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The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad was a railroad in the U.S. state of New York.
Contents
Beginning
The Middleburgh and Schoharie Railroad was founded in 1867. The first Chairman of the railroad was Jacob Vroman and S.L. Mayham was named 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.
Function
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.
Out of business
After the rise of automobiles and the fall of the hop crop, 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 closed due to changing times.
Today
The railway stations 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 has recently been purchased by the Village and will be 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 M&S.
Making the old path where the Railroad once led into a walking or biking path is a discussed issue. This has been brought up by Middleburgh Town Supervisor Dennis Richards and Village Trustee Matthew Avitabile.
Authorities on the Railroad and other aspects of Schoharie County history include Lester Hendrix, author of A Sloughter's History of Schoharie County and County Historian Harold Zoch.