additional traffic to the road.           

     

(Elmira Telegram, Sunday, December 8, 1907)

   Several days ago the Pullman shops at Buffalo were damaged by fire to the extent of a half million dollars loss. Fifteen hundred workmen are out of employment at least temporarily as a consequence. It is rather a discouraging position in which to be placed when most fathers, sons and brothers are working with more than ordinary energy that they may earn sufficient money to make glad the heart of Christmas morn of those whom they love. More disappointing yet is the humor that the big plant will not be erected in Buffalo but that the work will be transferred to Pullman, Ill.

    In that event it is likely that the major portion of the Buffalo workmen of the company will be given places at Pullman. It is even suggested that the company will continue a shop in the east but will look for location where taxes and cost of living are less than the Buffalo standard. If that be true perhaps Elmira has a chance to bid for the enterprise.

    Elmira was the home of the Pullman shops a generation ago. There are men living here today who worked for the Pullman company here and others are employed for the Erie in the shops at Susquehanna and Hornell. Still others are at Wilmington, Del., where many went when the Pullman shops were closed in this city.

   Few who live here are now aware that it was an Elmira man who invented the sleeping car - Eli Wheeler, by name. Next Thursday will be the anniversary of his death on William street. He was a man of refined taste in literature and art. It is an undeniable fact that Captain Wheeler invented, patented and put into use the first practicable sleeping car that was ever run on the railroads of this country. 

     The principle that he applied is the same one used to this day on all magnificent bed room coaches that are such comforts to travelers. The Pullman palace coach and the Wagner sleeping car are heard of all over the world but the name of the late Captain Eli Wheeler, of Elmira, the man who invented or discovered the idea around which they are built and made them possible is never heard. It is only another instance for the inventor making nothing while some one else reaps the benefits.

     There might have been some compensation to Captain Wheeler if he had made money in the enterprise even if his name were not mentioned. Webster Wagner got control of the Wheeler cars on the New York Central road, became a millionaire out of their construction; was sent to the senate of this state, and became a power in financial and political matters. George M. Pullman, who began his life in connection with the cars as a conductor on one of Eli Wheeler's coaches on the Central road also made millions out of the manufacture of sleeping cars, while Captain Wheeler, in all, made out of his invention only $10,000, a paltry pittance in comparison with the rest. The patent granted to Captain Wheeler was dated August 3, 1858.

   As early as 1856 the New York Central was experimenting on contrivances to provide for better comforts of passengers during the night time. It is said that about 1856 a man named Woodruff got up a "sleeper" for the Central. It was an awkward affair. Captain Wheeler happened to be in Buffalo and saw the Woodruff got up a "sleeper" for the Central. It was an awkward affair. Captain Wheeler happened to be in Buffalo and saw the Woodruff car which the Central refused to accept, it is said. Wheeler remarked that he had evolved an idea of what a sleeping car should be.

     He showed a model of his ideal sleeping car to George Gates, who had been sheriff of Erie county. Gates took the model to Eaton, Gilbert & Co., famous car builders of Troy. Mr. Eaton was highly pleased. Two cars were built and placed in service on the New York Central They were under the control of Webster Wagner who subsequently undertook the job of turning out more of them for the Central, the new invention having met with public approval and patronage.

     In 1859, Vice President Headley, of the Erie, took the cars that had been running between Elmira and Canandaigua, the Erie then having that territory, and had Captain Wheeler direct their rebuilding as sleepers. The work was done at the shops at Piermont. The cars were successfully run over the road under the management of Geoge Goff, who had conducted an eating house at Dunkirk. In 1860, Goff sold out his rights as manager to Richard Baker, of Elmira, and Charles Widrig, of Horsesheads.  Business increased and they ordered the building of two more cars in the Elmira shops. W.E. Rutter, of this city, was the builder. That was the origin of the Pullman shops of Elmira.

     It is related that in 1861, the Erie finding that Baker and Widrig were quite prosperous decided to monopolize the business and refused to permit the Elmirans to continue the running of sleepers over the road. Persons in the Erie formed a sleeping car company of which Erie Superintendent Charles Minot was the head. After making  a large profit Minot and his associates sold out to George M. Pullman.

