Finger Lakes Railway
Encyclopedia
The Finger Lakes Railway is a class III railroad
in the Finger Lakes
region of New York
.
The Finger Lakes Railway began operation on July 23, 1995 and operates in Onondaga
, Cayuga
, Seneca
, Ontario
, Schuyler
and Yates
counties.
Since 2001, the railroad has been operating a heritage railroad
offering passenger train excursions.
The FGLK operates 11 diesel locomotive
s on 118 miles (189.9 km) of ex Conrail trackage, formerly owned by the New York Central Railroad
, the Pennsylvania Railroad
, and the Lehigh Valley Railroad
.
The main line is 76
miles long, running from Syracuse
to Canandaigua, New York
. Once part of the New York Central Railroad
and known as the Auburn Road, it dates all the way back to the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad
.
At Syracuse, New York the FGLK interchanges with CSX Transportation
and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
(NYSW). Travelling west, the line passes through Solvay
, Camillus
, Skaneateles Junction (also known as Hartlot or Skaneateles Falls), Sennett
, Auburn
, Aurelius
(Station name Relius), Cayuga
, Seneca Falls
, and Waterloo. At Geneva, New York
, there is a connection with Norfolk Southern Railway
's Corning Secondary, which Canadian Pacific Railway
has trackage rights
over.
Continuing west, the line passes through Phelps Junction and Clifton Springs
. In Shortsville
, the railroad comes to the terminus of the Ontario Central Railway. Finally, the line arrives at Canandaigua, New York
.
Branch line to Kendaia/Romulus
The FGLK operates a portion of the ex-Lehigh Valley Railroad
mainline from Geneva to Kendaia running south on the east side of Seneca Lake. This was the Lehigh Valley's mainline from Waverly, New York
to Buffalo, New York
. This line once saw much action during World War II right on through the Cold War with many military movements in and out of the Seneca Army Depot
which closed in the summer 1998. The now closed base has a very large yard which at current time is used for rail car storage by the Finger Lakes Railway. It is hoped that much of the abandoned Depot will attract new industries to the area.
Branch line from Penn Yan to Watkins Glen
The Penn Yan, New York
branch was once part of the Pennsylvania Railroad
only a small section of this line extends from Watkins Glen to Bellona To get to this line, the Finger Lakes Railway uses trackage rights over Norfolk Southern's Corning Secondary from Geneva to Himrod Junction, which is in the middle of the branch, Penn Yan being to the north and Watkins Glen, New York
being to the south.
Ontario Central
In October 2007, the Surface Transportation Board
approved the sale of the Ontario Central Railway to the FGLK. Previously the line had been owned by the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
. It consists of 13.3 miles (21.4 km) of ex-Lehigh Valley trackage and is part of the same former Sayre-Buffalo mainline that makes up the Kendaia branch. The two railroads connect near Shortsville, New York
. As of December 2008, the Ontario Central continues to operate with a leased EMD SW9
from Golden Spike Rail Service.
, clay
, grain
, lumber
and paper
products, scrap
steel
, chemical substance
s, finished steel
, salt
, sand
, soda ash
, paper
, potash
, fertilizer
, beer
, phosphorus
fertilizer, telephone poles, and aluminum ingots.
Finger Lakes Railway is a vital connection for the industries in the area, with its interchanges with the Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern with connections to Canadian Pacific via Norfolk Southern. The goods that FGLK removes or delivers to the manufacturers are often shipped across the country, with FGLK owned rail cars spotted in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, New Jersey, Maine, Ontario, Canada and Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, and even as far out as California.
. Operations began in October 2001 with four coaches having been purchased second-hand from Via Rail
in late 1998. The cars were delayed in delivery due to customs inspections and feathers that were used as stuffing in the seats having come from a bird that was listed on the endangered species list in the U.S. but not in Canada. The cars arrived in the winter of 1999 after the seats were replaced.
Two cars were upgraded by Via Rail and were set up with electric heating while the other 2 use steam heating. The two updated cars have been repainted into the old New York Central two tone Gray colors and have been named the Canandaigua, and Cayuga. The other two cars, named the Geneva and Seneca, have been repainted in the same scheme, and have been in storage awaiting upgrades to electric heating. In 2008 FGLK restored the Seneca car back into service, doing a much needed partial interior renewal. The sound system was extended into this car as well, making the passengers feel much more included. Currently, the Geneva car sits on a siding along Routes 5&20. Although it is not used for passengers, it does serve as advertising for the railroad to passing cars and pedestrians strolling along the lake. Although FGLK would like to put this car into service, it does need a lot of work, including replacing many of the windows in the car. The three grey coaches are referred to by the staff collectively as "The Greys". In 2009, ceiling fans were installed in all of the coaches in order to better circulate the air.
