Redoing CN line

joha107 wrote: only the normal maintenance that goes on

Yep, there's a few brand-new ties where 56 crosses, and a stack where 458 crosses. Just as you say .... normal maintenance.

If CN Wanted it, CSX wouldn't budge. Why sell a line you can make money on?

Susquehanna never wins - they should have gotten the D&H.

If that line is up for grabs you will definately hear about it, and it will be Canadian Pacific banging at the door with money to buy it. I put the chips on that old Central trackage stays put with CSX.

Dieter/

Ok kiddies, here's the latest. First and formost due to the Fort Drum military base located at Watertown, it must be served by a US carrier. Therefore, No Canadian railroads can own this segment. Sometime around the 1st of May, CSX will be hosting several shortlines inspecting the line for potential bids. CSX feels that the cost of rebuilding the line to keep it viable far exceeds the potectial income. Even with the recent business growth in the north country. CSX would still receive the interchange shipments at CP291 and therefore would still receive a good chunk o change from the line. A shortline or regional carrier can receive State and Federal funds to repair the line which CSX is ineligible to receive due to class one status. Plus CSX wouldn't have to pay locals and crews to work industries up here, just the road trains at CP 291. As far as CSX giving running rights to the NYSW from 293 to 291, they had those rights from 291 to Dewitt Yard a few years ago, but the interchange is held as a direct run between Buffalo and Solvay now (Q403/Q404). As far as that goes they still have the hand throw switch west of the On-track stations connecting to track two. facing point east. Also watch for the B'ville branch to go to Finger Lakes Railway or Rail America by the end of the year. CSX seems to be diversing itself slowly of local industry work, concentrating more on road traffic and interchange traffic.

FGLK seems like the logical recipient of the Baldwinsville branch. There aren't any other Rail America properties nearby are there? FGLK already has a presence and have a proven track record of growing traffic.

BWP

Wow. I wonder if VRS would be interested. They interchange in Norwood. Hmmm.... I wonder if they would keep the Massena yard open, or would they refurbish the yard at Norwood? That has the advantage of allowing them to make up trains without blocking a main road. I know that's been a sore point with the village and town of Massena.

Thanks for the update.

nothing is set in stone until it happens. This is suppose to be that, and this is going there.. we've heard these before

Which way do you suppose the State will swing with it?

Well, today CSX hosted several shortline/regional carriers on a tour of the St.Lawrence Sub.. Several rail cars, hi-rail pickups mostly of various colors and makes but no markings, escorted by a CSX Hi-rail truck came North from Syracuse, passed through Watertown to Philadelphia and up the Carthage Branch. The trip was ended there for today and will resume tomorrow to Massena and points north. While waiting the Cab at Massena this morning I spoke with 2 Rail America Reps. who said other reps were on the tour. We did notice 2 of the hi-rails had Vermont reg. tags. Any ideas?

roadster wrote:We did notice 2 of the hi-rails had Vermont reg. tags. Any ideas?

VRS! I called it! I have dibs on Vermont Railway System!

I looked at the Norwood yard, and it was never reallly a big RW&O yard. Not a big Rutland yard either. I speculate that it really only had multiple tracks because it was a seriously busy interchange between north/south and east/west carriers.

Maybe I'll go post a big sign saying "Hi Shortlines! Welcome to the North Country!"

NYS&W people are part of this trip.
If they are useing a company owned hy-rail, it would have NJ plates. However, we do have alot of rental trucks these days, Dannella, Tartaglia,ect.

Hrm. They came through Sisson prior to 11AM. I went out on an errand, and examined the rails. Found multiple rubber tire marks.
-russ

I wonder if GVT had any interest in this line?

Bah got called into work Tuesday so I missed it, they were past Roots by the time I got home. I don't care who takes over just as long as they fix it.

mikec880 wrote:NYSW sure doesnt have 25 million to fix the line.

yeah with all the trouble they have keeping there own trains off the ground I'd beleve it. I rember back in my Sperry days NYS&W could not foot the bill for us to inspect them. It was vary much common knowlage or an inside joke among Sperry emploees and outher Railroads in the area that if a Sperry Car went down that line the railroad would more then anything be shut down with the number of derailments they were haveing at that time between Syracuse and Binghamton.

So we did the Montral Sec it was a little rough but not to bad we found about 500 defects only about a dozon or so were bad enough to shut operations down for a few hours but outher than that it was not in bad of shape. As long as trains keeped speed below 45mph with all the shattered rail that was being recycled for reuse.