      Baker and Widrig sued the Erie for peremptorily ordering them from the road and got small damages. Captain Wheeler went to the companies using his model of cars but he could get little satisfaction. He didn't care much about lawsuits and as he had realized $10,000 from his invention, and had no heirs he remained contented with his books and his works of art at his pleasant home on William street.

    Many cars were made in the Elmira Pullman shops and the loss of the closing of the works here about twenty years ago was severely felt. It is probably the company would have gained had it remained in Elmira. The Queen city of the southern tier would have gained too. Perhaps there will be no chance of securing the Pullman shops here again but it is worth trying. If Buffalo is to be deprived of the works because of last Monday's fire I am sure the good people up that way, and of whom there are many former Elmirans, would be pleased to see this city reap the benefit. 

     It would indeed be repaying the debt of gratitude at least the late George Pullman owes to the late Captain Eli Wheeler, of Elmira, because had not Captain Wheeler at the opportune time invented his sleeping car and had not George M. Pullman secured employment on the car there might now be any Pullman millions. Captain Wheeler, by the way, was not a practical railroader. He and the late Captain Henry C. Spaulding, father-in-law of the Hon. John B. Stanchfield, secured their titles as captains of canal boats.

    Captain Spaulding subsequently became a lumber dealer and amassed a fortune. After leaving the canal, Captain Wheeler conducted a foundry on Lake street. His death on December 12, 1882, was due to a stroke of apoplexy. It would be interesting to know what became of his letters of patent on the sleeping car.

(Note: These shops, on Fifth Street, were closed in 1886 and the operation was moved to Wilmington, Delaware).

Elmira Star Gazette, March 30, 1908

With Pad and Pencil (Excerpt) 

   The Pullman car shops were quite a big thing in Elmira thirty years ago. Some of the finest of the Pullman cars were made in Elmira shops, abutting on East Fifth street, and about all of the eastern repair work was done here.

   Hundreds of men were employed. So, too, the Erie car shops, opposite the depot, employed hundreds of men and were busy all the live long day and oftentimes at night. Behold now how great a change. The rolling mills have been idle since Henry W. Rathbone closed them down years ago; the busy Pullman shop building was silent many years, but is now occupied in other lines; the Erie shops are nothing compared to what they once were; the only reminder of their glorious past being the 6 o’clock morning whistle which sounds exactly as is it did forty years ago.

   Though the rolling mils and blast furnace have gone, though the shoe business has seen its best days, though the Pullman shops are no more, and the Erie shops are deplete, yet Elmira is over twice as large as it was forty yeas ago. The industries have taken the places of those that dropped by the wayside, and Elmira, like the soul of old John Brown, goes marching on.

Elmira Star Gazette, Monday, July 25, 1910

   With Pad and Pencil

   Speaking of railroads suggests Joseph P. McCann, who with Mrs. McCann left town last evening for their home in New York after a visit of a few days with Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Walker at Happy Thought College.

   Mr. McCann has all his life been in the railroad business one way or another. He was born in New York , but came to Elmira when a little chap and yet regards the Queen City as his real home. People who live in New York are merely staying there for convenience. His early manhood - as a youth - was spent in the Erie Railroad shops in Elmira, when many a man  well known here had his start in life.  He learned the steamfitter’s trade with E. H. Cook and helped on the work of the Stancliff residence on Lake street, long unoccupied except by a caretaker. When Mr. McCann went to work for the Erie, William E. Rutter was the superintendent of the Susquehanna Division - in fact, he was the first superintendent, and as such had charge of the Elmira car shops.

   In those days the Erie built its own passenger cars, many of them in Elmira. Cars were not numbered, but were named after well known places or persons. Mr. Rutter was a peculiar man, and would discharge an employee on the least provocation, but usually took him back with a raise in pay and no loss of time.

   Some fine work was turned out of the Elmira shops, said Mr. McCann while in a reminiscent mood, notably the directors’ car, known as No. 200. Mr. Rutter built that car several times before he was satisfied with it. Jay Gould had his private car, and so did Jim Fisk, built in Elmira. Those were good old days, indeed.

                                   ____

   Mr. McCann knew all the old-time conductors. The general public also knew by name and sight all the conductors. At that time passengers could pay their fare on the train, and at the end of a run a conductor would often have all his pockets full of money.

