1875-77 – PRR track activities through Paoli based upon a Petition for Compensation to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, (April 28, 1880).

That the Pennsylvania Railroad Company under the provisions of its Charter, the supplements thereto, and especially a further Supplement approved the tenth day of April, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven for the purpose of straightening and improving the line of its Rail Road, surveyed located and marked upon the ground a Route for a new line of Rail Road in the said Township of Tredyffrin in the said County of Chester, passing through the said Messuage Plantation and tract of land of the said John D. Evans, laid, erected, constructed, made and completed their said new line of Rail Road, within five years last past [1875] … and put the said new line of Rail Road in operation, within three years last past [1877].

January 11, 1876 Straightening the Track – The Pennsylvania Railroad Company will soon place a large force of men at work in straightening the railroad track, between Eagle and Malvern stations. They have the surveys completed and when the work commences it will be pushed forward with dispatch. We understand that the company is making some effort looking towards the purchase of John D. Evans’ hotel property at Paoli.

Daily Local News (West Chester)
Source: CCHS Clipping File

April 4, 1876 Pennsylvania Railroad Items – Mr. M Harris, of Malvern, has received the contract for removing the ballast from the present bed of the Pennsylvania Railroad to the new bed, which change has been brought about by the straightening of the track. His contract extends from Malvern Station to Duffy’s embankment. At Paoli, the work of straightening goes bravely on. The cut at that point, now being made, is 28 feet in depth, and Senator Lemens, of Carlisle, is the contractor. Over thirty carts are employed in the work.

Daily Local News (West Chester)
Source: CCHS Clipping File

August 28, 1876 Contract Awarded – The Pennsylvania Railroad Company have very recently let the contract for the work of straightening the road from Paoli eastward to Eagle station, and the workmen will soon be on the ground. The track is divided into three sections. The western section will be worked by Mr. Lemon, the contractor of the grading that has already been done at Paoli. The middle division has been awarded to a Mr. Lyon, of Lancaster city, and Wm. S. Needs, of Philadelphia, has contracted for the eastern section. This job of straightening will probably require more labor that any of the other alterations along the line. The new line will do away with several very short and dangerous curves. The work of grading will be very heavy and will require a very large force of men and a long time to complete it. – Downingtown Archive.

Daily Local News (West Chester)
Source: CCHS Clipping File

June 5, 1877 Along the Pennsylvania Railroad. Grading – The grading for straightening the track from Eagle to Green Tree, is nearly finished. In some places the track is already laid.

Daily Local News (West Chester)
Source: CCHS Clipping File

August 6, 1877 RAILROAD MATTERS. – At Paoli yesterday, connection was made by the new and straightened portion of the main road, so that the line of that iron thoroughfare now takes its way within a little distance of the old station. Quite a large force of workmen were employed in making the change.

Daily Local News
Chester County Historical Society

October 16, 1877 … Near Reeseville, in Easttown township, many years since the town of “Glassly” was laid out, and lots sold bounded by certain streets, alleys. Etc. etc. The plot of this old town was not upon record, and the most thorough search in the Court House offices failed to find it. It was very important to have it, because some of these lots were to be purchased by the [PRR] Company. Mr. McFarland, after much inquiry, found it in the hands of a lady in the neighborhood and now has the plot of draft in his possession. “Mine host” John D. Evans, at the Paoli, will not or cannot agree with the company as to the worth of his land, and it looks now as if that station may be wiped out altogether and a station made near the old Black Bear property on Hugh J. Steen’s land and the “Y” removed to the Green Tree. The company tire of so much local hostility, and the fate of Parkesburg when the [railroad] shops were driven away from there may be that of the Paoli.

Daily Local News (West Chester)
Source: CCHS Clipping File

1877 - PRR opens line relocation between Eagle and Green Tree and third track between Berwyn and Malvern on Philadelphia Division. See: PRR Chronology.

June 23, 1881 The Pennsylvania Railroad Company are now engaged in building four tracks from Philadelphia to Malvern. The two on the south side of the road will be used exclusively for freight trains, and the two on the north side for passengers. This will necessitate the removal of some of the stations on the road, two of them being very fine ones – the one at Bryn Mawr and the other at Ardmore.

Daily Local News (West Chester)

1882 – During this year the four-track system on the Philadelphia Division was extended from Merion to Villa Nova … and the grading was completed for an extension of the four-track system from … Paoli to Malvern [1].

Notes and References

1. Maintenance of Way Report; Thirty-Sixth Annual Report, Pennsylvania Railroad Company, January 1, 1883.