History
The Fall Brook interests were primarily owned and operated by the Magee family. John Magee, who was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, was the man who founded the companies and brought them to their success. John Magee was a constable and tax collector of Bath, deputy sheriff, high sheriff, census marshal, and severed two terms in congress between 1827 and 1831. John Magee and his family were involved in the railroad and mining industry as well as land speculations, milling, banking, and lumbering.
In 1851, Magee obtained the lease for coal mines in Blossburg, Pennsylvania. Two transportation companies had been formed in the area: the Tioga Navigation Company, and the Tioga Coal, Iron, Mining, and Manufacturing Company, later renamed the Corning and Blossburg Railroad. Magee was able to obtain an owners share of the Corning and Blossburg Railroad and gain control in 1854. In 1856, John Magee's son, Duncan Magee, found new coal lands near Fall Brook, Tiogo County. |
By 1859 seven miles of track were built from the Fall Brook mines to the rails at Blossburg. The line was given the name "Fall Brook Railroad." The Fall Brook Coal Company was established at the same time as the Fall Brook Railroad, which became a busy mining town. The Civil War in the years after spurred growth and business for the company allowing Fall Brook to establish itself as a major coal mining and transportation operation in Pennsylvania and the Southern Tier of New York.
In 1869, after the death of John Magee and his son Duncan, another son, George Magee, took over the coal and rail interest. George Magee would extend the railway interest by leasing the Wellsboro & Lawrenceville Railroad in 1870 and the Conwansesque Valley R.R.in 1873. These companies would merge under Fall Brook interest in 1874 under the name Corning, Cowanesque, Antrim R.R..
After the merge, George Magee would survey land to create a railroad from Corning to Geneva, New York. In order to build this railroad, which would be known as the Syracuse, Geneva, and Corning R.R., George Magee would mortgage the entire Fall Brooke Coal Company and his own personal wealth. The railroad opened in 1877 and was seen as a clever business decision as the tracks were made with standard gauge which matched those of the New York Central Railroad. This allowed coal from Blossburg to be taken to the Erie Canal, then delivered at Geneva then to the New York Central.
Shortly after, a road would be made and leased to the Fall Brook company running from Geneva to Lyons (the Geneva and Lyons R.R.). This lease, constructed by Vanderbilt and the New York Central and Hudson River, allowed Fall Brook to connect the coal from the northern Pennsylvania coal fields to the New York Central tracks. The Jersey Shore, Pine Creek, and Buffalo Railway, later named the Pine Creek Railway would join the Fall Brook System in 1883.
In the late 1880's Fall Brook would own about 250 miles of tracks across Pennsylvania and New York. The Railroad and Coal Company were split into separate companies: the Fall Brook Coal Company and Fall Brook Railway Company. George Magee died in 1897 and was succeed by his son John Magee. In 1899 the Fall Brook Railway Company, the Syracuse, Geneva, and Corning Railway Company, and the Pine Creek Railway Company were leased to the New York Central Railroad. By 1917, the three railway companies would be absorbed by the New York Central Railroad.
In 1869, after the death of John Magee and his son Duncan, another son, George Magee, took over the coal and rail interest. George Magee would extend the railway interest by leasing the Wellsboro & Lawrenceville Railroad in 1870 and the Conwansesque Valley R.R.in 1873. These companies would merge under Fall Brook interest in 1874 under the name Corning, Cowanesque, Antrim R.R..
After the merge, George Magee would survey land to create a railroad from Corning to Geneva, New York. In order to build this railroad, which would be known as the Syracuse, Geneva, and Corning R.R., George Magee would mortgage the entire Fall Brooke Coal Company and his own personal wealth. The railroad opened in 1877 and was seen as a clever business decision as the tracks were made with standard gauge which matched those of the New York Central Railroad. This allowed coal from Blossburg to be taken to the Erie Canal, then delivered at Geneva then to the New York Central.
Shortly after, a road would be made and leased to the Fall Brook company running from Geneva to Lyons (the Geneva and Lyons R.R.). This lease, constructed by Vanderbilt and the New York Central and Hudson River, allowed Fall Brook to connect the coal from the northern Pennsylvania coal fields to the New York Central tracks. The Jersey Shore, Pine Creek, and Buffalo Railway, later named the Pine Creek Railway would join the Fall Brook System in 1883.
In the late 1880's Fall Brook would own about 250 miles of tracks across Pennsylvania and New York. The Railroad and Coal Company were split into separate companies: the Fall Brook Coal Company and Fall Brook Railway Company. George Magee died in 1897 and was succeed by his son John Magee. In 1899 the Fall Brook Railway Company, the Syracuse, Geneva, and Corning Railway Company, and the Pine Creek Railway Company were leased to the New York Central Railroad. By 1917, the three railway companies would be absorbed by the New York Central Railroad.