A full baggage car joined the fleet in late 2005 with possible plans to be rebuilt into an open-air observation car. In 2007, FGLK purchased two antique passenger coaches (Ex Norfolk & Western coaches built Circa 1916). These coaches do not currently have names, but are numbered #1642 (Table Car) and #1643 (Coach). Finger Lakes Railway honored the heritage of the Lehigh Valley Railroad with these cars by painting them into a maroon color with yellow accents and gold lettering. The staff calls these cars "The Reds".
The passenger cars are usually operated in two sets, with The Reds operating on the rockier track in Watkins Glen, and The Greys running across the state on the northern tracks. The Reds have 6 axles per car, causing them to ride better by spreading out the load over more track at once. Throughout the year, you can see all five of the passenger cars running together on the many scenic events offered.
B23-7 #1989 is painted in Conrail Blue with its original CR number no repaint or renumber has been set as of this time. U23B #2201 is painted in a Lehigh Valley Railroad
-inspired scheme of Cornell Red with Black pin stripes. All the other units are painted in the FGLK lightning stripe scheme, based on an old New York Central scheme. As of April 2008, the 2306 and 2307 still wear the livery of their previous owner the P&W. 2308 is in the Camas Prairie Railroad
colors of yellow and blue.
FGLK 2310 arrived as is and out of service it currently sits in the Geneva Yard next to Route 5, and needs a lot of work in order to get her back in running order.
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...
in the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
region 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...
.
The Finger Lakes Railway began operation on July 23, 1995 and operates in Onondaga
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Cayuga
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
, Seneca
Seneca County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
, Ontario
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
, Schuyler
Schuyler County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,224 people, 7,374 households, and 5,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile . There were 9,181 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
and Yates
Yates County, New York
Yates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,348. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county....
counties.
Since 2001, the railroad has been operating a heritage railroad
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
offering passenger train excursions.
The FGLK operates 11 diesel locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s on 118 miles (189.9 km) of ex Conrail trackage, formerly owned by the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
, the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, and the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
.
Route description
Main lineThe main line is 76
76 (number)
76 is the natural number following 75 and preceding 77.-In mathematics:Seventy-six is a Lucas number, an automorphic number, a nontotient, a 14-gonal number, and a centered pentagonal number....
miles long, running from Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
to Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
. Once part of the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
and known as the Auburn Road, it dates all the way back to the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad
Auburn and Syracuse Railroad
The Auburn and Syracuse Railroad was incorporated on May 1, 1834 to provide easy access to and from Syracuse, New York and the Erie Canal. Construction was begun in 1835, however, was delayed during the Panic of 1837...
.
At Syracuse, New York the FGLK interchanges with CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
and 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...
(NYSW). Travelling west, the line passes through Solvay
Solvay, New York
Solvay is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, and a suburb of the city of Syracuse. According to the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 6,845...
, Camillus
Camillus, New York
Camillus, New York is located in Onondaga County. There are two parts to Camillus, New York:*Camillus, New York *Camillus, New York...
, Skaneateles Junction (also known as Hartlot or Skaneateles Falls), Sennett
Sennett, New York
Sennett is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 3,595 at the 2010 census. The town is named after a public official and early settler, Daniel Sennett....
, Auburn
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
, Aurelius
Aurelius, New York
Aurelius is a town in Cayuga County, New York, USA. The population was 2,792 at the 2010 census. The town was named after the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.The Town of Aurelius is at the western edge of the county and borders the City of Auburn....
(Station name Relius), Cayuga
Cayuga, New York
Cayuga is a village in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 509 at the 2000 census. The village derives its name from the local Cayuga tribe and the lake named after them....
, Seneca Falls
Seneca Falls (village), New York
Seneca Falls is a village in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 6,861 at the 2000 census. The village is in the Town of Seneca Falls, east of Geneva, New York. On March 16, 2010, village residents voted to dissolve the village, a move that would take effect at the end of 2011...
, and Waterloo. At Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
, there is a connection with 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...
's Corning Secondary, which Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
has trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over.
Continuing west, the line passes through Phelps Junction and Clifton Springs
Clifton Springs, New York
Clifton Springs is a village located in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 2,223 at the 2000 census. The village takes its name from local mineral springs....
