Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad and Coal Company
Encyclopedia
The Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad and Coal Company (LSRR) was a railway company in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
in the 19th century. The main line ran from Port Clinton
to Tamanend, for a total of 28 miles (45.1 km).
from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on February 28, 1826. Construction began in 1830; the tracks were constructed with wooden rails. The LSRR operated between Tamaqua
and Port Clinton
, at a junction with the Reading Railroad, beginning in 1831 with horse-drawn cars. Two steam locomotives were acquired by the railroad in 1833, but the wooden tracks did not support the engines. Iron "T" rails replaced the wooden ones in 1845, and the locomotves were then returned to regular service. It completed a junction with the Catawissa Railroad
at Tamanend (also called Little Schuylkill Junction) in 1854.
In 1857 the LSRR built a roundhouse
in Tamaqua, housing 21 locomotives
and a turntable. In 1863 the company was leased by the Reading Railroad for 93 years. It formally merged with the Reading in 1952.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the 19th century. The main line ran from Port Clinton
Port Clinton, Pennsylvania
Port Clinton is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 288 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Port Clinton is located at ....
to Tamanend, for a total of 28 miles (45.1 km).
History
The railroad received a charterCharter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on February 28, 1826. Construction began in 1830; the tracks were constructed with wooden rails. The LSRR operated between Tamaqua
Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
Tamaqua is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Coal Region, had a population of 7,107 as of the 2010 U.S...
and Port Clinton
Port Clinton, Pennsylvania
Port Clinton is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 288 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Port Clinton is located at ....
, at a junction with the Reading Railroad, beginning in 1831 with horse-drawn cars. Two steam locomotives were acquired by the railroad in 1833, but the wooden tracks did not support the engines. Iron "T" rails replaced the wooden ones in 1845, and the locomotves were then returned to regular service. It completed a junction with the Catawissa Railroad
Catawissa Railroad
The Catawissa Railroad was a railroad that operated in Pennsylvania between 1860 and 1953. For most of its lifespan it was leased by the Reading Railroad, and was subsequently merged into the Reading.-History:...
at Tamanend (also called Little Schuylkill Junction) in 1854.
In 1857 the LSRR built a roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
in Tamaqua, housing 21 locomotives
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
and a turntable. In 1863 the company was leased by the Reading Railroad for 93 years. It formally merged with the Reading in 1952.