Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/ICC valuations/Johnsonburg Railroad

Interstate Commerce Commission, Volume 23, Valuation Reports

Johnsonburg Railroad

Location and General Description of Property

The railroad of the Johnsonburg Railroad Company, herein called the Johnsonburg Railroad, is a single-track, standard-gauge, steam railroad, located in northwestern Pennsylvania The main line extends northeasterly from Johnsonburg to Clermont, 19.623 miles. The company also owns 2.752 miles of yard tracks and sidings. Its road thus embraces 22 375 miles of all tracks owned and used. The Johnsonburg Railroad forms a part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system, its line being a branch extending from that carrier's Harrisburg-Erie main line. The Johnsonburg Railroad has no operating organization, its property being operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad as agent, as shown in Appendix 2.

Economic Conditions Relating to Traffic

There is practically no agricultural development adjacent to the line. The surrounding country was formerly heavily wooded, but the timber has been mostly removed, leaving the land covered with an undergrowth of little value. The principal traffic originating on the line is forest products. The road serves a tannery and several chemical plants. These industries use most of the available timber from the surrounding country.

Physical Characteristics of Road

The grading is light, averaging about 15,000 cubic yards per mile, of which about 10 per cent is classified as loose rock and 7 per cent solid rock. There are no important bridges on the road. The crossties in the main track average about 2,660 per mile and are mostly chestnut and oak. The rail in the main track is chiefly relay 85-pound. The road is ballasted principally with cinders.

Introductory

The Johnsonburg Railroad is a corporation of the State of Pennsylvania, having its principal office at Philadelphia, Pa. The company is controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad, through ownership of a majority of capital stock. The records do not indicate that this company controls any common-carrier corporation.

The property was operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad under lease from July 11, 1889, to September 30, 1908, and under an agency agreement from the latter date to December 31, 1917. On January 1, 1918, its common-carrier property, with that of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was taken over for operation by the United States Railroad Administration, which operates it at date of valuation.

Corporate History

The Johnsonburg Railroad was organized and incorporated March 14, 1887, under the general laws of the State of Pennsylvania, for the purpose of constructing and operating a railroad from Johnsonburg to Clermont, Pa., about 20 miles. The owned mileage, 19.623 miles, was acquired by construction. The years when various portions of the line were constructed are indicated in the following statement.

Johnsonburg to Clermont, Pa., August, 1888, to July 11, 1889. 19.620

Straight Creek branch, Straight Station, Pa., to Terminus, 1894 to 1896. 6.010

Total. 25.630

Less road abandoned Jan. 1, 1903, Straight Station, Pa., to Terminus. 6.010

Net of the above items. 19.620

Difference between recorded mileage and mileage inventoried. 0.003

Mileage inventoried as of date of valuation. 19.623

Leased Railway Property

The entire property of the Johnsonburg Railroad is exclusively operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad under an agreement of October 14, 1908. The rent agreed on is a sum equal to the net revenue from railway operations resulting from the operations of the leased property. The agreement runs indefinitely and is terminable upon 30 days' notice from either party. On January 1, 1918, the common-carrier property was taken over for operation with that of the Pennsylvania Railroad by the United States Railroad Administration, which operates it on date of valuation.

The Johnsonburg Railroad uses jointly with the Pennsylvania Railroad its station facilities at Johnsonburg and Clermont, Pa. The Johnsonburg Railroad charged its miscellaneous rent account, in the year ended December 31, 1917, $100 as payment to the Pennsylvania Railroad for the joint use of these station facilities.