Who owns former NYC mainline from Poughkeepsie to Buffalo?

Just have a curious question about ownership of the former NYCRR main line from Poughkeepsie to Buffalo. The former main line from GCT to Poughkeepsie is owned by the successor to Penn Central (the name escapes me now) and leased to Metro North. What about the rest of the main line as described above. Does this also belong to the Penn Central successor or is it owned outright by CSX?

After Penn Central, Conrail owned it from 4/1/76 until 6/1/99--then CSX took over.

Charlie

UpperHarlemLine4ever wrote:Just have a curious question about ownership of the former NYCRR main line from Poughkeepsie to Buffalo. The former main line from GCT to Poughkeepsie is owned by the successor to Penn Central (the name escapes me now) and leased to Metro North. What about the rest of the main line as described above. Does this also belong to the Penn Central successor or is it owned outright by CSX?

All railroad assets not used by the commuter operation were conveyed to Conrail on April 1, 1976. The section from New York to Poughkeepsie and New York to Dover Plains were retained by Penn Central and leased to the MTA. Conrail was conveyed the section from Dover Plains to Millerton (later cut back to Wassaic).

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_Central

Though the new Penn Central retained ownership of some rights of way and station properties connected with the railroads, it continued to liquidate these and eventually concentrated on one of its subsidiaries in the insurance business. The former Penn Central Corporation changed its name to American Premier Underwriters in March 1994. It became part of the Cincinnati financial empire of Carl Lindner and his American Financial Group. On December 6, 2006, the United States Department of Transportation approved the transfer of 156 miles (251 km) of the Harlem-Hudson Line and of Grand Central Terminal in New York City to Midtown TDR Ventures LLC.[1] Although its subsidiary left the railroad business many years ago, American Financial Group, as of 2006, still owns Grand Central Terminal. The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is the station's current lessee. As part of the transaction the lease with the MTA was renegotiated through February 28, 2274. The New York Post on July 6, 2007 reported that Midtown TDR was controlled by Penson and Venture. The Post noted that the MTA, would pay $2.24 million in rent in 2007, and has an option to buy the station and tracks in 2017. However, Argent could also opt to extend the date another 15 years to 2032.[2] The cash value of the station is limited, as the building is listed for purposes of historic preservation and cannot, under current law, be torn down for redevelopment. However, there are substantial development air rights.

IIRC, Amtrak bought the NYC from Stuyvesant (MP-124) to Hoffmans via Rensselaer and Schenectady. CSX dispatches it but is a tenant for local freight.

[quote="Otto Vondrak"][quote="UpperHarlemLine4ever"]Just have a curious question about ownership of the former NYCRR main line from Poughkeepsie to Buffalo. The former main line from GCT to Poughkeepsie is owned by the successor to Penn All railroad assets not used by the commuter operation were conveyed to Conrail on April 1, 1976. The section from New York to Poughkeepsie and New York to Dover Plains were retained by Penn Central and leased to the MTA. Conrail was conveyed the section from Dover Plains to Millerton (later cut back to Wassaic).

As far as I know the section between Wassaic and Millerton was never conveyed to Conrail. It remained the property of the
estate although the state supported local freight service as far as Millerton for a period. Once state support of freight
operation beyond Wassaic took effect the estate was free to remove the track and sell the property.
At startup, Conrail operated some lines that were not conveyed to them with support from usually the state involved. Some
of this stuff is still around as it was eventually sold by the estate to either a state or states, other railroads or private
operators. Strangely enough some of the lines earmarked for abandonment back in 1976 are still around and in use while
some lines that were considered to be healthy and have a future under Conrail have since been abandoned and torn up.
Noel Weaver

The best way to find these things out is to go to the county clerk's office along the line and do a deed search.