The Sad Tale of the Knox and Kane Railroad | Felled by a Tornado and Arson | History in the Dark

The Knox and Kane railroad was a short-line that operated in Pennsylvania. It was founded on ex-Baltimore and Ohio line and soon began freight service. When that started to dip due to failing industry, they began to offer tourist services through the scenic area and across the Kinzua Bridge. They also possessed two steam locomotives for this purpose: 38 and 58. However, due to forces beyond their control and despite their best efforts, it was not to be.
Music credits:
🟢 Henry's Theme (Sad) -- www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Khc...
🎵 Cover by Luke Pickman -- instrumentmaniac
0:00 - Intro
1:34 - Their Beginning
2:14 - Tourist Service
6:18 - An Unfair Closure
13:33 - The End
"The Knox and Kane Railroad (K&K) was a short-line railroad in Pennsylvania that operated between Knox, in Clarion County, to Kane and then on to Mount Jewett, in McKean County."
🚂 Stock Footage 🚂
• Knox & Kane Railroad c...
• Summer Steam, The Vall...
🚂 Further reading 🚂
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knox_an...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinzua_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_...
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#history #documentary #pennsylvania

[@kamokev_92]

3025 was rebuilt in record time by a large group of volunteers and staff at the Valley Railroad in the engine house. Me and many of my fellow enthusiasts helped in making her an icon at the railroad today. I'm just glad to see her put to good use and being properly taken care of again :)

[@germansteamlocomotive]

@Snowfailz Cobra bro chill

[@ShadowDragon8685]

I just had this thought whilst watching this video with my aunt; Unlike almost all other locomotives, 3025, aka Knox & Kane 58, wasn't an historic American locomotive; she was a SY-1658, a 1989 new-build. She almost certainly had a lot of surviving sisters in China who could be parted out, so it would be _a lot_ cheaper to get original parts for her type shipped over to her, rather than commissioning a machine shop to build a part bespoke, as would be necessary if something big breaks on Union Pacific 4014.

[@fanofeverything30465]

​@user-dc6jf7mk3jWhat about electric locomotives

[@Wespa1877]

This hits home. I live just about a quarter mile from the rail bed, just 3 miles from Knox. This was a sad story, and very unfortunate. The reason the Knox part from the Clarion Fiberboard plant was abandoned in 1996 when a flood wiped it out. I love that somebody like you recognized our little railroad!

[@TravisDGordon]

Fun fact. Alan Maples (president of the Everett) is also the vice president of my place of gainful employment, the Tennessee Valley Railroad, with two fine steam locomotives under our care!

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

I’m in college in Altoona, just a 15minute drive from the Everett Railroad. I go out and film 11 on weekends whenever I don’t have exams the week after. I never knew 11 had a step sister that had been through such terrible carnage at the hands of some truly horrible people that made God angry. 11’s whistle is beautiful and after only 7 months in college, and 4 months worth of visits of watching her in action, she has a soft spot in my heart I will continue to enjoy a happy relationship on filming her until I graduate and likely move out to work for a railroad, likely outside Altoona.

[@therailfanman2078]

I hate how vandals rarely get punished. I hope the vandals go to jail, or better yet, prison

[@FDNY101202]

Arson is a serious felony so prison for sure.

[@fanofeverything30465]

What's the difference

[@adamtain7627]

No no no no prison, EXECUTION!

[@nicholmansgarage3501]

As someone from western PA, it does make me sad that this Beautiful little railroad suffered such a fate. It's also sad that we don't really have any operating steam locomotives on this side of the state (except Everett 11). However knowing that most of the equipment went to good homes and that tha steamers either are or will he operable absolutely warms my heart. Thank you for this documentary :)

[@mikegs5075]

Thank you for covering my towns great line. I'm From Mt Jewett I rode across the viaduct when I was 4-5 years old in 2000 and still remember it. To many tragedy's hit the K&K

[@markgriffin9230]

Vandals frequently target heritage railways in my country (UK), even with their added security measures, it always saddens me :( sad to hear what happened to this railroad, I remember reading about it in a book, I especially remember pictures of that iconic bridge.

