Ontario Midland Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Ontario Midland Railroad is an American
railroad company operating in western New York
.
It was founded on 5 October 1979 and was created to save the entire Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad
(Hojack) line from Oswego
's West Yard to Suspension Bridge in Niagara Falls
. However, the railroad managed to buy only from Hannibal
in Oswego County
to Webster
in Monroe County
. The railroad also operates a line formerly operated by Conrail, Penn Central, Pennsylvania Railroad
from Wallington, where it meets the Hojack, to Newark
to interchange with CSX
's ex-Conrail Chicago Line.
The track connection from Newark, NY to Geneva, NY was abandoned and scrapped before OMID could voice objection. Having access to Geneva would have given the railroad a valuable additional connection to the south. Early operations included runs to Sodus Point, where Genesee Beer & Ale maintained a malt house operation.
During the late 1970s, a dinner train operation was operated out of Webster using privately-owned equipment and OMID crews. For a number of years until 2004, the OMID ran fall foliage
excursions in conjunction with the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
, formerly Rochester NRHS chapter, which owns the former New York Central "Empire State Express" coach cars used for the trips.
In 1993, Ontario Midland severed its corporate partnership with the Ontario Central Railroad (ONCT). Known as the "Ontario Lines," this partnership also operated the short-lived Ontario Eastern (ONER) until 1986.
Operations on the Ontario Midland use VHF
radio communications at a frequency of 161.370MHz. The OMID carries food products, lumber, fertilizer, pulpboard, and chemicals. The OMID moves about 850 cars a year and operates 56 miles of track. It operates Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (8:00-16:00).
:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroad company operating in western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
.
It was founded on 5 October 1979 and was created to save the entire Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad
The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad, commonly known as The Hojack Line, operated along the south shore of Lake Ontario, from Niagara Falls, New York to Oswego, New York. Different segments of the line were abandoned at different times...
(Hojack) line from Oswego
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
's West Yard to Suspension Bridge in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
. However, the railroad managed to buy only from Hannibal
Hannibal (village), New York
Hannibal is a village in Oswego County, New York, USA. The population was 542 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Hannibal, the hero of ancient Carthage....
in Oswego County
Oswego County, New York
Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 Census, the estimated population was 122,109. The City of Oswego and the Village of Pulaski serve as the dual county seats in a two shire system of government...
to Webster
Webster (village), New York
Webster is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 5,216 at the 2000 census. The village and town are named after orator and statesman Daniel Webster....
in Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
. The railroad also operates a line formerly operated by Conrail, Penn Central, 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....
from Wallington, where it meets the Hojack, to Newark
Newark, New York
Newark is a village in Wayne County, New York, U.S., south east of Rochester. The population was 9,682 at the 2000 census.The Village of Newark is in the south part of the Town of Arcadia and is in the south of Wayne County.- History :...
to interchange with CSX
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...
's ex-Conrail Chicago Line.
The track connection from Newark, NY to Geneva, NY was abandoned and scrapped before OMID could voice objection. Having access to Geneva would have given the railroad a valuable additional connection to the south. Early operations included runs to Sodus Point, where Genesee Beer & Ale maintained a malt house operation.
During the late 1970s, a dinner train operation was operated out of Webster using privately-owned equipment and OMID crews. For a number of years until 2004, the OMID ran fall foliage
Autumn leaf color
Autumn leaf color is a phenomenon that affects the normally green leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs by which they take on, during a few weeks in the autumn season, one or many colors that range from red to yellow...
excursions in conjunction with the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
The Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is an operating railroad museum located in Industry, New York. The museum started in 1971 with the leasing of a former Erie Railroad Depot from the Erie Lackawanna Railroad...
, formerly Rochester NRHS chapter, which owns the former New York Central "Empire State Express" coach cars used for the trips.
In 1993, Ontario Midland severed its corporate partnership with the Ontario Central Railroad (ONCT). Known as the "Ontario Lines," this partnership also operated the short-lived Ontario Eastern (ONER) until 1986.
Operations on the Ontario Midland use VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
radio communications at a frequency of 161.370MHz. The OMID carries food products, lumber, fertilizer, pulpboard, and chemicals. The OMID moves about 850 cars a year and operates 56 miles of track. It operates Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (8:00-16:00).
Locomotives
The railroad's all time locomotive roster is, with the exception of #5, all AlcoAmerican Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
:
- #3 is an Alco S4 built in 1953 & formerly of the Genesee & Wyoming & New York Central (NYC).
- #5 was a GE 45-Tonner formerly of the US Army (USATC).
- #35 is an Alco S4 built in 1959 formerly of the Genesee & Wyoming (GNWR).
- #36 is an Alco RS-11 built on 1957 formerly of the Norfolk & Western (N&W).
- #40, now #408, is an Alco RS-36 built in 1962 formerly of the Norfolk & Western.
- #106 was an Alco S-2 built in 1948 & formerly of the Baltimore & OhioBaltimore and Ohio RailroadThe Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
(B&O). - #107 was an Alco S4 formerly of the N&W. Today it is at Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad MuseumRochester & Genesee Valley Railroad MuseumThe Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is an operating railroad museum located in Industry, New York. The museum started in 1971 with the leasing of a former Erie Railroad Depot from the Erie Lackawanna Railroad...
in Rush, New YorkRush, New YorkRush is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 3,478 at the 2010 census.The Town of Rush is a suburb of Rochester located in the southwest part of the county.-Geography:...
. It has been re-painted into the Paint scheme of its original owner: the New York, Chicago & St.LouisNew York, Chicago and St. Louis RailroadThe New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad , abbreviated NYC&St.L, was a railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. Commonly referred to as the Nickel Plate Road, the railroad served a large area, including trackage in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
(Nickel Plate Road (NKP)). The N&W absorbed the NKP in 1965 & sold #107 to OMID. 107 was never owned by the Ontario Midland. It was owned by RSA Leasing of Sodus, NY (a lineside community. From 1982 to 1985 it was leased to Pennsylvania's Allegheny Southern Railroad. It was returned to Sodus in 1985. While in Pennsylvania it wore the number 17. - #4056 was an Alco RS-3 built for the Spokane, Portland & SeattleSpokane, Portland and Seattle RailwayThe Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway was a United States-based railroad incorporated in 1905. It was a joint venture by the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway to build a railroad along the north bank of the Columbia River....
(SP&S). It was sold by SP&S successor Burlington NorthernBurlington Northern RailroadThe Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
(BN). - #4085 was also an Alco RS-3 but ex-Delaware & HudsonDelaware and Hudson RailwayThe 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).