Batten Kill Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Batten Kill Railroad is a class III railroad
operating in New York
. The BKRR was formed in 1982 beginning operations on October 22 of a pair of abandoned Delaware and Hudson Railway
branch lines, totaling about 30 miles of track.
(D&H). It connected to the D&H's Washington Branch at Greenwich Junction. Following the 1980 closure of the Georgia Pacific pulp and paper mill in Thomson, New York, the D&H planned to abandon the G&J along with the adjoining Washington Branch, which ran from Eagle Bridge, New York
to Castleton, Vermont
. In 1982, Mohawk-Hudson Transportation, owned by Ron Crowd, purchased the railroad from the D&H, forming the Batten Kill Railroad. Crowd had the distinction of being the first African-American to own and operate a railroad in the United States.
While initally financially successful, a series of national railroad strikes in the mid 1980s left the railroad in a less profitable state. In 1994, the railroad was turned over to NE New York Rail, a non-profit, and the BKRR remained the operator. Passenger excurisions were started, but were terminated by 2004 due to declining ridership. In November 2008, William Taber purchased the Batten Kill from Mohawk Transportation and the estate of the late Ron Crowd. Tabor is the current President and CEO of the railroad.
(formerly Guilford Transportation and the Boston & Maine). However the Batten Kill actually interchanges with the Delaware and Hudson (D&H), now Canadian Pacific, which has trackage rights on Pan Am. The line runs north from Eagle Bridge, through the villages of Cambridge, New York
and Shushan, New York
, to Greenwich Junction. From there, a short remnant of the D&H Washington Branch continues north into the village of Salem, New York
. This north-south compoenet of the line is paralleled by NY Route 22. The other route from the junction continues west to the village of Greenwich, parralled by NY Route 29. The line running west from Greenwich to Thomson, NY is out of service. In Greenwich, the railroad maintains a small engine house and the former G&J depot as an office.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
operating in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The BKRR was formed in 1982 beginning operations on October 22 of a pair of abandoned Delaware and Hudson Railway
Delaware and Hudson Railway
The Delaware and Hudson Railway is a railroad that operates in the northeastern United States. Since 1991 it has been a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, although CPR has assumed all operations and the D&H does not maintain any locomotives or rolling stock.It was formerly an important...
branch lines, totaling about 30 miles of track.
History
The Greenwich and Johnsonville Railway (G&J) was incorporated in the early part of the 20th century, and became a subsidiary of the Delaware and Hudson RailwayDelaware and Hudson Railway
The Delaware and Hudson Railway is a railroad that operates in the northeastern United States. Since 1991 it has been a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, although CPR has assumed all operations and the D&H does not maintain any locomotives or rolling stock.It was formerly an important...
(D&H). It connected to the D&H's Washington Branch at Greenwich Junction. Following the 1980 closure of the Georgia Pacific pulp and paper mill in Thomson, New York, the D&H planned to abandon the G&J along with the adjoining Washington Branch, which ran from Eagle Bridge, New York
Eagle Bridge, New York
Eagle Bridge is an unincorporated community in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. It was served by the Rutland and Washington Railroad.Eagle Bridge is also the name used by the United States Postal Service to identify ZIP code 12057...
to Castleton, Vermont
Castleton, Vermont
Castleton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. Castleton is about to the west of Rutland, and about east of the New York/Vermont state border. The town had a population of 4,717 at the 2010 census. Castleton State College is located there, with roots dating to 1787...
. In 1982, Mohawk-Hudson Transportation, owned by Ron Crowd, purchased the railroad from the D&H, forming the Batten Kill Railroad. Crowd had the distinction of being the first African-American to own and operate a railroad in the United States.
While initally financially successful, a series of national railroad strikes in the mid 1980s left the railroad in a less profitable state. In 1994, the railroad was turned over to NE New York Rail, a non-profit, and the BKRR remained the operator. Passenger excurisions were started, but were terminated by 2004 due to declining ridership. In November 2008, William Taber purchased the Batten Kill from Mohawk Transportation and the estate of the late Ron Crowd. Tabor is the current President and CEO of the railroad.
Route
The Batten Kill's sole interchange location is in Eagle Bridge, NY where it connects to the main line of Pan Am RailwaysPan Am Railways
Pan Am Railways, Inc. , known as Guilford Rail System before March 2006, is a holding company that owns and operates Class II regional railroads covering northern New England from Mattawamkeag, Maine to Rotterdam Junction, New York...
(formerly Guilford Transportation and the Boston & Maine). However the Batten Kill actually interchanges with the Delaware and Hudson (D&H), now Canadian Pacific, which has trackage rights on Pan Am. The line runs north from Eagle Bridge, through the villages of Cambridge, New York
Cambridge, New York
Cambridge, New York, may refer to either:* Cambridge , New York, the Town of Cambridge located in Washington County, New York* Cambridge , New York, the Village of Cambridge located within the Town of Cambridge, New York....
and Shushan, New York
Shushan, New York
Shushan is a hamlet in the town of Salem in Washington County, New York, United States. It is in the eastern region of the state, located four miles west of the Vermont border. Its ZIP code is 12873....
, to Greenwich Junction. From there, a short remnant of the D&H Washington Branch continues north into the village of Salem, New York
Salem, New York
Salem, New York is the name of two locations in Washington County, New York in the USA:* Salem , New York* Salem , New York...
. This north-south compoenet of the line is paralleled by NY Route 22. The other route from the junction continues west to the village of Greenwich, parralled by NY Route 29. The line running west from Greenwich to Thomson, NY is out of service. In Greenwich, the railroad maintains a small engine house and the former G&J depot as an office.