[@Rocker-1234]

same here in aus, if its not trying to vandalise equipment its throwing bricks off of overpasses through windsheilds. i honestly believe its one of the reasons why mainline heritage is alot less common than it used to be because it just aint worth the risk to the trains or the crew.

[@vornamenachname727]

Why does this happen? For us in Germany, vandalism (graffiti, thowing in windows, general destruction) is also quite common. The german state railway DB, but also the general public, sadly seem to have accepted that graffiti is a part of railroading... There are signs on our coaches, in big letters "Graffiti is art!", and in small letters below "just please dont spray on our coaches". In Leipzig, the "S-Bahn" commuter trains run empty at night in a circle around the town, just so they dont get sprayed on. Its quite frustrating for a railway museum, and also the visitors, that we cant just let everyone into our locomotives, as gauges and so on get destroyed. Some of these parts, you just cant get them anymore, you couldnt buy them for any amount of money.

[@lastswordfighter]

Because godless leftwing heathens hate anything that is beautiful and well made. They are part of the globalist environmentist conspiracy to usher in United Nations take over of the world, mass de industrialization, and the destruction of national cultural and technical heritage.

[@adamtain7627]

Why??? What purpose is being served for these sick soulless people?

[@megaxtrime3144]

This video brought back a sad memory, there used to be a small train route local to my area that went around the land and by a lake near the route, at night the shed used to store the train was set on fire the engine blew up in the fire and the whole thing was destroyed later that year the old rail line was pulled up leaving no evidence that there was once a line here

[@KouuToriProductions]

Why does the death of this railroad I've never heard of make me want to do John Wick things?

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Despite the unfortunate close down to the Knox and Kane Railroad, we do have some of the equipment that around today along with 58 (Now New Haven 3025) and Huntingdon & Broad Top #38.

[@transformerbrett6619957470]

As someone who doesn’t live far from the Valley RR I can safely say 3025 is still steaming well ^^

[@transformerbrett6619957470]

Also when you can Mr Darkness was wondering since you mentioned it could you do a video on the Connecticut Valley RR

[@austingregory861]

I'm from marienville I'm 27, and the many tragedies they faced really effected me as I was around it all the time when I was little. I didn't wanna go anywhere seeing everything just disappear. I'd cry all the time. 😔

[@RandomTrainfan]

My Grandpa and Grandma were on one of the last passenger runs over the bridge.

[@RandomTrainfan]

When the K&K died a part of us died with it.

[@TheAtlantaRailfan]

I went to the old Kinzua bridge, well what's left of it, back in 2021, it was sad to see the twisted steel collapsed at the bottom of the valley and I can only imagine how beautiful it was to see the trains run across the bridge, seeing track gone and the bridge all but destroyed was awful but I'm glad 58, now 3025 is back in service at least that's something

[@wolfzillaproductions4563]

The Everett Railroad is working to restore 38 as well, to eventually have her run alongside their currently operating #11. However, the process is slow going and it’s likely she won’t return to service until around 2027 at the rate they’re working.

[@PolishUrGunpla]

As a starter in rail fan and a student from China. I'm really surprised to know there's a Tangshan manufactured SY(上游) here in the US. Will visit it if I have a chance:) In addition, yes, this locomotive is built in the 80s. (To my surprise, the production of this class of locomotive was continued all the way to 1999!😂)

[@derekthelehighvalleyfoamer4427]

You should talk about Polson Logging Co. 2. It’s story is quite interesting, as the Railway Museum it was supposed to be leased to broke their promise that they would run it by, well, not running it at all, and it ended up costing them several thousand dollars, if I’m not mistaken.

[@TimOGhoul]

My parents took me to ride this once, long before the -spoiler.- My girlfriend and I have been back since the -spoiler;- the view is still amazing. Side note, Logyard Brewing in Kane PA makes amazing beer.

[@cmdrflake]

The ride was excellent, which I enjoyed early on. I also saw it on two occasions both times chasing it. The 58 was an excellent engine, while 38 wasn’t used for long.

