Assorted Photos , History, and Stories of the
Bloomsburg & Sullivan Railroad 1888-1928
The shortline railroad was 29 miles long, running from south of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania past the town, then northwards to Jamison City, Pennsylvania, with 4.45 miles of yard tracks.
February 1888
There were six passenger trains each day, in addition to the freight trains, during many of it's years of operation. The passenger trains almost always stopped at Grassmere Park, Maple Grove, and Williams Lodge near forks, even though there were no regular stations at those locations.
1908
According to Beers History Of Columbia County, "connection was made with the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg & Berwick Railroad at Paper Mill and with the Lackawanna and Reading at Bloomsburg". Strip where also made a Orangeville and Coles Creek.
50 Men were employed by the railroad in 1915.
The Bloomsburg & Sullivan freight trains transported hides, leather, and lumber. A log train, owned by the Pennsylvania Lumber Company, also came to Jamison City. "it went up in the mountains above Elk Grove, " according to Chapin, whose Grandfather Thomas Case was superintendent.
Mail Car, built around 1895
In 1916, the schedule was cut to two trips daily. At that time, the train remained over night in Benton. The route was later discontinued, as the lumber and leather work came to an end in Jamison City, and automobiles became more prevalent.
Passenger service ended in 1934, after the Reading Company acquired the line. Freight service continued until 1969, when a flash flood caused extensive damage. Tracks at Bloomsburg were removed in the early 1970s.
A Tall Tale About The Bloomsburg & Sullivan, from William McCollum, 1903
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THE STATIONS
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At Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg & Sullivan Train along railroad street in Bloomsburg Pa
""The Bloomsburg and Sullivan railroad runs alongside fishing Creek from Bloomsburg to Benton, but at the latter place it strikes right off the Creek and runs into the mountains to central and Jamison city.
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Orangeville Station
On July 4th 1887, a ball game was arranged, and prominent speakers engaged for a celebration at Orangeville. This was the first train on the B&S tracks to make it to Orangeville, and this was all the farther it could go. when the approaching engine blew its whistle, it was answered by the steam whistles of the shoe factory and the agricultural works, and all the church and school bells.
The Bloomsburg and Sullivan did not yet have any engines or cars, so an engine was borrowed from DL&W and DL&W flatcars were equipped with nailed-on benches to carry passengers.
This photo was taken under laurel hill cemetery, just out of view on the left. The trestle that carried tracks over the railrace coming out of the power plant is just out of view to the right.
1914 photo showing the fire at Orangeville Agricultural works, with the B&S train in the background.
The Fishing Creek Express at Orangeville
Orangeville Station
As of 2023, this station is being restored by railroad enthusiasts.
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At Forks Twp Station
Forks Township Station
Columbia County, South of Jamison City
Columbia County, South of Jamison City
The Bloomsburg & Sullivan at Forks Station, showing Harrison's General Store
August 1896 - New Iron Bridge.
Forks Station
A colorized post card of Forks Station
Pen & Ink Drawing of the station at Forks
"While running thirty miles an hour, the head car of a passenger train on the Bloomsburg & Sullivan railroad jumped the track the other night four miles form Bloomsburg Pa and rolled down the embankment and caught fire. The twenty five passengers, many of whom were slightly hurt, were rescued by being taken out of the windows" - The Coshocton Tribune, Nov 23 1888
At the Paperdale Mill, South Of Stillwater Station
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At Zaners Station
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At Stillwater Station
Here's a birds eye view of Stillwater - showing the station on the right
The Station at Stillwater
Stillwater station being moved
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At Benton Station
It's original location which was on the north side of Market Street between 4th and 5th Streets.
Benton Station
In 1892, Mr C.F. Mann was the agent at the Benton Depot of the Bloomsburg & Sullivan R.R.
Benton Station
Behind the coach is the Long Wagon Works Building
The station was moved a few hundred yards north of its original location.
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At Grassmere Park
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At Central Station
Central Station
South Of Central
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At Jamison City Station
Jamison City R.R. Station
The station, with the Genearl Store in the background, and the sawmill
The large hotel behind the train no longer exists
Bloomsburg & Sullivan Railroad locomotive No. 8, built in 1913 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works
Jamison City Station roof is shown on the left, with the Mather General Store in the background. On the right is the sawmill.
