From the September 16, 1887 issue of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune:
Along the Susquehanna:
More fireman are being promoted to engineers this season than was ever known to be before during the summer months. Promotion usually comes in the winter, but this year has been an exception in his respect as promotions have occurred in nearly every month. The last men to receive this honor are P.R. (E.R.-ed.) Van Gorden, Volney Teets, John Lannon, A. Jordan, W. McGill and J. Elston.

From the November 20, 1891 issue of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune:
The Elmira Advertiser correspondent gives these details of the wreck at Chemung yesterday, referred to in last night's Tribune: One of the most disastrous wrecks, in point of property destroyed, that has occurred on any railroad in this vicinity for years, took place on the Erie at Chemung about 9 o'clock this morning. But fortunately, although the damage to rolling stock was heavy, no one was killed or seriously injured. Erie train "Second 29," due at this station at 8:30 o'clock, was a few minutes late, and Thomas Jordan, conductor of a Lehigh freight drawn by engine No. 221, Milo Utley engineer, received orders and pulled out ahead of the Erie train, ran to Chemung and backed his train over on to the east-bound track to allow No. 29 to pass. A flagman was sent ahead but he had gone but a short distance when an Erie fast freight, "Second 82," S.W. Doane, conductor, Joel Ellsdon, engineer, rushed past him and crashed with terrific force into the engine of the standing Lehigh train.

The Erie engine mounted the Lehigh until it stood straight up on end and then fell over on to the depot, crashing down through the roof and side of the building and extending several feet into the telegraph office. The operator saw the crash and the engine descending toward his office and sprang through a rear window, breaking the glass and carrying the sash with him, receiving no injury save a few cuts for the glass on his hands. The engineers and firemen of both trains jumped and escaped unharmed. Both engines were completely wrecked, and ten or a dozen loaded freight cars were broken into splinters. Several cars of flour, one of oats, another of peas, and one of copper ore were broken up and their contents mingled into the general debris. A boxcar containing a man and horse excaped with slight bruises. The wrecked cars blocked both tracks until a late hour this evening, although a large force of men with a wrecking car was at once put to work removing the wreckage.

There were conflicting reports as to who was responsible for the wreck. One is that the flagman was not out far enough, another that no flag was out, and another that the engineer failed to see the flag and rushed past it at the rate of 25 miles an hour. That no one was injured seems almost miraculous. Trains were made up here for the south and east and left nearly on time, but the yard is full of freight trains and the depot and many of the hotels are filled with belated westward bound travelers this evening.

From the February, 1913 issue of Erie Magazine (Dunmore, PA News):
J.S. Elston, aged 69 years, a former locomotive engineer on the Susquehanna Division, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. F.C. Wallace, Sunday, Jan. 19th (1913). Deceased was widely known on the Erie Railroad and was an employe of the company for thirty-five years. He is survived by his widow and daughter. Interment at Elmira, the place of his birth.