The Cornell Roads

[Anonymous]

The so-called "Cornell Roads" consisted of three or four railroads owned by Thomas Cornell and his Cornell Steamboat Company.

Which roads did he own? When incorporated? When abandoned or acquired by other roads? etc.?

[Anonymous]

Ulster and Delaware, started as the Rondout & Oswego in 1866. Became part of the the New York Central in 1932 and final abbandonment was under Conrail with parts being abbandoned in between.

Wallkill Valley Railroad founded 1866 came under Cornell control about 1872 and went through some interesting finantial strugles, leaving Mr Cornell selling out to the West Shore in 1881 for about 1 million dollars and the original investors bankrupt... existed into Conrail to be effectively abbandoned in 1977, being torn up by 1984.

Rhinebeck & Connecticut: Incorperated 1871, ran from Rhinebeck to Conneticut state line, sold in recevership about 1882, seems to have ended up at some point with the CNE.

Cornells son in law, who took over the company at some point, also had the trolley line in Kingston NY at one time.

Here's the links i used for this info they have more and of course must be named for their own wonderful research.

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/dutchess/dutch/Hist/trans4.htm
http://www.udrrhs.org