Schenectady Railway Co. v. United Traction Co.

101 A.D. 277, 91 N.Y.S. 651

This text of 101 A.D. 277 (Schenectady Railway Co. v. United Traction Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schenectady Railway Co. v. United Traction Co., 101 A.D. 277, 91 N.Y.S. 651 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1905).

Opinion

Chase, J. :

The plaintiff owns and operates-a street surface railroad in the city of Schenectady, and the defendant owns and -operates a. street; surface railroad in the city of Albany. In the years 1900 and 1901 [279]*279the plaintiff constructed a double-track railroad between said cities and connected the tracks thereof with its tracks in the city of Schenectady and with the tracks of the defendant’s road in the city of Albany.

On the 26th day of June, 1901, the plaintiff and the defendant entered into a written contract under their respective corporate seals by which contract the defendant agreed to permit the plaintiff to operate passenger cars over its said tracks on certain streets in said city of Albany. - The plaintiff procured passenger cars adapted for use on said railroad between said cities, and on the 8tli day of September, 1901, commenced the operation of its cars upon said connecting railroad, and over the tracks of the defendant on said streets in the city of Albany, and continued to use its cars, “ which cars were of the dimensions and equipped with all necessary appliances as required and acquiesced in by the defendant.”

The agreement of June 26, 1901, was by its terms to continue during the life of the franchises held by the defendant, which franchises are still in force. The plaintiff’s complaint alleges the facts above mentioned, and further alleges that' “ notwithstanding ■ tbe terms of said contract and the plaintiff’s rights thereunder, the defendant has forcibly prevented the plaintiff from continuing the operation of some of its ca/rs heretofore in use on said railroad as aforesaid over the said tracks of the defendant ” on'certain streets qf the city of Albany, and “ threatens and intends to continue to prevent such operation.” The complaint further alleges “ that said cars have heretofore been run upon a regular schedule and accommodate and carry-a large number of passengers daily between said two cities, and if the plaintiff is prevented from continuing the operation of said cars over the tracks above mentioned upon a regular schedule it will suffer great inconvenience and damage in the operation of its road and the accommodation of its passengers, for which it. has no adequate remedy at law.”

The complaint demands that the defendant be enjoined and restrained from preventing the operation of the plaintiff’s cars over its tracks in said streets. An order was obtained by the plaintiff, ex parte, restraining the defendant “ from preventing in any manner whatsoever the operation by the plaintiff * * * of any of the cars of the plaintiff ” over certain of said streets in the city of [280]*280Albany “ in the same manner as the same have been operated heretofore prior to May 16tli, 1904.” The defendant was ordered to show cause why said injunction should not be continued during the pendency of the action, )'

On the return of/the order to show cause it appeared that said contract of June 26, 1901, provided: “ The Railway Company shall not use or operate any car' or' cars of .such excessive weight, either with or without loads, or at such unusual or excessive rates of speed, or in any other improper manner, so as' to unnecessarily destroy or impair, or unreasonably wear the tracks, curves, turnouts, switches, bridges, track structures or other property of said party of the first part, or so as to make the maintenance of the -track of the United ' Company unusually difficult or expensive. Until another type of car may be agreed upon - between the parties hereto, the Railway Company may operate cars'forty-eight feet over all, with four motor equipments, air brake and track brake equipments, etc., said cars to weigh not to exceed twenty-five tons when, loaded.”

- The cars procured by the plaintiff for use on its said road between said cities and over the tracks of the defendant in said streets in the city of Albany and used by it when it commenced the operation of said road on the 8th dayof September, 1901, were known as the “ 500 ” type of car and which cars were within the limitation expressly provided in said contract. The 500.” type of car has been operated by the plaintiff over said tracks of said streets since September 8, 1901, and the defendant has not interfered with the operation of said cars and has not threatened to interfere with the operation thereof, and does not claim, any right to interfere with the operation thereof. ' - ' i •

In March, 1903, the plaintiff commenced the operation of the ‘600”ty.pé of car over said streets. Said “ 600 ” type of car is fifty-one feet over all, and weighs when loaded forty-two tons. It is claimed by the defendant that the use of the “ 600 ” type of car make's the maintenance of its tracks unusually difficult and expensive; that ,the operation of such cars injures the property adjoining said streets for which claims for damages have been presented to it, and that in certain places on said streets the “600 ” type of car cannot pass on adjoining tracks, and that by the operation of said “ 60.0 ” type of ear the'defendant’s cars áre impeded [281]*281and the defendant’s time table very much interrupted and its passengers inconvenienced.

On November 17, 1903, the defendant served on the plaintiff a notice in writing stating that the defendant did not consent to the plaintiff’s operating over its tracks cars weighing more than twenty-five tons. To this letter the plaintiff replied, in which reply it stated that it assumed that the defendant was objecting to the 600 ” type of car, and on November 30, 1903, the defendant served on the plaintiff another notice in writing as follows:

“ Gentlemen.— The executive committee of the United Traction Company, at a special meeting, held November twenty-sixth, 1903,' to consider the several matters of difference between said companies, decided :

First. * * *.

Second. To insist that you cease running what are known as your ‘ 60Ó ’ cars over our tracks in the cities of Albany, Troy, or Water vliet.”

The plaintiff continued the use of the 600 ” type of car, and on Hay 16, 1904, the defendant by obstructing its said tracks prevented the plaintiff from further running the “ 600 ” type of car on its said tracks, and this action was then commenced.

The question as to whether the defendant unreasonably, refuses to assent to the use of the “ 600 ” type of car is not before us. This action is based upon the plaintiff’s rights under the contract of June 26, 1901. Such contract expressly limits the grant of trackage rights over its tracks on said streets to cars forty-eight feet over all, with four motor equipments, air brake and track brake equipments, etc., said cars to weigh not to exceed twenty-five tons when loaded.” Said provision in regard to the size and weight of the cars marks the boundary of the grant until another type of car is agreed upon by the parties. There is nothing before us to show that the determination of this action in any way affects the franchises of either party. The plaintiff’s rights under the contract are private rights. The public has no such right or interest in a particular car as to affect the determination of the court in the consideration of the rights of the parties as between themselves, or that requires us to sustain the injunction pending the determination of the action. The defendant does not seek to enforce a forfeiture of the contract or to [282]

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

McEntyre v. Tucker
36 A.D. 53 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1898)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
101 A.D. 277, 91 N.Y.S. 651, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schenectady-railway-co-v-united-traction-co-nyappdiv-1905.