Rochester and State Line Railroad - A Lamb Between The Wolves

A Lamb Between The Wolves

In the middle of the 19th century, two interests had essentially divided up the rail industry in New York State. Vanderbilt and the New York Central and Hudson River contended, often in dramatic terms, against Fisk, Gould, and Drew's Erie Railroad. The tie between the New York Central and the R & S L can be inferred from the presence of George J Whitney on the boards of both companies. Vanderbilt had reason to want railroad access to the rich coal resources of Pennsylvania as well as wanting to acquire the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, which had a terminus at Salamanca. In 1872, Whitney started a two-year term as president of the R S & L, strengthening the unwritten alliance with Vanderbilt.