In the year 1832 the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad was charted. In the year 1834 a meeting was held to survey between Sandusky and Tiffin, Ohio by the way of Bellevue, Ohio. The work of construction was started at once. Ground was first broken at the east end of Water Street at the intersection of Meig Street in Sandusky, Ohio on September 17, 1835.

In this same year 1835, contracts were let for bridges and grading on the located line and the work of construction started.

In 1836 Col. John H. James of Urbana, Ohio one of the pioneers of the state was chosen president of the company. Under his management the work of construction was accelerated as much as the limited means of the corporation would permit.

In the same year Col. James contracted for the iron to be used between Sandusky and Bellevue, Ohio. He also entered into a contract with the firm of Roger Ketchum and the governor of Paterson, New Jersey for the construction of a locomotive to be named the Sandusky. 

The locomotive Sandusky was brought from Buffalo, New York on the vessel Sandusky to the town of Sandusky in the year 1837; and during the fall was placed on the tracks between Sandusky and Bellevue, Ohio. The road having been completed between these points in that year. 

In the year 1850 the road was completed to Dayton, Ohio, a distance of 154 miles and the following year was in operation.

The same year in which the Mad River and Lake Erie road was completed to Dayton, Ohio, another line known as the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railroad Company met the former at Dayton, Ohio. Thus in 1851 a through connection was constructed and in operation between Sandusky and Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1851 an act was passed by the legislature incorporating the Sandusky City and Indiana Railroad Company. This company was organized to construct a road from Sandusky to Tiffin, Ohio by the way of Clyde, Ohio. Built with the capital and in the interest of the Mad River and Lake Erie road. On December 1, 1854 this road via Clyde, Ohio was leased for ninety nine years and renewable forever to the Mad River Company. The old road to Tiffin, Ohio by way of Bellevue, Ohio was discontinued and abandoned.

The first change in the name of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad was made on February 3, 1858 under a decree of the Common Pleas of Erie County by which the road became known as the Sandusky, Dayton, and Cincinnati Railroad Company.

On July 2, 1866 under reorganization, the line passed to the management of the Sandusky and Cincinnati Railroad Company, and so remained until October 8, 1866 when the line was leased for a term of ninety nine years, renewable forever to the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Eastern Railroad Company. On January 11, 1868 it was changed to the Cincinnati, Sandusky, and Cleveland Railroad Company.

In the late 1890's it was changed to the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Ohio Street Lo. Railroad. About 1916 the New York Central Railroad bought it. Then the name was changed to Penn. Central. A line of track about 50 miles long was abandoned in 1967 between Sandusky and Carey, Ohio.

Now for the insulators on the line. It is about the best line around here. I have worked this line about four years and have only covered about 20 miles of it. Counting the threaded and threadless there are eight new finds so far.

THREADED INSULATORS

THREADLESS INSULATORS

The first one is the M.L. Wood insulator. It is cast iron with porcelain coating in the pin hole. I dug this one about two years ago and it is one of a kind. It is in the January, 1979 "Crown Jewels" on page 4 and 5. I displayed it at the Rochester Show in 1983. It was 4 inches in the ground -- Imagine, lying on the ground for over 100 years! It was rusted on the outside; the porcelain in the pin hole was all there.