The R. S. & E. in Lyons

History - Lyons

The R. S. & E. in Lyons

These three postcards follow the trail of R. S. & E. cars:

the first is traveling north on William Street;

the second is rounding the corner from William on to Canal Street;

and the third is on Canal St.

With a single smudged postmark, I believed them to be from 1907. The Newark Courier of that time confirmed it.

In early 1907, ads touted:

The Finest Inter-Urban Double Track
Electric Road in the Country
No smoke, No Dust, Elegant Cars, Frequent Service
Now operated between Rochester and Lyons.

In July, the State Railroad Commission approved an increase in common capital stock of the Rochester, Syracuse & Eastern Railroad - part of a plan to finance the road and complete it to Syracuse.

"The road has been in operation for several months from Rochester to the village of Lyons, and is now being extended to Port Byron, a distance of 21 miles."

By Thursday, July 11, the Courier was reporting:

"The R.S. & E. R.R. has established a remarkable record. It completed its first year of operation on Wednesday of last week without a collision, the death or the serious injury of a passenger during that time."

July 25:

"The next installment of trolley cars for the R. S. & E. will consist of fifteen combination passenger and baggage cars. The order has already been placed."

"...The R. S. & E. has not been able to formally open its line to Clyde this week as expected, but has nevertheless been able to run cars into Clyde temporarily during the Firemen's Convention of yesterday and today. The road is double tracked to Clyde, but permanent ballasting is not completed."

Then, by August 15:

"R. S. & E. cars will run through to Clyde today for accommodation of the crowd for the Star of Italy celebration. The running time on the line for this day will be one car per hour through the day and a car each half hour in the evening. The regular time schedule...will be resumed tomorrow."

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