[@Steamer04]

At least K&K 58 is still around, just saw it run on the valley railroad a few months back

[@DanielleWhite]

I remember the tornado but not the fire as I was busy with a move out of Pennsylvania at that point. I also remember it being a time when the long-held belief that tornado-forming conditions just didn't happen in Pennsylvania (when I was in elementary school in the 1980s I was told that it had been over 50 years since there were any on the state) was changing, particularly due to the implementation of Doppler weather radar a few years earlier and the Lake Cary tornado in the late 1990s.

[@lordcaptainvonthrust3rd]

A cynical person might ask if they were substantially insured at the time of the fire 🤔 Very interesting Thank you Sir Darkness

[@poowg2657]

Are you implying a "friction" fire.😂

[@Rocker-1234]

i could definately see it just being kids being aholes. some kids are just ferals who will go to the extent of attempted murder for fun.

[@pendremacherald6758]

I have been waiting for someone to talk about this! There is a somewhat similar story of a tourist railroad in Nova Scotia that also is no more. I read about it and this railroad in a book I rented from my school library in late middle and early high school.

[@4-8-4Northern]

I live near 3025. Dont worry about her darkness, shes running very well!

[@Landonthethomasfan3]

My grandmas late husband actually worked on the K&K. And then after the "collapse" of the K&K he would go to work on the Oil Creek And Titusville Railroad in Pennsylvania but he died in 2010. And he owned a panphfilt from the Konx and Kane which could be the last one in existence.

[@hughmungas5462]

Love to see railroad history from my area be talked about. You even pronounced kinzua right

[@merafirewing6591]

Setting a historical rolling stock on fire is the lowest of the low and beyond unforgivable. I hope those responsible get karma in return for their actions. History is priceless and can't be replaced at the press of a button. At least it's good to know that the two locomotives are still alive and kicking.

[@anthonymcdonald2378]

Amazing use of "Henrys theme" from Instrament Maniac.

[@Railman1225]

5:15 Man, that's a whole 'nother level of "Made In China"!!

[@Saviliana]

Fun fact, China had the very last steam locomotive production as late as 2002. The steam locomotive were not just regular locomotive too, china had entered diesel era as early as 1970s, but steam were used for northwestern part of china that was too high for diesel locomotive to work sufficiently enough, so specially made high altitude steam engines model would had to be built, 58 is one of them.

[@candycrushhater5828]

Originally, I had a top 5 suggestion here, but it didn’t exactly comply with the rules here, so I deleted it and moved it elsewhere. Anyways, I shared this video with my roommate, and he said he knew someone who used to live near the K&K. He said one of the reasons they didn’t get that many visitors after the fall of the bridge was because it was simply too remote. Not everyone was willing to go all that way just to ride a train there, especially when the likes of Strasburg and the Cuyahoga Valley existed.

[@nicholmansgarage3501]

Hey darkness, just wanted to say- H&BT #38, the engine being restored when the fire occurred, practically deserves her own video. Built in 1927, worked on the H&BT until the line folded in 1954 Sold to a guy in New York (how dare she leave Pennsylvania, the traitor) Sold to another railroad in New York (where her tender was scrapped but eehhhh who needs one of those anyway) Sold to the Gettysburg (and we know their track record with locomotive maintenance) Sold to the Knox and Kane (is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?) And finally, Sold to the Everett, which owns a portion of the old H&BT - thats right, she's back on home rails. She got Sold and resold, abused, denied, rejected, neglected, torched, lost half of herself along the way, and still found her way back home. If that's not a story, I don't know what is :) just a thought for a potential future subject. Thanks for reading darkness :) have a pleasant day

[@pendremacherald6758]

Fun fact: If you include steam locomotives of minimum gauge and above, the last steam locomotive built in the USA before the new build era was in 1982.

