I'm asking this in all seriousness. If replacing the bridge is going to be an expensive endeavor that NS and NY State seem to want to accomplish, what's the justification? Now, the logistics of dealing with several railroad companies aside, couldn't trains be rerouted via Wellsville to Olean and onto the old Pennsy Buffalo line? What are the compelling reasons to keep the line intact as a through route between Hornell and Buffalo? Is the grade out of Hornell to Tip Top that bad?
Bethlehem Jct. wrote:I'm asking this in all seriousness. If replacing the bridge is going to be an expensive endeavor that NS and NY State seem to want to accomplish, what's the justification? Now, the logistics of dealing with several railroad companies aside, couldn't trains be rerouted via Wellsville to Olean and onto the old Pennsy Buffalo line? What are the compelling reasons to keep the line intact as a through route between Hornell and Buffalo? Is the grade out of Hornell to Tip Top that bad?Yeah, that westbound grade west of Hornell on the old Erie main is pretty steep. That's a big part of the reason why the Erie built the River Line 100 years ago. Also, the combined Buffalo Line/Erie Main route is longer and slower than using the former Erie Buffalo Extension. Worst of all, locomotives must run around the train at Olean... which slows the transit time even further. NS definitely seems interested in improving transit times in upstate NY- that is why they have impoved track speeds on the Southern Tier Mainline. A new bridge in Portageville will increase the speed even further, as trains must slow to 10 mph to cross the current bridge, The Portageville bridge should have been replaced a long time ago. Better late than never, IMO.