Syracuse & Utica RR

Introduction

The Syracuse & Utica was chartered May 1, 1836 and had to pay the state for any freight displaced from the canal.   The full line opened July 3, 1839, extending the line farther to Syracuse via Rome (and further to Auburn via the already-opened Auburn & Syracuse).   This line was not direct, going out of its way to stay near the Erie Canal and serve Rome, and so the Syracuse & Utica Direct Railroad was chartered January 26, 1853.   Nothing of that line was ever built, though the later West Shore, acquired by the NYC in 1885, served the same purpose.