WATCO Ithaca Central operator of NS Ithaca Secondary

At one time they wanted to service a customer in Lyons. Beyond that what is there? I think the only siding is in Dundee and I don't know that the customer is active.

A few weeks ago I was out near Geneva and drove 14 from the thruway. They have some cars still stored south of
Packwood Rd. Have to wonder how good the ties are are north of there. All kinds of funky things growing in there
at Lyons, too. Hasn't been a train over those tracks since God was a baby.

Charlie

Charlie, it depends on what your definition of "a long time" is. I don't have the date that line went dormant but believe it was about 10 years ago.

BR&P wrote:Charlie, it depends on what your definition of "a long time" is. I don't have the date that line went dormant but believe it was about 10 years ago.

That sounds about right. In the FGLK thread, there's a link to an article that says NY route 174 near Syracuse is closed account
of damage to the liner of the tunnel/culvert that carries FGLK over the highway. I'm sure NYDOT will keep the railroad's feet to
the fire to get it repaired ASAP.

If for some reason the repair of said tunnel were to require no rail traffic moving above, the connection at Lyons could be
necessary wouldn't it?

Charlie

charlie6017 wrote:
That sounds about right. In the FGLK thread, there's a link to an article that says NY route 174 near Syracuse is closed account
of damage to the liner of the tunnel/culvert that carries FGLK over the highway. I'm sure NYDOT will keep the railroad's feet to
the fire to get it repaired ASAP.

If for some reason the repair of said tunnel were to require no rail traffic moving above, the connection at Lyons could be
necessary wouldn't it?

Charlie

This is my speculation, not anything official. I still am not convinced the repair is FGLK's responsibility altho you'd expect that would have been brought up by their president in the news article if it was incorrect.

But keep in mind the Geneva-Lyons segment belongs to NS, not FGLK. They have no obligation nor benefit to reactivate it. In fact, it would help their competition. There would be additional costs involved - a complete inspection first, signal issues, possibly drainage....who knows? Who will pay for that? Also, in today's focus on being a "wholesale" transportation provider which keeps trains moving, I can't see CSX wanting to re-open Lyons as an interchange point. My admittedly uninformed guess is they much prefer having everything move through Dewitt. Whether enough political pressure could be exerted to get everybody on the same page or not, I don't know.

COULD it happen? Yes. WILL it happen? My guess is no. But again, there may be other factors here which I'm not aware of so we'll just have to wait and see.

nessman wrote:Wonder if NS will lease the entire Corning Secondary to the FGLK then?

Foamers have been wanting the lease or sale of the line for years, but it's unlikely to happen. Ownership of the Corning Secondary gives NS greater control of their interchange with FGLK.

Getting back to ITHR, the crew goes on duty in Ithaca at 8 AM. The train usually arrives in Sayre around mid-day. I've heard rumors that a 3rd locomotive will be sent there soon, but nothing to substantiate them yet. WATCO has painted some of their locomotives (on other shortlines) in the colors of a local high school or university, so there is a possibility that Cornell red could return to the former LV.

BR&P wrote:

nessman wrote:Wonder if NS will lease the entire Corning Secondary to the FGLK then?

Why would they want it?

I guess the question is why would NS want to keep it when they can let someone else operate/maintain it. Other than the FLGK interchange in Geneva, there isn't much else on the line as far as NS traffic is concerned.

Matt Langworthy wrote:

nessman wrote:Wonder if NS will lease the entire Corning Secondary to the FGLK then?

Foamers have been wanting the lease or sale of the line for years, but it's unlikely to happen. Ownership of the Corning Secondary gives NS greater control of their interchange with FGLK.

Whether they interchange in Corning or Geneva - NS would still have that control.

Never say never I suppose... but with CSX and NS spinning off more branchlines - this would fit into that model. I guess we'll have to wait and see when/if that ever happens.

ITHR has added a 3rd locomotive to their fleet. SD40-2 #4241 was used for the 1st time yesterday in pusher service.

NS 524 is currently in Sayre, PA. An ITHR crew will go on duty there @ 8 AM and take the train to Milliken, using NS power.

Making vacation plans for this summer:
Has Ithaca Central fallen into a regular operating pattern now?
When would be the best time of day to catch activity in the Ithaca area?
Thanks,
Lee Carlson