Utica Branch Discussion Thread

[thebigham]

From the NYS&W email list:

Microsoft's Live Earth (http://maps.live.com/) has some really nice
"bird's eye view" imagery of Utica. You can follow the Utica branch
from the MA&N yard all the way to Chadwicks.

For example, this should be a link to the switchback used to get to the
Smurfit-Stone plant: http://tinyurl.com/cgjx2c

For those of you that don't trust tinyurls, the original link is:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&F ... le=b&lvl=1&\
tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=42805713&encType=1

Here's their image of the West End Brewrey: http://tinyurl.com/c4c6rx
The original link is:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&F ... le=b&lvl=1&\
tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=42806955&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

Here's their image of the coal trestle (next to Route 5A) and old
turntable: http://tinyurl.com/d93ook

That original link is:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&F ... le=b&lvl=2&\
tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=42796171&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

Some of the photos show NDEM E60s at the Utica shops. At least one
image shows a southbound NYSW train somewhere between New Hartford and
Chadwicks.

--
Chris Webster
http://www.speakeasy.org/~cwebster

[lvrr325]

That coal trestle was torn out last year, the grade to it is left and has rails on it, but the timber portion is a pile of wood on the ground. That should help give an idea how old the pictures are -

[thebigham]

^Yes, the Bird's Eye pics are always 2-3 years old.

[RussNelson]

Gonna build that pipeline down the NYo&W right through the house built on the ROW at North Norwich or thereabouts?

Yep! Bastards built their house on a railroad ROW! They get what they deserve. Probably already have it, what with ghost trains going through their house every hour through the night.

[Cactus Jack]

Yeah, the house at North Norwich, the guy that lived there years ago was my landlord for a while. I think the house was built about 1976.

I have been hoping that there would be more outcry for continued rail service, especially in the heart of Chenango County. Some of the Chenango County Economic Development folks are trying but it is hard when the local industries either have disappeared or are so soured on rail that they have gone to truck. I hear that service to Sangerfield is pretty bad and what was in Sherburne until last year intolerable until the embargo in November. I do not see the Sherburne - Sangerfield embargo in place now but I guees that might be a moot point with no demand. There is an embankment issue north of Poolville (about MP 254.3) but that does not look to be a big deal to fix if they needed (wanted / had reason to) run trains.

It ain't over yet but indeed it is as bleak as it has ever been. Back in the late 1970's there was a huge outcry when CR wanted to close Norwich to Chenango Forks - Sherburne to Sangerfield and such. Many people didn't think there would be another train when CR closed Sherburne - Sangerfield in November 1979. There was not another train until April of 1982 when NYSW took over. The lower end of the Syracuse Branch was worse having closed about March, 1979 north of "The Forks". Who in the Summer of 1980 could have predicted that would ever have opened up again !

Time will tell, but time and neglect are hard on rail beds.

[RussNelson]

time and neglect are hard on rail beds.

True, but abandonment is even harder on them. Much better to convert them into a rail-trail than let them revert, or sell them off for non-right-of-way uses (e.g. driveways, houses, or farmland).

[ut-1]

Cactus Jack: Care to elaborate on why some feel service to Sangerfield is "pretty bad"?

[Cactus Jack]

Briefly discussions with Chenango County Chamber of Commerce who did a recent telephone survey (included users outside the county) and the fact that at times service is once or twice / week making car cycles rather long. My impression is that shippers (receivers mostly) are not committed to long term rail. It seems like a continued downward spiral at this time.... business drops off and service is cut to reflect the new expense / revenue ratio.

I also hear that there were some hoppers in Earlville on Sunday. Probably loading out the remaining signal equipment, I am in Longview, WA on the road right now so don't have much more info.

[ut-1]

Cactus Jack: Thanks for the scoop. There were 2 CSX hoppers in a siding in Sangerfield a few weeks ago. Perhaps those were the one tasked to clear out Earlville. It certainly is sad to see Earlville station deserted & all the equipment previously stored about the station gone too. For many years, Earlville was used as the base of operations for NYS&W's signal operations for the Utica Banch and, I believe, the Syracuse Branch as well.

[chen1234]

Last week I observed fresh plant debris that had been cleared along the ROW at the Coye Road Crossing just below Earlville. The control box had previosly been surrounded by shrubs as well, and has since been cleaned off. Why would they spend the time, money and effort clearing the line below Earlville if they were going to let it sit like the Sherburne-to-Chenango Forks section? (Unless they're planning an "under the cover of darkness" rail removal?)

[Cactus Jack]

I guess time will tell what happens to this line.

I suspect that they still are doing crossing monthly inspections and this vegetation project may have been part of that... I think they also did a weed spray south of Sangerfield earlier this year but not sure how far south as I have not been able to get around that area to any extent for a while.

[ut-1]

Perhaps the vegetation was removed in preparation for the Sept. 11th Sherburne to Utica & return railcar excursion.

[chen1234]

Perhaps the vegetation was removed in preparation for the Sept. 11th Sherburne to Utica & return railcar excursion.

Oops! Forgot all about that....it could very well be.

[thebigham]

Perhaps the vegetation was removed in preparation for the Sept. 11th Sherburne to Utica & return railcar excursion.

Someone get pics, please!!

[ut-1]

Mr."Thebigham": I am going on the trip (courtesy of another railroad.net member) and plan to post a trip report complete with photos.