Abandoned Steam Engine outside Fly Creek, NY

[Holtz]

A friend of mine is looking for information regarding an old abandoned steam engine between Oaksville, NY and Fly Creek, NY. From what he was told, it should be on the abandoned rail line that was the Otsego & Herkimer Railroad. Any information would be great.
Also, did the Otsego & Herkimer merge into another railroad?
Thanks

[Mem160_2000]

Isn't that the old Southern NY line?

[scottychaos]

hmm..never heard of any abandoned steam engine in that area..
interesting..
if its there, someone here probably knows about it.

could be "old data" too..
perhaps the engine has been gone for decades, but the legend persists..
it happens.

There is the well-known US Army 0-6-0 in Cooperstown, but its not "abandoned" and its not between between Oaksville and Fly Creek.

I found this on the Otsego & Herkimer Railroad:

http://www.southernnewyorkrailway.org/history.htm


Scot

[Mem160_2000]

is this it? (pdf file)

page 18, bottom:

http://www.fcahs.org/pdf/FlyCreekAreaYesteryear.pdf


"The trolley system was supposed to cross over the Mud and Chalk
Lakes in Fly qreek. Unbeknownst to planners, the swamp had once
been a 50-foot deep body of water, which had been filled due to the erosion
of its feeder streams, causing a "bottomless pit" effect. For days
men labored td fill the bogs only to return every morning to find ties
and rails suspended in air minus roadbed. After funds were depleted,
the idea to cro~s the lakes was abandoned.
After the Mud and Chalk Lakes fiasco, the trolley track was laid
around the bogs, creating dangerous curves and delayed schedules. A
second attempt to fill the bogs was undertaken in 1906. It is said that
an obsolete steam locomotive was toppled into the mass, along with an
obsolete power-house boiler and other old equipment and rubble, to
help strengthen the roadway. At last, the right-of-way became
passable, although a slight tremor was perceptible when a car passed
over the fill."

[Holtz]

Thats it! Thanks Mem160_2000!
The section of swamp they are talking about wouldn't happen to be right near the four corners in Fly Creek would it? (Heading Northwest towards Oaksville) Had heard that during a long dry period you can see the stack stick up out of the swamp.

[Mem160_2000]

Don't know where the swamp is, no too familiar with the area, though I've been to Fly Creek, and if I get up there again, I'll look for the stack...but I won't be up there for a while yet..........GAS$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
--- -- - Mark

[lvrr325]

Looking at an aerial image I see NY 80 and NY 28 use the same roadway through town and there is a roughly parallell grading to the south that looks like a rail ROW. The swamp is west of the villiage itself, and to the south of the road. It's in the right place for the trolley route up to Herkimer at any rate.

I have a friend who lives near here who knows a lot of old stuff - we still have to track down an abandoned trolley somewhere, I don't expect to find much more than a pile of rotted wood on that one - but if anyone would know about a stack sticking out of the water, he would.

[CarterB]

It would appear that the ROW you saw was the O&H at one time, and if an old steamer was used as 'fill' its in the bog area.

see 1909 map: http://historical.maptech.com/getImage. ... g&state=NY

Also a book about the interurban may be of interest:
The Leatherstocking Route, From the Mohawk to the Susquehanna By Interurban

by Nestle, David F.

[Mattydred]

Keep up posted, lvrr325. If the steamer and trolley car are visible, I want to check it out myself when I'm in Cooperstown for induction weekend. This is a fascinating thread. Kind of reminds me of the steamers hiding in the Maine wilderness.

[deezlfan]

There is or was a bed and breakfast in the Oakville area that was named The Lost Trolley. I believe it was named in honor of an electric car lost or stranded in the swampy area near Fly Creek. I will try to see if I can find any reference to it.