Jamison City R.R. Station
Jamison City Station - 2020
Jamison City Station agents included: Benjamin Laubach, Roy Hartman, James Gallagher, Tony Gallagher, Thomas Gallagher, and Barret McHenry.
Sign on the door of the Jamison City Station
N.B. Crouse of Forks, a brakeman on the Bloomsburg & Sullivan, was caught between the wheels of a train and had both legs cut off, at Jamison City on December 6th 1902. He had just broken a coupling and was attempting to step from one car to another when he fell beneath the cars and was run over. He died of his injuries on the way to the Wilkes Barre Hospital. Full news article from the Columbian is at the bottom of this page under the "read more" section.
A log train at Jamison City
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THE END
Of The Bloomsburg & Sullivan R.R.
In 1926, 8 miles of the road from Benton to Jamison City were abandoned.
The railroad was sold at public auction at Bloomsburg on October 28 1928. It was purchased by the Reading Company.
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READ MORE
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For MUCH more information, follow the Bloomsburg & Sullivan Railroad history and memories Facebook Group.
The Bloomsburg and Sullivan Railroad, (e.1888-d.1972) also called the B & S Railroad, was a long-lived independent shortline railroad that existed under that name operating independently from 1888 to 1928 in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, when it was made a subsidiary of the Reading Railroad, which closed it in 1972. The shortline railroad was 29 miles long, running from south of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania past the town, then northwards to Jamison City, Pennsylvania, with 4.45 miles of yard tracks. The Bloomsburg and Sullivan Railroad was one of five railroads serving Bloomsburg near the turn of the 20th century. The Bloomsburg and Sullivan Railroad Company's headquarters was in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the managers of the company were James Corcoran and Thomas Wheeler. The Bloomsburg and Sullivan Railroad owned five locomotives and seven cars in 1917.
The Sunbury American
May 4 1888
Engineer James Casey , Fireman Harry Bittenbender Conductor Jay W. Scott & Brakeman John Bunting
"There were three trains, The Bloomsburg and Sullivan passenger train, a freight train and a log train. The passenger train made three trips a day to Bloomsburg; left Jamison at six o’clock in the morning, back in Jamison City at ten o’clock to Bloomsburg at four o’clock, to Jamison City at eight o’clock in the evening. The train had a baggage car, it carried the U.S. Mail three times a day. The baggage master on the train was Henry Rupert. My father, James Casey, was the only engineer. The other crew members on the passenger train that I remember were J. W. Scott, John Bunting, conductors; firemen were Charles Ash, Charles Welliver, Harry Bittenbender, Samuel Lanning and Roland Hess was brakeman. The freight crew were Charles Turner, Webb Faye, Wm. Straub, Amos Lyn, Ralph Miller and Mr. Rhodarmel. Some of these men later worked on the passenger train. The freight train made one round trip a day, the superintendent was W. C. Snyder and Samuel Wigfall. During the Bloomsburg Fair week they ran a special train every day and always filled with passengers. The stations were Jamison City, Central, Edsons, Stillwater, Zaners, Forks, Lightstreet, and Bloomsburg; also the train always stopped at Grassmere Park, Maple Grove, and Williams Lodge near Forks but no station there. " - Elizabeth [Casey] Chapin, Jamison City As I Remember It
W.C. Snyder Appointed Superintendent
The Altoona Mirror, 1903
December 1893
In January of 1894, the early morning train from Jamison City, and the late evening train from Bloomsburg for Jamison City, were discontinued.
From Taber’s “Railroads of Pennsylvania: Encyclopedia & Atlas” (1987)
N.B. Crouse of Forks, a brakeman on the Bloomsburg & Sullivan, was caught between the wheels of a train and had both legs cut off, at Jamison City on December 6th 1902. He had just broken a coupling and was attempting to step from one car to another when he fell beneath the cars and was run over. He died of his injuries on the way to the Wilkes Barre Hospital.
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