Central New York Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Central New York Railroad is a short line railroad operating local freight service along the ex-Erie Railroad
Southern Tier Line
in the U.S states of New York
and Pennsylvania
. The line begins at Port Jervis, following the West Branch Delaware River
to Deposit and the Susquehanna River
from Lanesboro, where it crosses the Starrucca Viaduct
, to Binghamton. It is a subsidiary of the Delaware Otsego Corporation
, which also owns the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
, operator of through trains over the line (along with the Norfolk Southern Railway
, lessor).
, having purchased the trackage from the Erie Lackawanna Railway
(EL). The 21.7 miles (34.9 km) line was opened by the Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley Railway in November 1872 as a branch, and passed to the EL through consolidation. (EL successor Conrail sold the old Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley main line through Cassville to the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
in 1982.) The CNYK suspended service in early 1988 and was authorized to abandon the line in August 1995, at which time the corporation became inactive.
Delaware Otsego brought the CNYK back to life on December 31, 2004, when it leased the Binghamton-Port Jervis section of the Southern Tier Line
from the Norfolk Southern Railway
. The line had been opened by the New York and Erie Railroad in December 1848, and passed through the Erie Lackawanna and Conrail to Norfolk Southern. When the CNYK leased the line, the Norfolk Southern retained overhead trackage rights to serve through freight traffic. Since the Delaware Otsego also had overhead trackage rights through the Susquehanna, the CNYK only operates local freight trains, interchanging with the Norfolk Southern and Susquehanna at Binghamton.
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
Southern Tier Line
Southern Tier Line
The Southern Tier Line is a railroad line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway in the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania. The line runs from Suffern, New York northwest to Buffalo, New York mostly along a former Erie Railroad line. From Suffern to Sparrowbush along which...
in the U.S states of 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...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The line begins at Port Jervis, following the West Branch Delaware River
West Branch Delaware River
The West Branch Delaware River, approximately 90 mi long in the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania, is one of the two branches, along with the East Branch, that join to form the Delaware River...
to Deposit and the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
from Lanesboro, where it crosses the Starrucca Viaduct
Starrucca Viaduct
Starrucca Viaduct is a stone arch bridge that spans Starrucca Creek near Lanesboro, Pennsylvania, in the United States. At the time of its construction, the bridge was thought to be the most expensive railway bridge in the world, at a cost of $320,000 , and it was the largest stone rail viaduct in...
, to Binghamton. It is a subsidiary of the Delaware Otsego Corporation
Delaware Otsego Corporation
The Delaware Otsego Corporation is an American railway holding company which owns the subsidiary New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway as well as other, smaller branch line railroads, collectively known as the DO System...
, which also owns the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
, operator of through trains over the line (along with the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
, lessor).
History
The CNYK began operations on December 12, 1972 between Cassville and Richfield Springs, New YorkRichfield Springs, New York
Richfield Springs is a village located in the Town of Richfield, on the north-central border of Otsego County, New York. The population was 1,255 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from some local sulfur springs....
, having purchased the trackage from the Erie Lackawanna Railway
Erie Lackawanna Railway
The Erie Lackawanna Railway , known as the Erie–Lackawanna Railroad until 1968, was formed from the 1960 merger of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad...
(EL). The 21.7 miles (34.9 km) line was opened by the Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley Railway in November 1872 as a branch, and passed to the EL through consolidation. (EL successor Conrail sold the old Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley main line through Cassville to the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
in 1982.) The CNYK suspended service in early 1988 and was authorized to abandon the line in August 1995, at which time the corporation became inactive.
Delaware Otsego brought the CNYK back to life on December 31, 2004, when it leased the Binghamton-Port Jervis section of the Southern Tier Line
Southern Tier Line
The Southern Tier Line is a railroad line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway in the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania. The line runs from Suffern, New York northwest to Buffalo, New York mostly along a former Erie Railroad line. From Suffern to Sparrowbush along which...
from the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
. The line had been opened by the New York and Erie Railroad in December 1848, and passed through the Erie Lackawanna and Conrail to Norfolk Southern. When the CNYK leased the line, the Norfolk Southern retained overhead trackage rights to serve through freight traffic. Since the Delaware Otsego also had overhead trackage rights through the Susquehanna, the CNYK only operates local freight trains, interchanging with the Norfolk Southern and Susquehanna at Binghamton.