   Once in awhile - but not often - a conductor would forget to empty his pockets thoroughly, and then there was a vacancy. The temptation was great, and men are but human. Nearly all of those conductors were the employ by the company for years, and died in the harness. Henry Ayers, who invented the bell rope signal; George Congdon, who built the malt house on the site of the Hotel Langwell; Jesse Owen, who was unhurt at the Clark’s Rock disaster, although he went down in the Delaware River with the train; Solomon Bowles, “Rye” Stuart, Charley Green, Tommy Dodd, Cahrles E. Gillett, J. B. Judd, G. M. Writer, Ira Post, “Hi” Hurry, George Backer, Morgan Wood, Harvey Lamb, Charley Grover, Billy Peters, Dana Krum, George Wright - all these names familiar to Mr. McCann - and only one or two of the men are alive today.

                                     ___

   “One day,” said Mr. McCann, “there came down from Addison to assume the position of station agent at Elmira, George S. Shepard, about 1875 or along in there. He brought with him two young men, brothers, Charles and Lester Hibbard.  These were given jobs at the Elmira station.

   "The former was depot policeman for a time, and Lester did varying things, but always getting something better. When Mr. Shepard was transferred to Boston as New England agent, he took young Hibbard with him. Some time afterwards Lester Hibbard went to Albuquerque, N.M., as clerk for the  superintendent of a Santa Fe division. He became superintendent himself before a great while, and is now the general superintendent of the Pacific Divsion of the Santa Fe system, embracing all lines of that system in Arizona and New Mexico.”

   Mr. McCann says that Superintendent Hibbard is regards as one of the ablest railroad men in the western slope. He lives in Los Angeles. “I did not know Mr. Hibbard was an authority when I went to Los Angeles a few year ago with a company of Shriners I was personally looking after,” said Mr. McCann,”and I wanted my Pullman cars packed in a certain place. I went into the superintendent’s office, took off my hat and made my request. What was my surprise when I was greeted with - “certainly, Joe, you can have anything you want on this road - you’re from Elmira.’” “And there I was,” continued Mr. McCann, “with my hat in hand in front of a man I had many a time rubbed elbows with in the old town, and we had a good visit.”

                                     ____

   Mr. McCann alluded to James H. Rutter, one of three sons of W. E. Rutter. One son dropped dead one night while running to a fire in the village with the “Young America” Company, and another was killed in the war - he was in the famous 107th. “Jimmy” Rutter was a thorough railroad man. His father gave him a job in the freight department, and he became so proficient that he attracted the attention of Jay Gould, who took him to New York and made him master of transportation.

   During  the famous fight in the Legislature between the Erie and the New York Central over the great “classification bill” - a scheme to regulate rates - there was an investigation by the Legislature, and young Rutter, who was a witness, showed so much knowledge about the freight question and was so  ready with his answers and figures that he was noticed bye William H. Vanderbilt, who offered him a large salary to go over to the Centra; Jay Gould saw the raise,” but the upshot was that Vanderbilt finally got him, made him general manager of all the freight business of the New York Central, and finally made him president. He died while holding that high office, while yet a young man - worked himself to death, said Mr. McCann. He was a warm friend of General Charles J. Langdon of Elmira.

                                       ___

   Mr. McCann himself is no small speck in the transportation problem, as “McCann’s Tours” are known far and wide, and he is fortune in securing many large contracts. Recently he had entire charge of the itinerary of the Hotel Men’s Association outing, which was participated in by Attorney Alexander C. Eustace of Elmira as the guest of Mr. Tierney of the Hotel Marlborough.

   The bonifaces *were so pleased with their trip that as a souvenir Mr. McCann wears a beautiful diamond horseshoe scarf pin as a memento of what he styles a pilgrimage the like of which never expects to see again.

   Incidentally, Mr. McCann has cross the North American continent from New York to San Francisco, 37 times.

*Slang term for hotel managers.

Elmira Star-Gazette

Tuesday, February 5, 1918

   Erie Car Repair Shops Are To Be Used Again

                           ____

Elmira Storage and Supply Company, Ordered to Vacate

   Building, Hastens to Get Goods Out Before Time Set

—Government Is Back of Move to Have All 

     Possible Buildings Used for Car Repairing.

