roberttosh wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 8:24 pm
In this scenario where the 2 main lines are shared how does NS get from the D&H to the B&A? In other words, where do the NS Ayer intermodal trains go from one line to the other? Unless it’s done at Buffalo I can’t think of anywhere else East of there where there would be a progressive straight on move without going way out of the way.
Mr. Tosh, even if definitely "rinky dink", the photos and the "clip" from an ETT Mr. Barlow submitted establish there is an active line. All NS need do is lay a new roadbed complete with 140# rail, and they can run anything out there safely.
Well, at least until the NIMBYS start rucking at Municipal Hall - as they did in my neck of the woods when GT (CN) acquired the EJ&E and started to use it for fast and frequent trains running around Chicago congestion.
To have both Chessie and Topper run East/West to/from Buffalo on their own rails to the B&A/PAS "joint trackage" at the "Hudson River Gateway" would obviate handling traffic to the Southeast. NS presently has their "refuse" moved through Bing, HBG, and Hagerstown to N&W rails, and surely would like to have greater value traffic on that same route. Through Buffalo on the NYC or D&H/ERIE is fine for East-West traffic (lest we forget, NS took a few oats out of Topper's bin to rebuild that bridge on the ERIE over the Genesee River), but that's not the only traffic in the "mix" for the two roads.
Again, it's great to have our "spec/fun" around here, but can't we have recognized railroad and/or financial media give this "CRSA story" some credibility? For if there is any foundation to it, it certainly is newsworthy.