Here is the entire history of rail service in Breesport,
from the Herb Trice book.
1872
The Utica, Ithaca & Elmira comes through Breesport.
building eastward from Horseheads.
Made it as far as Park station by Autumn 1872, when construction ceased for the winter.
The UI&E, although one railroad, is now in two parts.
Horseheads-Park Station and Ithaca-Cortland.
2 major obstacles remain to make the connection.
Swartwood Hill (with two ravines requiring trestles) between Breesport and VanEtten.
and the gorge at Brooktondale, between Vanetten and Ithaca.
October, 1873, rails reach VanEtten from Horseheads.
From VanEtten to Ithaca, the UI&E operates via trackage rights on the Ithaca & Athens. (the LV tracks that remain today.)
then, there is the problem of getting from "lower" Ithaca at lake level, and connecting with the UI&E Ithaca station and the line on to Cortland, which is way up on top of the hill at Cornell University..
only 2 miles away, but a huge difference in elevation!
The railroad plans to build its line up the side of the hill in Ithaca, to connect its two divisions.
using the "Hill Climbing Locomotive" and a standard gauge cog railway!
the Locomotive was built and delivered, "The Leviathan", a huge standard gauge Mason Bogie.
but the line up Cascidilla gorge was never built:
http://gold.mylargescale.com/scottychaos/leviathan.htm
Instead of building up the side of the hill in Ithaca, the UI&E builds its own line from VanEtten to "upper" Ithaca..making its railroad complete, with its own rails the whole way, from Horseheads to Cortland On February 2, 1876.
1882
the UI&E extends from Horseheads to Elmira, by taking over the "Canal Railroad"..which had been built along the former Chemung Canal in 1881.
October 1883, The Breesport shops of the UI&E burn to the ground.
the shops are not rebuilt, and the UI&E shops are moved to Cortland.
(not sure when the shops were built..but probably right away..perhaps even 1872..so the Breesport shops only existed about 11 years total, were gone in 1883.)
(the UI&E never did make its final destination of Utica!)
February, 1884.
The UI&E and other smaller lines are merged to form the Elmira, Cortland & Northern. making a railroad from Elmira to Canastota.
Utica, Ithaca & Elmira railroad existed 12 years. 1872-1884.
1896
EC&N is absorbed into the LV..becoming the Elmira & Cortland branch,
EC&N exists 12 years. 1884-1896.
June 11, 1938
The last LV train leaves Elmira over the branch.
pulled by LV 4-6-0 1165.
Rails lifted through Breesport in 1938.
LVRR operated through Breesport 42 years. 1896-1938.
Breesport had rail service a total of 66 years.
1872-1938.
If you dont have the Herb Trice book, "The Gangly Country Cousin"
GET IT!!
Mr Trice is an amazing historian, his book is extremely well written and detailed.
I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Trice a few times at his home,
He helped me with research on the "Leviathan"..
great guy!
Scot