                       _____

   As the result of orders from the government authorities at Washington, the Erie railroad officials are contemplating opening of the old Pullman car shops, on Fifth street, and turning them into car repair shops. The government has issued a call for the railroad to get hold of all available buildings for car repair work, and do so at once.

   The buildings at present are occupied by the Empire Storage and Supply Company, which recently moved all its goods up there. It has received orders to remove its goods within 90 days, but, with the interest of the government at heart, it has stated its intentions of moving its effects sooner. It has rented the old rolling mill on Washington avenue from N. D. Doxey and will make that the storage home for the present.

   The Pullman car shops were abandoned in the ’80’s and most of the men who left this city went to Wilmington, Delaware., to the Pullman shops there. Later the shops were used as Erie repair shops, but for many years have not been utilized by railroad property.

Elmira Star-Gazette

Friday, May 3, 1918

   Erie Car Shops Are Being

   Cleared Out For Future Use

                    ____

Woodworking Machinery To

Be Installed and Building Long 

Used for Storage Only Will House

For of Several Score Men

Repairing Car.

                    ____

   The large shop building on East Fifth street and Railroad avenue, formerly used about 30 years ago, as the Pullman car shops and for several years past as a storage building, has been entirely cleared out and carpenters are repairing the window. The U. S. Railroad Administration recently ordered the building cleared and to be again used as a car repair shop.

   New woodworking machine is to be placed in the northern part of the large shop and the south half of the building will be devoted to the use of the car repair men. Only freight and coal cars will bed repaired in the shop and the force of men at first include the 30 men, who are engaged in repair work on the “cripple” tracks near the the Erie roundhouse. The force will be increased as the work is extended.

   In the days of the Pullman Car Company’s occupancy of the shops, a force of about 200 mechanics was employed in rebuilding and redecorating the Pullman coaches, which in those days included much rich wood, carving, inlaid woodwork and expert decorations. The Pullman shop was moved from Elmira to Wilmington, Delaware.

Elmira Star-Gazette

Wednesday, May 19, 1926

  

   Erie Dismantles Car Shops

     And is Shipping Equipment

       To Other Terminal Points

               ____

Materials and Equipment Are Being Sent to Hornell,

Port Jervis and Cleveland - Men Are Offered Jobs 

in the Other Shops.

               ___

   Dismantling of the Erie Railroad shops here is reported in progress, and material is being shipped to the terminal points, Port Jervis, Hornell and Cleveland. Discontinuance of the shops marks the passing of an old institution, one of which had an important part in Elmira’s early progress. 

   Approximately 200 families are concerned. The railroad has offered work to practically all who care to go to shops at the terminal points. Road employees who are engaged on the Tioga Division also likely will be affected.

   The locomotive shops today were practically deserted.Two or three employees  work working for a time in the blacksmith shop and none of the machine equipment had been moved from this shop. Workmen were busy in the car shops removing materials for shipment to other points.

   Erie officials have repeatedly denied reports of a discontinuance of the shops see, but the force has been depleted to a mere, but the force has been depleted to a mere handful of workers. Now the equipment in the car shops is being taken away. This was interpreted by local foremen as merely a transfer of materials, but the workmen believe it means removal of the shops.

   “The Erie has built its last car here,” one of the workmen remarked today. Several were busy loading car shop materials to freight cars for shipment. Gradually the change of the Erie mechanical departments has been to other points. Years ago the Erie had important Pullman shops here which furnished work to a large force and which employed a high type of skilled workers. The Pullman work has been changed elsewhere.

   The Erie is proceeding along a line which is declared to mean economy and better organization. Centralization of work is said to be one of its aims, as the repair and rebuilding of cars can be accomplished more advantageously at the terminals.

   The locomotive shops here have done much of the repair work on engines used on the Tioga Division. Engines of small and obsolete type were necessarily used on this division because of light bridges along the line which would not stand the travel of the new heavy type locomotive. 

   Instead of using these, the Erie within recent weeks has been dispatching its freight shipments over the New York Central and disposing of the traffic in this manner which otherwise would go over the Tioga Division. Occasionally, a freight train has been operated over the Tioga Division and all passenger service has been continued. This could not be otherwise except through order from the Public Service Commission.

