This blurb was found here at railfan.net:
http://forums.railfan.net/forums.cgi?bo ... 1153240769
The Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad's office car, "Traveller" was moved to Salamanca on July 18th as a setting for the news conference that announced a $1.5 million state grant for the WNYP. The money will be used for ties and surfacing, replacement of worn rail, and grade crossing improvements in Salamanca and Olean. The vast majority of the track work will be done in Allegany and Cataraugus Counties this year. State Sen. Catharine Young of Olean obtained the money for the railroad. News of the grant was widely reported in newspapers and on local TV and radio stations.
Over the years, Cathy Young has been an advocate for the multi-county effort that preserved the Southern Tier rail corridor. She believes communities are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to attracting new industry if they don't offer rail service -- and she knows that some employers in the region will close up shop if they ever lose access to rail. She told me, "Upstate has got to do more to improve the environment for job creation and the railroad is part of that."
One bright spot on the horizon is the prospect of locating an ethanol plant in the Falconer industrial park. That plant, if it is financed and built, will be rail-dependent. The proposed expansion of the Jamestown BPU's coal-fired steam plant will also be rail-dependent.
Interestingly enough, Cathy grew up on a farm that adjoined the LAL between Conesus Lake Jct. and Avon. She remembers the steam tourist trains as they went past her home when she was a teenager.
Eugene H. Blabey
Chairman/CEO
WNYP
http://forums.railfan.net/forums.cgi?bo ... 1153240769
The Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad's office car, "Traveller" was moved to Salamanca on July 18th as a setting for the news conference that announced a $1.5 million state grant for the WNYP. The money will be used for ties and surfacing, replacement of worn rail, and grade crossing improvements in Salamanca and Olean. The vast majority of the track work will be done in Allegany and Cataraugus Counties this year. State Sen. Catharine Young of Olean obtained the money for the railroad. News of the grant was widely reported in newspapers and on local TV and radio stations.
Over the years, Cathy Young has been an advocate for the multi-county effort that preserved the Southern Tier rail corridor. She believes communities are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to attracting new industry if they don't offer rail service -- and she knows that some employers in the region will close up shop if they ever lose access to rail. She told me, "Upstate has got to do more to improve the environment for job creation and the railroad is part of that."
One bright spot on the horizon is the prospect of locating an ethanol plant in the Falconer industrial park. That plant, if it is financed and built, will be rail-dependent. The proposed expansion of the Jamestown BPU's coal-fired steam plant will also be rail-dependent.
Interestingly enough, Cathy grew up on a farm that adjoined the LAL between Conesus Lake Jct. and Avon. She remembers the steam tourist trains as they went past her home when she was a teenager.
Eugene H. Blabey
Chairman/CEO
WNYP
