Grief, Mr. Grossman, who outside the "railfan/excursionist" community would even consider such a routing?
Sure, the ERIE following the Delaware (let's throw in a photo stop atop the Starrucca) is scenic ("been there done that" June '60) and another atop Tunkhannock ("been there done that" also Dec '61 but at night), but that belongs to a Fall Colors Excursion, and not a SUNY Binghamton student going or returning from home.
If "we the people" are not interested in funding Gateway, well at least until something "springs a leak", how can anyone expect an NYP-Scranton routing over the DL&W/NJT, thence Cutoff to occur even within your Grandchild's life (don't recall such coming up at our Gallagher's meet up, but simply making a reasonable assumption)?