[@BPRR_3343]

I’m a fan of the k&k and close to Kinzua Bridge

[@jwrailve3615]

I wanna know the estimated number of fires that have destroyed rail infrastructure in the United States since the beginning of rail service. It’s every single railroad tens of thousands of beautiful stations destroyed by fires. It’s always fires. Love these mini docs so much

[@johnoneill5661]

While it would have been nice to go over the bridge on the train it looks so much better being outside watching the trains go over the bridge 😊

[@Evanrs44]

Road this quite a few times from marienville to kinzua back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s before the bridge was closed and eventual collapse. One of the last times I road was after the bridge was closed but before the collapse. They ran 58 in reverse all the way back to marienville since the only turntable was on the other side of the bridge. In fact it wasn’t even a turntable, just a loop they would leave the cars in and hook up at the other end. I have a camp right next to one of the crossings. I remember as a kid being woken up at 9 am on the dot almost every day by the whistle of 58, and seeing it again at 3 in the afternoon on its way back to marienville. Most days they would have a dining car, and I remember the food they served was actually very good.

[@animal16365]

My friend rode on this train. He said that on the way back to Marionville. He started to fall asleep due to the ride and the rhythmic clickety clack of the wheels going over the jointed rails

[@donovansmyers4366]

Theres also another railway in PA by the name of East Broad Top. A norrow guage coal and iron railroad that did turn into a hertitage railway. As far as I know they ceased operation in 2011. I went there once when I was young just after they closed and toured the site. Its been one of my favorite railroads but not many people know about it sadly, at least from what I've experienced. I would love to see a video done about them too

[@OriginalBongoliath]

Well, you need to update yourself since they reopened and are back in operation. Bachmann even released some models to commemorate its reopening.

[@TheAtlantaRailfan]

The EBT is back, the line was sold to a new historic group in 2019 and last month EBT 16, one of their 2-8-2 Mikados returned to steam, engine 14 is up next and then the other 4 will all return to steam eventually

[@alexdaunoy9678]

I also have ties to the Knox and Kane. I never got to ride over the bridge, my first ride was, I believe, in 2004 when I was about 3yrs old. My grandpa had family in Mt. Jewett and my grandpa enjoyed trains greatly. I was also in Mt. Jewett in 2008 during the time of the fire, and seen the aftermath. Think I was there a week after or something. Ironically enough, and on a completely unrelated note, I was also in Mt. Jewett at a little local place called My Sister's Place (since sold and a different restaurant as I learned last year) during 9/11. I was 6 months old. But back to the Knox and Kane, I don't really remember it, but we have a picture of me and my grandpa standing at the end of the bridge still standing that they'd back up to. When I was at the bridge last year, I actually found an old square nut from the bridge that I now have in my room.

[@Crosby_3]

Can you talk about the Salem & Hillsborough railroad? It has a somewhat similar end to it with the shed burning down. I was at the site of the former railroad recently and they still have several pieces from the S&H at the museum in Hillsborough including one of the steam locomotives and two diesels still there . Although one of the two diesels was donated by CN after the fire to replace an ex Devco rs1 that was destroyed.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

This is almost as sad as the story of GTW 5629 :(

[@purplepup8897]

I got to go across on a train in the late 90s but I'm also to young to remember much, other than being terrified of moving from train car to train car while it was moving

[@RailPreserver2K]

Also you think you could do something on the hart county scenic rr ?

[@TheGs4_4449]

You no what. I'm tired of people setting fire to railroad equitment and railroad building cathing on fire. Someone needs to do something about this! I can not express my HATE for those arsoners. We need to keep railroads open and old railroad equitment around. People don't seem to get that.

[@fanofeverything30465]

They understand They just don't care 😪

[@appalachianrails]

I have two of the passenger cars on my excursion train. The concessions car and one of the ex Lackawanna MUs.

[@3ftsteamrwy12]

You might want to consider telling the tale of the railroad described once as followintg Leo Tolstoys maxim of " six months of bliss, followed by a lifetime of misery"...the Rio Grande Southern NG in Colorado

[@Dagreatestwaffle]

YO I DIDNT EVEN REALIZE IV RIDDEN 58!

[@RichardJR1361]

They couldn't keep those 2 engines down. They failed. Glad they found new homes.

[@RailPreserver2K]

Rode behind 58 in essex

[@jasonanderson6583]

And they Oscar goes to. Tea talk though this made me shed a tear

[@GSMRFan]

Where can I find the picture of 3025 burned and Rusty

[@LooneyLukey]

Is That "Resurrection" From Klonoa, That You Used For The End? Big Sad Feels... (⟃‸⟄)

[@HistoryintheDark]

Yes it was. I required the big sad song.

