Erie realignment in West Endicott, NY

I was poking around West Endicott near the area where Glendale Drive meets 17c, and noticed some curious remains in the woods. Looking at some 1937 and 1944 aerial photos of the area, I see that the Erie was realigned between present day mileposts 223 and 225. It appears that the old ROW is now LaTourette Lane, and that the Erie crossed the creek north of the present alignment before making a sharp swing south. The present alignment has a series of short tangents rather than one sharp tangent.

Alongside LaTourette Lane is a concrete barrier in a gathering of trees. You can clearly see the old ROW running through it. To the east, in the trees, is a rusted metal sign, partially grown into trees, that reads "CAUTION Barrier Ahead" in barely visible but large letters. Perhaps the barrier was constructed across the ROW before the present day flood walls were constructed but before the rails were removed? I see no other reason for the warning sign if the rails were already gone.

I documented quite a bit with my phone's camera, and will try to get back with a better camera soon, as there are fresh survey markers in the area.

Does anyone have any more documentation as to when the realignement was built or what led to the change?

The USGS Historic Topo map http://rutlandtrail.org/mapview.cgi?the ... ng=-76.090 shows the old routing. It also shows a benchmark at 828 feet above sea level This seems to be the benchmark record: http://www.geocaching.com/mark/details.aspx?PID=NB0296 . At least, it's the only benchmark reasonably close, and it's at 828 feet above sea level.

But now I'm confused. The *old* alignment has a benchmark, yes. But the modern benchmark is on the *new* alignment. And the 1941 description says that it's only 2' higher than the track, but the photo clearly shows it much higher than that. Now, that could be solely due to the 1998 reset.

RussNelson wrote:The USGS Historic Topo map http://rutlandtrail.org/mapview.cgi?the ... ng=-76.090 shows the old routing. It also shows a benchmark at 828 feet above sea level This seems to be the benchmark record: http://www.geocaching.com/mark/details.aspx?PID=NB0296 . At least, it's the only benchmark reasonably close, and it's at 828 feet above sea level.

But now I'm confused. The *old* alignment has a benchmark, yes. But the modern benchmark is on the *new* alignment. And the 1941 description says that it's only 2' higher than the track, but the photo clearly shows it much higher than that. Now, that could be solely due to the 1998 reset.

Actually, this makes perfect sense to me. In the original alignment, the railroad crossed the road at-grade. The 1941 description is for a bridge over the new alignment. I remember that bridge and when it was replaced with the present-day bridge. I suspect that the NGS datasheet lists the altitude of the 1941 mark and was not updated to the reset benchmark. I'll attempt to place my GPS on the reset to see if it is indeed 828 asl.

The benchmark on the topo map looks to be at a bridge carrying the railroad over the creek on the old alignment.

Apparently Airport Road used to go under the Erie, here: http://www.geocaching.com/mark/details.aspx?PID=NB0294

RussNelson wrote:Apparently Airport Road used to go under the Erie, here: http://www.geocaching.com/mark/details.aspx?PID=NB0294

Yes. That underpass is still there. I hasn't been used since the early 1980's though.

There's some construction going on along the old abandoned Erie ROW in Endicott right now, and quite a bit has been cleared exposing some relics. Here's a sign that warned of the concrete barricade that exists where the original ROW ended after being realigned.

I also noticed that the trees have been trimmed around the barricade. I wonder if it is going to be removed as part of the construction work.

NEED MOAR PICTURES!!!!