Jamestown, Chautauqua and Lake Erie Railway
History
The Jamestown, Chautauqua and Lake Erie Railway was one of a succession of companies operating along the eastern side of Chautauqua Lake. company opened a line from Mayville to Westfield on July 1, 1902 and leased the Jamestown & Chautauqua Railroad. The Buffalo & Lake Erie Traction Company, an interurban line, bought up all the stock in February 1907. The line went into receivership and was purchased by the Broadhead interests, owners of the Jamestown Street Railway and Chautauqua Traction Company.
Mr. C. T. Arend compiled this oral history of the line from his father, a conductor for the JC&LE.
Gas Motor Car #1 on the Jamestown, Chautauqua and Lake Erie Railroad
On December 8, 1913 the Jamestown, Westfield & Northwestern Railroad took over the line and began electrifying the main line. Passenger operations ended November 30, 1947 following the death leading members of the Broadhead family. The line began diesel powered freight service which continued until January 21, 1950.
A 1907 pass from the railroad.
Major WNY Facilities
Jamestown
Mayville
Brocton
Maps

Adapted from the "Official Railway & Steamboat Guide Chautauqua Lake Tourists Guide, 1889-90", F. M. Lewis & H. B. Stranahan Publishers, Cleveland, Ohio.
References
Ebersole, Helen. 1998. Trolleys of Jamestown and Chautauqua Lake.
Reifschneider, Felix E. 1949. Interurbans of the Empire State. Self-Published.
Woodbury, John. 1958. Unpublished Notes.
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Western New York Railroad Archive http://wnyrails.railfan.net Author: Mark Fischer E-Mail: wnyrails@railfan.net
Last Modified: July 30, 2005

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