. In Shortsville
Shortsville, New York
Shortsville is a village in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 1,320 at the 2000 census.The Village of Shortsville is in the southwest part of the Town of Manchester and is north of Canandaigua, NY.-History:...
, the railroad comes to the terminus of the Ontario Central Railway. Finally, the line arrives at Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
.
Branch line to Kendaia/Romulus
The FGLK operates a portion of the ex-Lehigh Valley Railroad
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
mainline from Geneva to Kendaia running south on the east side of Seneca Lake. This was the Lehigh Valley's mainline from Waverly, New York
Waverly, New York
Waverly is the name of some places in the U.S. state of New York:*Waverly, Tioga County, New York, a village in New York's Southern Tier*Waverly, Franklin County, New York, a town in Northern New York...
to Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. This line once saw much action during World War II right on through the Cold War with many military movements in and out of the Seneca Army Depot
Seneca Army Depot
The former Seneca Army Depot occupied 10,587 acres between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake in Seneca County, New York. It was used as a munitions storage and disposal facility by the United States Army from 1941 until the 1990s. The Depot was listed in the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
which closed in the summer 1998. The now closed base has a very large yard which at current time is used for rail car storage by the Finger Lakes Railway. It is hoped that much of the abandoned Depot will attract new industries to the area.
Branch line from Penn Yan to Watkins Glen
The Penn Yan, New York
Penn Yan, New York
Penn Yan is a village in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 5,219 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yates County and lies at the north end of the east branch of Keuka Lake, one of the Finger Lakes....
branch was once part of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
only a small section of this line extends from Watkins Glen to Bellona To get to this line, the Finger Lakes Railway uses trackage rights over Norfolk Southern's Corning Secondary from Geneva to Himrod Junction, which is in the middle of the branch, Penn Yan being to the north and Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
being to the south.
Ontario Central
In October 2007, the Surface Transportation Board
Surface Transportation Board
The Surface Transportation Board of the United States is a bipartisan, decisionally-independent adjudicatory body organizationally housed within the U.S. Department of Transportation. The STB was established in 1996 to assume some of the regulatory functions that had been administered by the...
approved the sale of the Ontario Central Railway to the FGLK. Previously the line had been owned by the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
The Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad is a short line railroad that operates in Livingston County and Monroe County in New York, United States...
. It consists of 13.3 miles (21.4 km) of ex-Lehigh Valley trackage and is part of the same former Sayre-Buffalo mainline that makes up the Kendaia branch. The two railroads connect near Shortsville, New York
Shortsville, New York
Shortsville is a village in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 1,320 at the 2000 census.The Village of Shortsville is in the southwest part of the Town of Manchester and is north of Canandaigua, NY.-History:...
. As of December 2008, the Ontario Central continues to operate with a leased EMD SW9
EMD SW9
An EMD SW9 is a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1950 and December 1953. Power was provided by an EMD 567B 12-cylinder engine, producing ....
from Golden Spike Rail Service.
Freight service
The Finger Lakes Railway is predominantly a freight company, and works to serve the customers and haul goods in a quick and professional process. FGLK handles 18,000+ cars of freight each year and growing. They handle a large variety of goods including plastic, canned foodCanning
Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
, clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
, grain
Caryopsis
In botany, a caryopsis is a type of simple dry fruit — one that is monocarpelate and indehiscent and resembles an achene, except that in a caryopsis the pericarp is fused with the thin seed coat....
, lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
and paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
products, scrap
Scrap
Scrap is a term used to describe recyclable and other materials left over from every manner of product consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap has significant monetary value...
steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, chemical substance
Chemical substance
In chemistry, a chemical substance is a form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. It cannot be separated into components by physical separation methods, i.e. without breaking chemical bonds. They can be solids, liquids or gases.Chemical substances are...
s, finished steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, salt
Edible salt
Salt, also known as table salt, or rock salt, is a mineral that is composed primarily of sodium chloride , a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of ionic salts. It is essential for animal life in small quantities, but is harmful to animals and plants in excess...
, sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
, soda ash
Sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate , Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well-known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the...
, paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
, potash
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
, fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
, beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
fertilizer, telephone poles, and aluminum ingots.
Finger Lakes Railway is a vital connection for the industries in the area, with its interchanges with the Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern with connections to Canadian Pacific via Norfolk Southern. The goods that FGLK removes or delivers to the manufacturers are often shipped across the country, with FGLK owned rail cars spotted in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, New Jersey, Maine, Ontario, Canada and Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, and even as far out as California.
