by BR&P
Back in the 1970's, long before NARCOA, there was a very informal group of motor car enthusiasts in western New York. They chose the name American Speeder Society, with a smirk at the initials thus produced, and for several years they visited various abandoned or dormant (and occasionally not-so-dormant) segments of the state's rail system. In those simpler times such details as ownership of the rail lines and permission for their use were inconsequential. 
It was simply a case of finding an out-of-the-way rural crossing, un-trailering the machine or machines, and cranking her up.
Some excursions consisted of one speeder and a couple guys. At the other end of the spectrum were the trips on the then-dormant Adirondack line, which saw almost a dozen speeders and about 40 people, spending weekends based at the lodge at Beaver River. Fairmonts, Northwesterns, Fairbanks Morse cars - you name it. And I guess that after this many years it can be said that not only did the A.S....well, anyway, the group did not have a rulebook and CERTAINLY did not have a "Rule G", at least on that line. Coolers were stocked before departure, and empty on return. Through a combination of common sense and good luck, there was never an injury or wreck.
Over a span or perhaps 8 or 10 years, the A.S.S. guys explored many miles of railroad, most of it now long-removed. Among the expeditions, in addition to the 118 miles of the Adirondack, was the West Hojack, the EL River Line from River Junction to Cuba, the LV from Rochester Junction to Lima, the LV from Rush to just east of Buffalo, the East Hojack, and probably a few more that will come to mind.
Eventually the dormant lines were - for the most part - torn up, a few came back to life. Today's world of national security, liability and litigation has put an end to such activities, and probably it's for the better. But the pics taken in those days not only document the activities themself, but also give some glimpses of infrastructure we'll never see again. From time to time I'll scan a few and post them on here.
The first bunch are of a single-car trip out the West Hojack, from Hilton to Model City. The Waterport Trestle was always worth a stop. And one shot shows the extreme end of track - the line from there to Niagara Falls had been removed some years before.
It was simply a case of finding an out-of-the-way rural crossing, un-trailering the machine or machines, and cranking her up. Some excursions consisted of one speeder and a couple guys. At the other end of the spectrum were the trips on the then-dormant Adirondack line, which saw almost a dozen speeders and about 40 people, spending weekends based at the lodge at Beaver River. Fairmonts, Northwesterns, Fairbanks Morse cars - you name it. And I guess that after this many years it can be said that not only did the A.S....well, anyway, the group did not have a rulebook and CERTAINLY did not have a "Rule G", at least on that line. Coolers were stocked before departure, and empty on return. Through a combination of common sense and good luck, there was never an injury or wreck.
Over a span or perhaps 8 or 10 years, the A.S.S. guys explored many miles of railroad, most of it now long-removed. Among the expeditions, in addition to the 118 miles of the Adirondack, was the West Hojack, the EL River Line from River Junction to Cuba, the LV from Rochester Junction to Lima, the LV from Rush to just east of Buffalo, the East Hojack, and probably a few more that will come to mind.
Eventually the dormant lines were - for the most part - torn up, a few came back to life. Today's world of national security, liability and litigation has put an end to such activities, and probably it's for the better. But the pics taken in those days not only document the activities themself, but also give some glimpses of infrastructure we'll never see again. From time to time I'll scan a few and post them on here.
The first bunch are of a single-car trip out the West Hojack, from Hilton to Model City. The Waterport Trestle was always worth a stop. And one shot shows the extreme end of track - the line from there to Niagara Falls had been removed some years before.
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