   In the matter affecting the Tioga Division the Erie was pressed on two sides. It could not use the light engines for freight service because they are obsolete and cannot be kept in good repair. Neither can they carry the heavy freight trains over steep grades which are located along the Tioga Division. 

   When the small engines were used, the freight trains were split up at the beginning of the grades, and one-half of the loads sidetracked while the other half went over the step places. The engined must then return for the remainder of the load. This practice went on for years and was most unsatisfactory, uneconomical and without method. Instead of using locomotives on the passenger trains over the Tioga Division the Erie now operates a new type gasoline car.

   Superintendent English of the Erie at Hornell today said that the shops were being closed for the present. He stated there is no demand for large numbers of cars at the present time and that it is consistent with the Erie policy to close when there is no work to be done. The attitude of the Erie officials to date has been that the shops are not to be permanently discontinued.

Elmira Star-Gazette

Saturday, December 29, 1928

             The Pullman Shops

   The Elmira Car and Machine Shops followed the coming of the Erie Railroad. This industry later developed into the Pullman Company in Elmira. Passenger railway cars were built for many years in Elmira at the local Erie Shops. The factory was located on Fifth Street. It was originally directed in 1858, but was destroyed by fire in 1862. It was rebuilt a year later. The building of passenger cars was later discontinued here, but the repair work was continued until about two years ago.

Elmira Star Gazette

Sunday, September 29, 1968

          BURNED into PAST

                     ___

Warehouses Once Rail Hub

           By Tom Byrne

   A little more of old Elmira went down in flames last Sunday night. Thousands, attracted by the great red glow, watched the last rights for two old railroad buildings.

   The first one destroyed, on E. Fifth St. across from LeValley McLeod Co., was the Erie freight house, lately a store house for Bond Paper Co. The other, longer building, close to the railroad, was partially saved.

   The other, longer building, close to the railroad, was partially saved. The red brick front part is still there. But the back part burned fiercely, spectacularly, as flames raced through a patina that as gathered for a hundred years.

  To today’s crowd, it was Flickinger’s that burned. To the mid-generation, it was the old Erie car shops. To real oldtimers, it was the Pullman shops. 

   An elderly gentleman - you could set him a block away with that railroad cap - was looking at the ruins Friday. Clarence O’Brien of Johnson street, retired in 1957 from the Pennsy. He worked for two other roads in his time. “It was the Pullman shops when I as a kid. The built beautiful Po,,and thee. Later the Erie had a repair shop there.”

   Gazing around the E. Fifth St. area,   he added: “It was noting to see 80 or 90 cars spotted around the freight house. Where the PRR freight house is was ‘Elmira Yard,” and the other yard is still ‘Southport Yard.’”

   Joe Cleary, so well remembered by Elmira’s who traveled the Erie when passenger service was really something, recalls the Pullman shop legend. “It was before my time, but we always heard about the Pullman shops. They just picked up one day and left town.” Joe, who lived on West Fifth St., retired in 1959 after many years as a ticket agent. The Erie shops closed May 19, 1926.

   Elmira was inauthentic railroad town a half century ago. There were 10 tracks side by side in the Erie yards. The Erie had a roundhouse where the Telephone Company garage is on second street. 

   Where the Pennsy Southport yard is now, the Northern Central Railway had its shops, round house and a 25-track yard.  the DL&W yards, south of Eldridge Park, had 17 tracks; the Lehigh Valley yards had four tracks. East Fifth street was a busy place, with H. C. Spaulding Co. turning out “sash, doors and moulding.” Where Hilliard Corp. is today was a coal yard 50 years ago.

   An 1870 account, “Erie Under Gould and Fisk,” said the following about the Pullman shops: “The work performed at Elmira is mainly of the better class. The magnificent drawing-room coaches and luxurious sleeping cars of the line, which so far surpass those of any other road in the country, are mostly built at the Elmira shops. The greater proportion of the elaborate carvings and costly ornamental work is the result of artistic handiwork. Fresco artists of rare ability are employed to gild and fret the roofs. Of the men employed in the Elmira shops, about 150 are skilled artisans of the first class.”

   That was the Erie of yesteryear. Last Sunday night the station platform was jammed with people again. But they were fire-watchers, not passengers.