Heritage railroad passenger excursion trains
The FGLK operates an excursion service as a heritage railroadHeritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
. Operations began in October 2001 with four coaches having been purchased second-hand from Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
in late 1998. The cars were delayed in delivery due to customs inspections and feathers that were used as stuffing in the seats having come from a bird that was listed on the endangered species list in the U.S. but not in Canada. The cars arrived in the winter of 1999 after the seats were replaced.
Two cars were upgraded by Via Rail and were set up with electric heating while the other 2 use steam heating. The two updated cars have been repainted into the old New York Central two tone Gray colors and have been named the Canandaigua, and Cayuga. The other two cars, named the Geneva and Seneca, have been repainted in the same scheme, and have been in storage awaiting upgrades to electric heating. In 2008 FGLK restored the Seneca car back into service, doing a much needed partial interior renewal. The sound system was extended into this car as well, making the passengers feel much more included. Currently, the Geneva car sits on a siding along Routes 5&20. Although it is not used for passengers, it does serve as advertising for the railroad to passing cars and pedestrians strolling along the lake. Although FGLK would like to put this car into service, it does need a lot of work, including replacing many of the windows in the car. The three grey coaches are referred to by the staff collectively as "The Greys". In 2009, ceiling fans were installed in all of the coaches in order to better circulate the air.
A full baggage car joined the fleet in late 2005 with possible plans to be rebuilt into an open-air observation car. In 2007, FGLK purchased two antique passenger coaches (Ex Norfolk & Western coaches built Circa 1916). These coaches do not currently have names, but are numbered #1642 (Table Car) and #1643 (Coach). Finger Lakes Railway honored the heritage of the Lehigh Valley Railroad with these cars by painting them into a maroon color with yellow accents and gold lettering. The staff calls these cars "The Reds".
The passenger cars are usually operated in two sets, with The Reds operating on the rockier track in Watkins Glen, and The Greys running across the state on the northern tracks. The Reds have 6 axles per car, causing them to ride better by spreading out the load over more track at once. Throughout the year, you can see all five of the passenger cars running together on the many scenic events offered.
Locomotive roster
- 4 EMD GP9EMD GP9An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including...
s: 1701, 1702, 1703, 1751 - 1 GE U23BGE U23BThe GE U23B Diesel-electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation in 1968 as a medium horsepower roadswitcher, featuring a 12 cylinder FDL engine. It was one of the most successful models of the Universal Series, with railroads ordering it from 1968 until 1977 when it was replaced by the...
: 2201 (Ex Providence & Worcester Railroad #2211) - 9 GE B23-7GE B23-7The GE B23-7 is a diesel locomotive model that was offered first by GE in 1977, featuring a 12 cylinder engine. It is 61 ft 2 in long. It competed with the EMD GP38-2. General Electric also produced a variant, the BQ23-7, for the Seaboard Coast Line.Ten Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México...
s: 1989, 2301 (Ex CR 1979), 2303 (Ex CR 2004), 2305 (Ex Norfolk Southern). 2306 & 2307 (Ex Providence & Worcester Railroad). In 2009, FGLK added unit 2308, from the Camas Prairie RailroadCamas Prairie RailroadCamas Prairie Railroad Company was a short line railroad in northern Idaho jointly owned and operated by Northern Pacific Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The Camas Prairie Railroad was known as the "railroad on stilts" due to the many wooden trestles. In one five mile stretch, there were...
. The original build was a highhood model for the Southern Railway as #4008. In Mid June 2010 FGLK B23-7's 2309 & 2310 joined the fleet both are Ex Ohio Central, Exx BNSF, Exxx ATSF. Both units still reside in there as delivered Blue & Yellow Santa Fe colors.
B23-7 #1989 is painted in Conrail Blue with its original CR number no repaint or renumber has been set as of this time. U23B #2201 is painted in a Lehigh Valley Railroad
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
-inspired scheme of Cornell Red with Black pin stripes. All the other units are painted in the FGLK lightning stripe scheme, based on an old New York Central scheme. As of April 2008, the 2306 and 2307 still wear the livery of their previous owner the P&W. 2308 is in the Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad Company was a short line railroad in northern Idaho jointly owned and operated by Northern Pacific Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The Camas Prairie Railroad was known as the "railroad on stilts" due to the many wooden trestles. In one five mile stretch, there were...
colors of yellow and blue.
FGLK 2310 arrived as is and out of service it currently sits in the Geneva Yard next to Route 5, and needs a lot of work in order to get her back in running order.