I just heard from a retired employee that Kodak Park is about to receive their final coal shipment with the total conversion of the power plant to natural gas imminent.
It has been a few years since I saw a Kodak coal train so I am not sure if the coal now arrives by CSX or NS/R&S?
Is Kodak shipping or receiving any other goods by rail now? Is there any business other than the Box Shop left on the Runner?
Last I knew, Kodak was getting their coal via CSX. There is very little coal traffic on NS in NY now.
The box shop is the sole customer on the Charlotte Runner north of Eastman Business Park (the new name for Kodak Park). Kodak still ships via rail, and they do tout rail service as a benefit to the tenants they are recruiting for EBP. Some of those tenants are taking advantage of rail, so the R&S is still running their local to EBP on a regular basis.
Matt Langworthy
"It is highly likely that the 1990s were an overrated decade."
Is there any business out the former Falls Road, or at Otis? I could see everything from Lyell Ave north getting the ax. If there's nothing at Otis, they could shorten the Buffalo Wye up to meet just north of Maple, and tear out from Jay Street on.
I don't know if Klein Steel is still getting rail shipments on the Falls Road. There are no customers for CSX on the Charlotte Runner between Lyell Ave and Eastman Business Park. It would not surprise me if CSX axed the line. The remaining traffic to EBP could be handled by the Rochester & Southern.
Matt Langworthy
"It is highly likely that the 1990s were an overrated decade."
While running errands, I caught the Kodak coal train on the Charlotte Runner at Lyell Ave, Emerson St., and Ridge Road. I am told one more coal shipment could be expected by the end of the month as a stockpile supply before Kodak switches over to natural gas for firing the boilers at the power plant.
Followed the Local all the way from Goodman Street to the Box Shop off of Boxart. Quite the trip. The crew was fantastic and very enthusiastic about me documenting their trip for them! Pics are in an album in the link below. I love that old NYC Searchlight still burning yellow, warning of a red signal at CP373. https://flic.kr/s/aHsmo8wWtX
This looks like the same train I saw on the West Shore on September 25. I shot a video of it with my phone but I haven't been able to get something worthy of posting... it's either sideways or it has no sound...
There is a lot of rail laid along the West Shore ROW. Also, the rail across the Genesee River bridge was just replaced (and the crossing at East River Road).