Wednesday, June 26, 2019

the last FJ and G train to try to cross the Sacandaga valley which was flooded to create the Sacandaga reservoir to control flooding which was damaging towns down river (Thanks William M!)


On April 8, 1930 Engine #8 had to return to Gloversville as the approaching water nearly reached the train's firebox. During this year, the Sacandaga River was dammed at Conklingville to create the reservoir. The train made it out safe.


As early as the 1800’s discussions of building a dam took place, but were dismissed as technologically impossible. The Great Sacandaga River flooded every spring and damaged many communities downstream. Despite the flooding problems in the Spring, the river would dry up in the summer shutting down mills and factories and creating health hazards.

But by the late 1800’s there were possibilities and the idea of the dam was proposed.

The Sacandaga River was used for logging and attracted many spectators. In 1867 F.J. and G railroad acquired the 16 miles of railroad

The railroad had its start in 1867 and remained in business until the 1980s, and by the late 1880's , the FJ and G railroad owned 7 locomotives, 9 passenger coaches, 3 express and baggage cars, and 30 box and platform freight cars.



In 1888 The Adirondack Inn was built with room for 250 guests and an elevator, and two large passenger stations were built in Gloversville and Johnstown. A number of freight and storage structures were built along the line, including a comprehensive locomotive repair shop in Gloversville. The addition of the section to Broadalbin, with a station in Vail Mills, completed a total of 32 miles for the FJ and G Steam Division.

 In 1894 the FJ and G merged with its regional competitor, the Cayadutta Electric Railroad.


The latter then operated as the FJ and G's Electric Division. This division was powered from a large steam-powered electric generating plant in Tribes Hill. An "Amsterdam Division" was acquired in 1901. In 1903 FJ and G completed a double-track line from Johnstown to Amsterdam and on through the Mohawk Valley to Scotia, crossing the Mohawk River into Schenectady.

In the early 1920’s the Valley was a booming resort town with luxurious and beautifully landscaped inns with golf courses, a sports complex, off Broadway Theater and amusement park with a roller coaster, but in the late 1920's business was slowing down on the branch and New York State was eye-balling The Sacandaga Valley as the site of a new reservoir, that would double as flood-control for cities along the Hudson and maybe generate electricity

The waters of the Sacandaga and the Hudson Rivers flooded with run-off every spring causing great damage to homes and businesses. Work to stop floods in the valley began in the 1920’s and the great Conklingville Dam was put to use in the Spring of 1930 filling the great valley with 283 billion gallons of water!

The cost of the dam would be $12,000,000.00. No tax dollars were used, It was paid for by the businesses benefiting from the flood protection!

This was no easy task. This was the biggest reservoir in the area ever to be built. Farms, wood lots and entire communities would be replaced by 283 billion gallons of water! Fifty miles of new roads needed to be constructed, and 10 new bridges needed to be built, 12,000 homes had to be moved or destroyed; 3,872 people from 22 different cemeteries had to be trans-buried.

The flooding was scheduled for after the Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville railroad was removed, but they delayed the matter a little bit with fighting in court starting in 1925 because the railroad wanted $4,000,000 for their abandoned road and for re-location. After years of fighting, the FJ and G was awarded $1.7 million for their troubles which they felt didn't justify rebuilding a railroad around the new reservoir.

So when the rains came unexpectedly and flooding began ahead of plan, it caught the train still making it's run across a valley, that was beginning to go under water for the last time, and it was too deep to risk it, so they backed it up.


Workers weren't able to remove all the rail from the abandoned line because the lake rose so fast. The job was completed a few years later when the lake receded due to a drought.


The Sacandaga River was used for logging and attracted many spectators. In 1867 F.J. and G railroad acquired the 16 miles of railroad and built a picnic area which was the beginning of the ” Coney Island of the North.

In 1888 The Adirondack Inn was built with room for 250 guests and an elevator!

The railroad had its start in 1867 and remained in business until the 1980s.

Gloversville got its name due to the 205 glove factories in this area in 1905.

http://www.visitsacandaga.com/f-j-g-rail-trail/
https://www.facebook.com/MyUpstateNY/photos/a-train-in-the-middle-of-sacandaga-lake-on-april-8-1930-engine-8-had-to-return-t/519660208215869/
https://ginosrailblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/last-days-of-gloversville-and-northville.html

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