Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley (CACV) Discussion

Ok Thanks. Yes, the Alco units were delivered to the wrong address by the "USPS"...

At about 0430 this AM, I heard the NS Binghamton local K83 tell the NS yardmaster on the radio that it had picked up "two locomotives" (ie, he didn't say "2 ex-D&H Alco Switchers"! ) in addition to other NYS&W interchange for NS. I believe K83 was then headed back to the NS yard at Binghamton so perhaps tonight the local to Oneonta will go the extra miles to Cooperstown Junction and make the drop. We shall see...

11/3/17 update: someone who I believe is an NS employee in Binghamton said that 2 CACV switchers are on a shop track at the Binghamton yard as of 9AM.

CACV Facebook page:

Update on motive power move from Coop Jct to Milford Depot:

The move is scheduled for 11/11/17 in the morning specific time not definite as you all know how things go. Should be some activity from 9:00 AM @ the Jct. I will try to keep you updated on any changes Hope you can join us All the Best

Looked like a rough day for the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley yesterday.
From the http://www.allotsego.com/
"The antique rail cars that line Route 7 near Colliersville broke loose and crossed onto the highway, bring state police to the scene. No further details were immediately available. Oneonta’s Bob Pondolfino was driving by and snapped this image."

http://www.allotsego.com/wp-content/upl ... ilcars.jpg


Also more images and video on Facebook from the Milford Fire and Emergency Squad
https://www.facebook.com/Milford-Fire-D ... 436867261/

They say rust never sleeps. And neither does gravity!

Lucky nobody was injured.

Maybe vandals at play?
Noel Weaver

The cars had some momentum. I'd say it's are darn lucky they derailed at the road crossing. If they had somehow stayed on, it appears the tracks don't end TOO far from the D&H / NS. Would have been chit around the moon if they had gone off the end and fouled the main.

Noel Weaver wrote:Maybe vandals at play?
Noel Weaver

Don't think so. I'm guessing they were moving equipment in anticipation of an interchange move.

Bad situation indeed. From Google Maps, it appears the cars rolled away on the unused (west) leg of the wye (the crossing is paved over on both Google and Bing).

They had to be moving at a decent clip to plow through the blacktop and almost clear the crossing.

Given the age of the cars, it's entirely possible they were switching without air. So take your pick - inadequate or non-existent hand brakes, no chocks, no portable derail, no bumping post, etc.

I don't wish to speculate other than it's a significant safety issue.

BR&P's take on gravity is accurate. If you work for the railroad long enough ... let's just say we all have stories ...

Its been a long time since I have been in these parts but I know the normal route used for interchange at Cooperstown Junction was the east leg of the wye. I think the west leg of the wye had not been used in a long time. I would suggest that these cars had been on that same west leg for a long time. Looks to me like it could have been a lot worse.
Noel Weaver

Noel Weaver wrote:Its been a long time since I have been in these parts but I know the normal route used for interchange at Cooperstown Junction was the east leg of the wye. I think the west leg of the wye had not been used in a long time. I would suggest that these cars had been on that same west leg for a long time. Looks to me like it could have been a lot worse.
Noel Weaver

I've never been there, but the aerial photos on line appear to show several cars on the east leg. There is talk here about a delivery of locos. One possibility is the cars were set from the east leg to the west leg in anticipation of that delivery, and you can fill in the rest.

CPSmith wrote: If you work for the railroad long enough ... let's just say we all have stories ...

Yup!

yeah, there's no way those clunkers had air. Probably no handbrake either. Either they forgot to chock them or the cars rolled through whatever was supposed to hold them.

you switch junk like that you know air even if hooked up is not dependable, general rule is use chains to secure the move.

Any updates on the CACV for 2020? Also, was the switch to N.S. pulled out, isolating the CACV? If so, when did that happen? I know a couple of years ago they received 2 engines. Thanks.

Someone new will be operating the trains; I don't know if they will run anything in 2020. The switch is still in place.