Little Miami Railroad Routes And Times

The connection for Columbus was made at Xenia by the Columbus & Xenia Railroad, which was, however, not constructed until 1848-49, the first passenger train traversing it February 20, 1850. Soon afterwards the members of the general assembly made an excursion over this and the Little Miami roads to Cincinnati. On November 30, 1853, the two companies operating each its own road entered into an arrangement by which both were operated as a single line. January 1, 1865, they came into possession, by lease, of the Dayton and Western and the Richmond & Miami Railways, and, later in the same year, by purchase, of the division of the Dayton, Xenia & Belpre road between the two places first named. The partnership arrangement of 1853 was dissolved November 30, 1868, when the Little Miami company took a lease for ninety-nine years of the Columbus & Xenia road, and all the rights and interests of that corporation in the Dayton & Western, Xenia & Belpre, and Richmond & Miami roads. Just one year and one day thereafter the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis (Pan-Handle) railroad company leased of the Little Miami Company its own road, the branch owned by it from Xenia to Dayton, and all its rights in the Columbus & Xenia and other roads. The lease is for ninety years, renewable forever, and brings an annual rental of eight per cent to the Little Miami company on its capital stock, besides interest on the funded debt, five thousand dollars yearly for expenses of organization, and the fulfillment of lease obligations to its own leased lines. The road is operated by the Pennsylvania Company, which was a party to the contract, and by whom its faithful performance was guaranteed. The total length of its lines is one hundred and ninety-five and nine-tenths miles, eighty-four on the main line, Cincinnati to Springfield; sixteen on its branch, Xenia to Dayton; fifty-four and seventy-four hundredths on its leased line from Xenia to Columbus; thirty-seven on that from Dayton to the Indiana State line (Dayton & Western), and four and sixteen-hundredths thence to Richmond, Indiana (Richmond & Miami). It is one of the most profitable roads in the United States, its earnings per mile in 1879 being six thousand eight hundred and one dollars and ninety-two cents, and its expenses but four thousand four hundred and fifty-eight dollars and fifty three cents per mile.
The trip to New York was made in 48 hours by the following schedule--leaving Cincinnati at five o'clock and twenty minutes a.m., and Columbus at 11 o'clock and thirty minutes a.m., arriving at Cleveland at six o'clock that evening. From this point passengers took the boat for Buffalo, arriving the next morning, and thence by express train at Albany, at which point they again embarked by boat for New York and there was no charge for meals or staterooms on the boats. The sleeping accommodations of the trip were on the boats, as sleeping cars were then an unheard of luxury. The total cost of the trip from Cincinnati to New York was $17.50. It is hardly likely that traveling was an unmixed pleasure, in those days, as much remained to be desired in the way of construction and equipment, such as are now required, even in the least highly developed lines.
The first passenger coaches were extremely crude and followed closely the design of stage coaches, with a double deck arrangement, in all seating about twenty-four persons. "The first engines were similar in design to those used for threshing machines and weighed only ten tons, including fuel and water. The speed of the early engines was about ten miles per hour for passenger and half of that for freight, while transportation charges ran as high as 25 cents per ton mile.

LITTLE MIAMI RAILROAD, 1851
NEW ARRANGEMENT--Three daily Trains--Change of Hours--one "Through" train to Sandusky and two to Columbus daily--On and after THURSDAY, Jan. 2d, 1851, until further notice. Passenger Trains will run as follows: Leave Depot, East Front Street at 1 o'clock and 30 minutes, A.M., at 6 o'clock A.M., and 2 o'clock and 30 minutes P.M., for Milford, Foster's Crossing, Deerfield, Morrow, Fort Ancient, Freeport, Waynesville, Spring Valley, Xenia, Yellow Springs and Springfield, except 1 o'clock and 30 minutes A.M., train to Xenia only.
Returning, will leave Springfield at 6 o'clock and 35 minutes A.M., and 2 o'clock and 45 minutes P.M. Leave Xenia at 12 o'clock midnight, 8 o'clock A.M. and 3 o'clock and 35 minutes P.M.
Passengers by 1 o'clock and 30 minutes A.M. train--first mail train--through via Xenia and Columbus to Wheeling in 28 hours.
Passengers by 6 o'clock A.M. train--through train to Sandusky City.
Passengers by 2 o'clock and 30 min. P.M. train--second mail train--through via Xenia and Columbus to Wheeling in 27 1/2 hours. This train to Springfield also.
The cars of the Columbus and Xenia Railroad connect with the 1 o'clock and 30 minutes A.M. train, and 2 0'clock and 30 minutes P.M. train.
On Sunday two Trains will be run, leaving Cincinnati at 1 o'clock and 30 minutes A.M. and 2 o'clock and 30 minutes P.M. leaves Springfield at 6 o'clock and 35 minutes A.M., Xenia at 12 o'clock midnight, and 8 o'clock A.M.
FARE--From Cincinnati to Xenia...........$1.90
From Cincinnati to Springfield.....$2.50
From Cincinnati to Bellevue........$6.00
From Cincinnati to Sandusky City...$6.50
From Cincinnati to Columbus........$3.50 From Cincinnati to Wheeling.......$10.50
For more information and Through Tickets, apply at the Ticket Office on Broadway near Front Street, Cincinnati.
The Lebanon Hack leaves Lebanon at 6 o'clock A.M.--returns at half past nine. Leaves Lebanon again at 3 o'clock 10 minutes and returns at quarter past six.
Cincinnati to Lebanon.......................$1.00

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This page created 18 September 2004 and last updated 28 September, 2008
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