LEATHERSTOCKING RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad...
Celebrating 140 Years Of Rail
Transportation... 1869 - 2009
1876
– Gauge (distance between the rails) on the CACV changed to 4’ 8 1/2"standard gauge from 6’ in order to be able to interchange cars with other railroads.
1888
– Name changes to Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad (CACV).1901
– Trolley Line from Oneonta reaches Cooperstown. The CACV never had a direct connection with the Trolley Line, and in fact refused to allow the Trolley Line to cross its tracks at Chestnut Street until 1903.Early 1900’s - 10 to 14 trains, including three passenger trains, ran daily through Milford.¡
1902
– A railroad was planned to run from Cooperstown to Fort Plain. From the History of Cooperstown 1886 -1928, in 1902 the railroad owners hoped to push a line through to Fort Plain, to be known as the Cooperstown & Northern Railroad. Grading for this proposed railroad was started in 1905. It was never completed as the landowners refused to allow their land to be taken in any manner.It finally ended up in the Supreme Court, which sided with the landowners. As a result, the railroad never went north of Cooperstown.
1903
– The Delaware & Hudson Railway buys the CACV, renaming it the Cooperstown Branch of the D&H.1937
– Passenger service was discontinued.1947
– About three freight trains per week run from Cooperstown Junction to Cooperstown.c. 1947-1948- The post WWII American Freedom Train travels over the line to visit Cooperstown.
1971 – Delaware & Hudson Railway sells the CACV to Delaware Otsego Corporation who runs both tourist and freight trains from Cooperstown Junction to Cooperstown.
1975 – Excursion trains (passenger service) discontinued under Delaware Otsego Corporation ownership.
Early 1980’s - freight traffic on the line declines and the railroad is shut down.
July, 1997 – The Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society and the Leatherstocking Chapter, NRHS purchases the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad.
June 6, 1999 – after several months of rehabilitation, the CACV begins a new life as a tourist railroad carrying passengers again between Milford and Cooperstown. In the future we hope to open the southern eight miles of the line from Cooperstown Junction to Milford.