There ya go. WNYP. See wnyprr.com for the system map. History in a nutshell is that from Salamanca NY (original NY-Dunkirk Erie Railroad) to the Ohio Line, it was originally the Atlantic & Great Western (at 6' gauge), absorbed into the Erie system, and into the Erie Lackawanna merger. This was the main line New-York-Chicago route of NY99 and NY100, the two hot all-pig UPS trains that EL had, with track speeds of 65mph typical. Post-Conrail, the railroad was steadily downgraded, loosing the second main, signals, yards, and traffic. Despite New York's protests, the line was severed for through traffic in 1992, rails disconnected between Corry, PA and Jamestown, NY. Portions that remained were 10mph. Conrails de-merger placed the line in the NS sphere, and in 2000 NS leased the line to WNYP, it took almost two years to reopen and rebuild the line to FRA III standards again, including new welded rail. It is now a coal route between Pittsburgh and upper NY State/Gang Mills/Binghampton, seeing 5-7 unit coal trains per week, plus local traffic. Power is all NS on the run-through coal trains, but locals are powered by an assortment of Alco Centuries from the parent LA&L organization, including C424's, 425's, C430's, and C630 #630, painted in WNYP. The original Western New York & Pennsylvania was a rather large regional between New Castle, Oil City Rochester, and Buffalo. It had its own corporate identity, herald, and system map schedule until about 1920, when it was completely absorbed into the PRR. Except for a few sidings in Corry, and now Oil City, none of the original WNYP PRR track is in the all ex-Erie system at the moment. WNYP took over the NS ex-Erie Meadville-Oil City-Rouseville branch into Oil City in 2005. This was the first railroad into the Pennsylvania oil region by about 1860, again, built to broad 6' gauge.
I recently read of a regional, (KB&S?), which was retiring their ALCos due to parts problems. I hope WNY&P has no such troubles? If traffic merits, would this line be further upgraded? Signals, etc? Boxcab E50
Our firm did the engineering for the original track rehab project, and in the 'name the railroad' contest when they very first started, I threw in the historic ex-PRR WNY&P name in the hat. Out of the 30 or so ideas submitted from various sources, that was the one they actually picked! They didn't pick the herald though, and I liked that herald. Its on this book cover of the history of the line: http://www.theoldandwearycarshop.com/wnyandprybook.jpg So in my own 'name the railroad' contest, I actually got to help name it, possibly one of the strangest things to ever happen in my life. The line is being upgraded, mostly complete replacement of stick rail to welded. 40mph is fast enough for unit coal. Passing sidings have been replaced at several locations, and "fast-pass" signals are in place at selected locations that include engineer-radio controlled switches and interlocking signals. So some signals have been put back, but it would probably never see a return to classic Rule 251 block signals again. It's really an amazing story and its one of the better unknown restorations of a line that was effectively abandoned brought back to main line status again. I grew up along the line back in the 1970's and well remember the E-L, and I always believed in the route and the railroad.
It is remarkable. While I had heard the company name, and a little about them operating, I'd no idea of it's extent or success. Hmmmm. I'd like to see my youthful favorite RR restored! :teeth: Could I borrow some of your magical influence? Ha ha. Boxcab E50
OK, there were two different questions floating on this thread and I guess I answered them both. Does that mean I have to come up with two mysery railroads for the next question?
OK, to start I guess I should review the rules. I blew it the other day and posted a mystery railroad without first answering a question correctly. I withdrew the question but then we still had two questions going for a while. So, you have to answer a question correctly first before you get to post one. Well anyway, here we go. This railroad was built as a direct competitor to the James River Canal in Virginia. It was chartered in the mid 1840s and completed in nine years to connect two "Burgs" in Virginia. A big engineering feat for its time was the bridge this railroad built over the Appomattox River. The timber-truss and brick-pier structure stood 125 feet over the water and was over 1/2 mile long. Most of the railroad was destroyed in the Civil War. What was the name of this railroad? What railroad was it consolidated with when it was rebuilt after the Civil War?
OK. Back before "The *Bay" boys went nuts, I remember a switch key being auctioned from this RR. A friend of mine bid on it, but didn't win. The guy had a history with it. It was the Richmond &_________ RR. Initials on the key were "R&ARR." I think it said this eventually went into the C&O? Boxcab E50
South Side Railroad. Also here is the bridge you speak of: http://www.eastman.org/ar/sketchbook/m198100040098_ful.html#topofimage Consolidated with the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad.
Got it. Now it is part of NS. When it was first built, it provided a link with the Virginia & Tennessee over the Blue Ridge Mountains, for the first all rail route from the East Coast to New Orleans. Many of the 49 ers heading for the California gold rush took this to catch a ship out of New Orleans for Panama for an over land hike to catch another ship on the Pacific side for San Francisco.
Allright, name the railroad that built this bridge. http://www.worldtimzone.com/railtrail/highbridge/hbconstructioncompletefromshaker-small.png Also name the railroad that attempted this crossing about 25 years prior.
Is that the one President Rutherford B. Hayes made the first recorded bungee jump off of? Opps, I better shut up.:zip:
Need a hint? When the bridge was completed in 1877, it was not only the first cantilever bridge in North America, but also the highest and longest cantilever in the world. In 1910 it was rebuilt and used the same footings as the original bridge and was built around the original. By raising the track deck of the new bridge almost 30 feet above the existing deck, railroad traffic was able to continue uninterrupted during the rebuilding. http://www.worldtimzone.com/railtrail/highbridge/hbrebuildinghousesbelow1.jpg http://www.worldtimzone.com/railtrail/highbridge/hbrebuildingdonedeckremoved.jpg Besides being double-tracked and the limestone towers removed in 1929, its has retained the same look and is still in use today.
I will take a guess at the Cincinatti and Southern or the Lexington and Danville. Who owns it now I do not know seen something on the history channel about the civil war and it showed up. The name of the bridge is the High Bridge
Here is the Web Page on it. I think Jim157 got both names asked for in Itsa Timmy's question, Cincinatti and Southern and the Lexington and Danville.
