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  • The DL&W Ithaca Switchback

  • Discussion relating to the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, the Erie, and the resulting 1960 merger creating the Erie Lackawanna. Visit the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society at http://www.erielackhs.org/.
Discussion relating to the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, the Erie, and the resulting 1960 merger creating the Erie Lackawanna. Visit the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society at http://www.erielackhs.org/.

Moderator: blockline4180

 #1318975  by davidns8560
 
Ever since I moved to Ithaca ten years ago I've wanted to see maps, timetables, and photos of the Lackawanna's Ithaca switchback. I think I've only seen one photo, ever, and nothing else. The photo was just a chugging steam loco that frankly could've been anywhere.

Anybody ever seen a collection of photos or anything else on the subject, online or otherwise?

Thanks,

David
 #1319001  by scottychaos
 
David,
Here are two older discussions about Ithaca:

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... sc&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 128&t=7456" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and here are some maps I made for those threads:

The location of the inclined plane superimposed on a modern aerial photo:
Image

Map showing the inclined plane and the switchback:
Image

Full size:
http://scotlawrence.smugmug.com/photos/ ... bcXKzL.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Today the upper and lower legs of the switchback are railtrails, and the middle section is Kendall ave.

Scot
 #1319542  by ctclark1
 
7 years of internet advancement since those other threads you mentioned, now we have Historic Aerials and Historic Map Works to help out as well.. Not that they tell us anything we didn't already know :wink:

1882 "Bird's Eye" drawing showing the DL&W in downtown, as well as the lower portion of the switchback where it crosses Aurora St near Mechanic (now Hillview)
1866 Ithaca Town and 1866 Ithaca City
1904 Topo showing the switchbacks.

No indication of the Incline even being proposed or started on any of these, not even a cut shown on the topos, just the Six Mile Creek channel...
 #1319555  by scottychaos
 
ctclark1 wrote: No indication of the Incline even being proposed or started on any of these, not even a cut shown on the topos, just the Six Mile Creek channel...
Thats because the inclined plane was already dead and gone by the time all those maps were made! ;)
It existed from the 1830's to the 1850's..

there was no cut for it, it was flat on the hillside.

Scot