Altoona and Beech Creek Railroad - Conversion and Abandonment

Conversion and Abandonment

Andrew Kepple, one of the original Altoona & Wopsononock directors, was elected president of the newly organized company. The board remained largely unchanged, although Shellenberger finally severed his association with the railroad. It remained unprofitable, and Davis, in turn, sold the line to Sigmund Morris, of Altoona. Morris had incorporated the Altoona Northern Railroad on November 7, 1912 to acquire the line, and the Altoona, Juniata and Northern was merged into it on January 16, 1913. Morris planned to convert the railroad to standard gauge, electrify it to make it an interurban, and extend it to connect with the Beech Creek Railroad (a subsidiary of the New York Central Railroad) at Patton. However, Morris was unable to execute these plans. A group of New York City investors took over the railroad about 1916. They converted the railroad to standard gauge, operating initially with ex-Pennsylvania Railroad 2-6-0s, but replacing them with Heislers when the 2-6-0s were found to be unsuitable for the track.

The conversion failed to make the railroad pay, and the company went into receivership again on August 8, 1918. The last passenger train was operated on July 16, 1919 and the last coal train on July 30. Negotiations with the bondholders to resume service were not successful, and the rails were removed in 1921.