Buffalo and Pittsburgh / Wheeling Lake Erie Coal trains

Saw another northbound loaded coal train going through East Aurora yesterday with a nice set of power, an ex BNSF SD40-2, a W&LE SD402 and a B&P unit as a third. This is the second train I've caught in daylight, and it was around 90 cars. I remember reading about these months past in Railpace but I can't recall destination or the plant origin. Nice to see the traffic on the Buffalo line, hopefully for a while to.

IIRC the B&P, W&LE and AVR have teamed up for joint coke trains, which are loaded onto ships at the former Bethlehem site in Lackawanna.

What time are these trains coming through?

Good question. I've seen photos of them during the day.

I've noticed them so far early afternoon in East Aurora

Matt Langworthy wrote:IIRC the B&P, W&LE and AVR have teamed up for joint coke trains, which are loaded onto ships at the former Bethlehem site in Lackawanna.

Are the coke trains getting a helper to climb Bakerstown Hill leaving Pittsburgh?

Hello,

I live near Franklinville, NY. When do trains operate thru there, or do the B&P trains go south at Machias Jct. thru Ellicottville and then onto Salamanca because of the tank cars on tracks at Olean?

I would like vintage photos of Machias Jct. and Franklinville Station. I have another question please: What RR operated at one time thru Sandusky, NY south of Arcade?

Thank you,
Richard Israelson

Hi Rich. I believe the coke train contract was lost to NS. They are off loading the trains in Sandusky. Not sure if B&P / W&LE can get them back.

The other B&P traffic cuts off at Machias and runs south to Salamanca, Dubouis, etc. The WNY&PA leases the Buffalo line in Franklinville but doesn't run up there currently unless it's for storage.

I think they still have the contract as of right now, I saw a train about 3 weeks ago with WLE and BPRR power hauling about 90 NS hoppers come tearing north through Bradford heading towards Salamanca to hop on to the Buffalo line to head up Buffalo

Earlier this summer, Erie Coke shipped 80 cars of coke in 20-car blocks. The last of which moved out of town on 7/31.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=you ... 2x95FmotbM

While I’m no fan of coal as a fuel, it’s irreplaceable as a feedstock. To wit, yes, Erie Coke has managed to survive at least for the time being.

https://www.yourerie.com/news/local-new ... -decision/

Last summer, B&P delivered 300 cars of coal to Erie Coke.

An interesting aside is that Erie Coke loaded several shiploads of coke at Montfort Terminal last year, according to Boatnerd.

http://www.boatnerd.com/news/archive/12-18.htm

Unusual?