[@lucasquintanilla1673]

Not all is lost, however. They’re Chinese steam locomotive still lives on to this day on the New York and Susquehanna railroad. In fact, after being rescued after the arson and bought at an auction by the Susquehanna, it was repaired and restored to operation. Today it is in the guise of a New Haven steam locomotive and operates in New England. Sort of a happy ending to a otherwise sad story.

[@candycrushhater5828]

They’re not the same engine. There are two Chinese SY class engines in the U.S.: one that was used on the Susquehanna, and the other that was used on the Knox and Kane and the Valley Railroad

[@lucasquintanilla1673]

@@candycrushhater5828 I could swear that the one used on the Knox and Kane was donated somewhere. I don’t know where, but I swear that it said that on Wikipedia. Edit: Wikipedia says that the other SY Chinese locomotive is at the Belvedere and Delaware river tourist railway

[@Ian-qs3fz]

@@lucasquintanilla1673 it’s on the valley railroad as 3025

[@lucasquintanilla1673]

@@Ian-qs3fz what state is it in?

[@candycrushhater5828]

@@lucasquintanilla1673 Connecticut…

[@holsteinsanddiesels7758]

Do the Lehigh Valley. That’s a good one

[@reidthenavyengineproductio7002]

A True Underdog Story. No one would disagree

[@Kingofdestruction2019]

Did the K and K railroad have any diesels if so? What happened to them?

[@HistoryintheDark]

They did. One was bought. At least two were scrapped even before the fire.

[@sp786fanboy9]

Certainly a repeat of the Salem and Hillsborough Railway of Canada. Though, at least in the S&H’s case, at least only *one* of their two steam engines remained intact.

[@Wurlyscope]

So sad 😞

[@joshuaW5621]

You should talk about the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad sometime.

[@adamtain7627]

What’s the music starting at 13:58?

[@adamtain7627]

I got my answer: That's from Klonoa: Door to Phantomile. It's called Song of Rebirth

[@harrisonallen651]

If it wasn’t the wars and Greta depression that didn’t close the railroad, then this is just sad.

[@harrisonallen651]

*Great Depression*

[@tacticalcalebgaming7264]

I didn’t know that Everett railroad bought that one But I have ridden on number 11 Also she is a switcher so it explains why he was doing the fight work

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Whoever thought it was funny set the place on fire are literally real life Jokers, and by that I mean the supervillain The Joker🃏. If one of them laughed like the Joker while doing this, any who did would be so deserving of being locked up in a mental asylum, and possibly getting beat up in a Batman style fashion.

[@SimonTekConley]

I did not know about the fire.

[@CSMT800IC53]

ive have fired 3025 many times. shes a good girl. thank god J saved her.

[@callumh5294]

Can't believe a act of nature and some dog#$%@ human beings got a railway shut down.

[@JBB4118]

Sloan was never the same after Jimmy died of his injuries sustained in Gettysburg.

[@David_Mattox]

Hey Darkness, have you heard about the merger between KCS and Canadian Pacific?

[@Elliottblancher]

the merger will be completed in about 1 day

[@richardlintermoot1546]

Is that the ebt

[@Joe_draw]

They burned an alco from 1967

[@rickshaw6440]

What happend to the geep?

[@appalachianrails]

It is now Western Maryland/George’s Creek number 39.

[@roberthuron9160]

Two of the ex-

[@roberthuron9160]

[Continued]ex-Long Island ping-pongs(P-54's)steam cars,are at the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum! Last I saw of them,they were in Knox&Kane paint! Ping-pongs are as historic as any equipment could be,as they among the first mass produced steel railroad cars! The only ones preceeding them were the IRT Gibbs cars,and the Long Island equivalent! More history overlooked! Thank you for a tale of the rails!! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@anthonyluna7309]

What if it was the trail people that burned the structure? Im just kidding.

[@GaryGoldbaugh]

Kinzua is pronounced Kin-zway

[@jjs283]

Actually it’s Kin-Zoo or Kin-zoo-uh