River Line at Cuba junction

[el3625]

At Cuba junction where the river line went north/northeast from the main, was there a bridge over I-86? I was in the area last year and I could not tell where the line crossed I highway and I went on google maps- earth view- and I could see where the old right of way was and I followed the map to where the Belfast bridge crossed the valley. When I was there I saw the old concrete bridge piers that supported Belfast bridge and continued on to see the new high bridge at Letchworth. I live very close to Cambridge Springs and grew up watching the EL and have never liked a railroad as much as the EL. Anywhere I go I am always checking old rights of way or what is left of it, but I am in NY state a lot and am always looking. Does anyone have any pictures of the area where the River line crossed to go to Belfast? If anyone has any, would you please post them, I would very much like to see any.

Bruce

[BR&P]

You're talking almost 40 years ago so I'm not sure. I THOUGHT the interstate went over the tracks. This pic may or may not help you any, can't tell whether that's the road you mean in the pic or not. If I find a better photo I'll scan it and post but no promise how soon.

Cuba Jct - 2.jpg (559.96 KiB) Viewed 5622 times

[RussNelson]

At Cuba junction where the river line went north/northeast from the main, was there a bridge over I-86?

No, I-86 went over the DL&W (Erie). Right here: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/38621579" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Same thing at NY-305:
https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/38621579" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jr]

Rte 17 passed over the River Line on a pair of fairly high bridges, just West of the Cuba exits, as RussNelson states. The bridges survived to fairly recent times - guessing about five to ten years ago, they were removed, and the area filled in. This part of Rte 17 was put in service in the early 70s, and the River Line was operated by Conrail only briefly, and was shut down in the late 70s. So the bridges spanned empty R.O.W. for most of their existence. Also, Rte 305 North out of Cuba also passed over the River Line on a bridge, very near to the current High School (the school was not located there, when the River Line was operating). This bridge has also since been removed. It's getting harder and harder to see remnants of the line, that's only been gone 35-40 years. . .

As a side note, DL&W did not go near Cuba or Cuba Jct. Just Erie / EL, as well (earlier) as a line of the PRR, and (much earlier) a narrow gauge line.
JR

[BR&P]

JR is correct, and so is my memory. Here's a photo taken right under the interstate there.

In case you have not seen them, there are pics from Belfast and Fillmore in the thread "Outlaw Speeders from 40 Years Ago" in the NY State Railfan forum. This should get you there: http://railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=128&t=163129" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cuba Jct - 3.jpg (463.37 KiB) Viewed 5580 times

[el3625]

Thanks for the info and pictures. When I was there last fall I could see some of the old right of way and wondered how it got to the north of route 17. There was definetly no sign of bridges or anything. When I went to google maps and went to earth view I could see the row but no evidence of how it got to the north of Route 17. I will be there again in july camping in the area and will be off again investigating. Thanks again!

Bruce