Northern NY Interurbans

Maps and Details on the Interurbans Systems in New York

Sparsely populated, with most of the area dominated by the Adirondack mountains, northern New York State had little interurban development. Plattsburgh and Watertown were the largest “urban” areas and each had short but useful trolley lines.

Paul Smith's Electric Railway, in the heart of the Adirondacks, was built to connect his hotel to the nearby railroad and even provided switching services to bring wealthy visitor’s luxurious private parlor cars to a siding next to the hotel. “A millionaire city dweller could embark in the privacy of his luxuriously equipped car which, upon arrival at Lake Clear Junction, would be switched to the Paul Smith trolley for the final leg of the journey.” - Historian John Duquette

Northern NY Area Map

Pan and zoom in and out on the map below for a detailed understanding of the various trolley companies in service in 1924.

Interurban Timelines - Predecessors/Mergers/End of Life

Further Details

• Black River Traction Trolley
• Paul Smith's Electric Railway

Source/Credits

The Electric Interurban Railways in America by George Woodman Hilton, ‎John Fitzgerald

David Rumsey Historical Map Collection

• 1924 New York State
  (eastern Section)
• 1924 New York State
  (western and northern sections)

 back to interactive New York State map