Search

10AM today, the State of New York and ALCOA announced an agreement to keep the
Massena, NY West Plant smelter open for at least another 3 1/2 years. This should be
good news for CSX and the Massena Terminal Railroad.

Hello from the U.S. What type of equipment is now used most often on the Toronto - Montreal runs? Am interested in taking a family member - who has never been on a train - for a short trip, maybe Brockville or Cornwall, to Montreal and back, and, would like to be able to tell them about the equipmen...

Then I am assuming you mean crossing work on the Massena Terminal? As I recall, they only had one "public" street crossing (outside the plant), which was located on what we used to call Whitzel Boulevard. That is the ALCOA maintained roadway that runs from CR42 at the main plant entrance, ...

I agree with all of you. Certainly, Model Railroader is not the magazine it once was. I have found the same holds true for it's sister publication, Trains, which I have read since the early 1970's. I was a faithful subscriber for years. Yet, David P. Morgan would be rolling over in his grave if he s...

Russ,
Are you talking about crossing on CSX, or, the Massena Terminal?

You are correct Noel. But, you know how it is in a small community when pretty much
the whole economic base has been pulled out from under you. Rumors fly is right!

Local scuttlebutt has upwards of four or five local CSX train service employees will
be laid-off because of this action at ALCOA. Nothing said yet about crews at Massena
Terminal Railroad.

urrenger2003 - Thank you for the information. Do you know if this was a designation used by the PRR only, or, did all railroads use it? I assume that everyone would have some type of medical designation, or, just if they had a problem? When I was a kid, we had an older neighbor who was an engineer f...

Okay, in the days when a conductor had to register his watch for time comparison prior to going on a run, what happened if his watch did not "pass" (if such a term) what I assume was an allowable discrepancy? Was the conductor disqualified from that run? Did one of the train crew then have...

What is the current number of crew members required on trains - by law, or, union agreement?
Does a three man crew still exist anywhere on the system? And, if there are still such a thing as
a dedicated yard job, how many crewmen would be used? Thanks in advance.

The most important thing in this story is the fact that the potline is only being idled, and not permanently closed. Of course, it's future is yet to be seen. All will depend on the global aluminum market, and, the resulting pricing. You can thank the global economy for a lot of this. This will of c...

This will end the ALCOA unit train of hoppers carrying alumina ore. No need for the ore as there will be no operating potline. Also true for any carbon black and coal tar pitch to make carbon anodes for use in the pots. This of course was a rather large part of the daily routine for the Massena Term...

I have read the PRR B6 0-6-0 switchers used a equalizer bar to help stabilize the front end, to keep the locomotive frame from breaking, and, to help give a better ride. Can someone explain to me what this bar consisted of, where it was located, and, how it worked? Any information would be appreciat...

I hope I am not using the wrong forum, but, my question pertains to engineers on the PRR. Am reading the book "Set Up Running, the Life of a Pennsylvania Railroad Engineer", by John W. Orr. His father, Oscar, is the focus of the book. During the course of his career, Oscar becomes disquali...

Can anyone tell me when the New York Central station in Canton, NY was rebuilt from a wooden structure to a brick structure? The station still stands today and is the longtime home of "The Hoot Owl" bar. I have an old postcard (undated) that shows the station in the same location, but, as ...