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Go back to KV Represented at NY Worlds Fair
Last Scheduled RunDr. Getter the General Manager and President of the KV, blamed the demise of his railroad on a number of things: Too many government regulations, excess taxes and, most of all, what he labeled "unfair competition" of the automobile, since it operated on roads built by state and federal taxes contributed, in part, by railroads. The directors could only foresee their debts rising, and on the fateful day of December 30, 1938, they decided to quit railroading. However, trains continued to run for about a year, until the road could be sold.At that time the railroad's value, with its permanent improvements and modern equipment, was thought to be at least $200,000; but the scrap price was set at only $25,000. This included track, rolling stock, locomotives and real estate. Several people tried to buy the railroad with the intentions of operating it rather than see it fall in the hands of a scrap dealer. One was Robert Lewis, who organized the National Railway Historical Society excursion. He worked out a deal for a loan with the federal Reconstruction Finance Corporation and began raising pledges. But Getter advised him, as a friend, not to buy the railroad, and never took the young 20-something Lewis too seriously. While Lewis was collecting his subscriptions, the Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad, in Vermont, made an offer to buy the KV for $26,500 cash, with a $500 down payment. It possibly had the same interest as Lewis - to try to make the "Hook & Eye" run at a profit. The directors were getting rather anxious to sell, and during a special session on September 28,1939, they decided to sell the company to the HT&W.
Robert Lewis made a last attempt to gain control of the KV through the help of a scrap dealer, Murray Salzberg. A check for $29,000 was handed to Lewis, from Salzberg, to give to Getter. This was done with the understanding that if the doctor accepted the check, Salzberg would install Lewis as the railroad's manager and give it a chance to become profitable. But Getter was skeptical. He refused Salzberg's check, claiming that he had already shaken hands with the Rochester company, and accepted a $2,000 down payment. So ended KV's chance for a longer life. On Thursday evening, February 15,1940, the last scheduled train rolled across the tracks of the Kishacoquillas Valley Railroad. The steam was shut down and the whistle tied open. It sounded a long mournful death cry, proclaiming to the valley that the railroad's useful life was finally at an end. Afterward, the Belleville Chamber of Commerce held a tribute meeting in the community hall to commemorate the old KV and the people who played a part in its 47-year history. The highlight of the evening came when Getter, the only survivor of the group of men who organized the company, read his history of the line. A mixed quartet sang "Auld Lang Syne" with the audience joining in the last chorus, thus closing the tribute of the KV. |
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