by PeteB
These two soft cover volumes, totaling 362 pages and 339 images, are dedicated to the D&H’s Susquehanna Division, later known as the Second Subdivision. The first volume presents a history of the D&H in the period 1960 – 1983 and then covers the locations from Binghamton into Oneonta. The second volume starts on the main near Oneonta and proceeds through Schenectady to Mechanicville before turning south to Albany (via the Saratoga Division) and then covers the balance of the Susquehanna Division from Albany (Kenwood) via Voorheesville to Delanson.
Before acquisition by the D&H Canal Company and designation as the Susquehanna Division, this was the independent Albany & Susquehanna Railroad built between Albany and the broad gauge Erie at Binghamton. D&H eventually built westward (railroad direction southward) from Mechanicville and a connection with the B&M’s predecessor, to Schenectady. Here it linked to a controlled short line to create the Schenectady Branch and thus create a shorter route from the Susquehanna Division main to Mechanicville, which was to develop into the long-lived gateway to northern New England.
Another railroad taken over by the D&H, the Rensselaer & Saratoga, provided a route north from Albany, a river port with access to the Atlantic Ocean, through what became a heavily industrialized area to Mechanicville and northward to Canada. This track segment was part of the Saratoga-Champlain Division which became part of the Third Subdivision. As D&H traffic to and from Binghamton could be routed to and from both Mechanicville and Albany, and some freights to/from Albany were routed via Mechanicville and the Schenectady Branch, the second book includes this section of the Third Subdivision, from Mechanicville down to Kenwood Yard in the Port of Albany.
The first volume, titled D & H, Susquehanna Division, Volume I Binghamton - Oneonta 1960 – 1983, begins with an extensive review of the D&H in the 1960’s right up to its acquisition by Guilford Transportation Industries on January 4, 1984. This illustrated section examines operations, management, ownership, connecting and competing carriers and federal/state agencies as the D&H evolved. This once highly profitable and diversified company enjoyed decades of independence and management stability based on its status as a carrier originating massive anthracite tonnage. The decline of the anthracite industry forced a new president to successfully shepherd the company through a thorough evolution into a profitable bridge line, profitable yes, but now dependent on its connections routing traffic to it. And then the largest eastern carriers pursued mergers in their interest and the D&H, still profitable, and the other former anthracite carriers, generally insolvent, were collateral damage. D&H financially dissolved, a victim of powerful forces beyond its control.
This was not a predictable quarter-century as presidents, Frederick Dumaine and Bruce Sterzing, bucked the national trend, by reviving passenger service with the acquisition of a fleet of iconic Alco PA’s and second-hand passenger equipment and brought notoriety to the freight motive power fleet with the purchase of a pair of Baldwin Sharks. Observation of the Nation’s Bicentennial and the D&H’s own Sesquicentennial brightened the mid-1970’s.
Add in a one-time all-Alco roster of RS3’s, RS11’s, RS36’s and C628’s augmented by GE U23B’s, U30C’s and U33C’s fore and aft on heavy freights grinding up to Belden Hill Tunnel or the summit of Richmondville Hill. If that was not enough, LV and EL power ran as far north on through freights as Mechanicville in the early 1970’s while N&W sent U30B’s and a variety of GP’s and SD’s. It was little wonder that the D&H was a travel destination for many railroad photographers. D&H’s hurried expansion in the wake of Chessie’s withdrawal as Conrail’s anointed competitor brought an influx of more colorful Alco’s in the form of LV’s C420’s as well as GP39-2/GP38-2’s from RDG and LV.
The balance of the first book proceeds from Binghamton northward into Oneonta Yard with historical text and customer information on virtually every location along the main line. Photographic coverage includes the Sayre Turn with Sharks, Liberty Street and Bevier Street yards in Binghamton, Nowlan Road/Hillcrest, Port Dickinson, Sanitaria Springs, Dyes, both sides of Belden Hill Tunnel, Harpursville Trestle, Nineveh Jct., Afton, Bainbridge and Oneonta.
The companion volume is titled D & H, Susquehanna Division Volume II, Oneonta – Mechanicville – Albany 1960 – 1983. It includes a tour of the Susquehanna Division stations west of Oneonta to Mechanicville and the Saratoga Division stations down to Albany. There are main line images in the vicinity of Oneonta plus photographs at Colliers, Cooperstown Jct., Schenevus, Worcester, East Worcester, West Richmondville, Richmondville, Richmondville Hill, Cobleskill, Howe’s Cave, Central Bridge, Esperance, Delanson, South Schenectady, Schenectady, Scotia, Mohawk Yard, Carman, Elnora, Ushers, Coons, Mechanicville Yard, Cohoes, Watervliet, Colonie, Albany and Kenwood Yard.
A number of photographs depict the Adirondack with PA power as well as RS3’s and RS11’s. Passenger equipment is significantly recorded at Colonie as are old cabooses at Mechanicville and Colonie. LV, EL and B&M power appear on symbol freights. D&H veteran, Gordon Smith has provided extensive descriptions of operations in Mohawk and Mechanicville yards.
All locations, including those without photographic coverage, are described with historical text including a 1922 customer roster and more modern customer information as available. Locations along the Albany Main, from Albany via Voorheesville to Delanson, are also covered by text in the same manner as the stations between Oneonta, Mechanicville and Albany. Photographs are presented for Slingerlands, Voorheesville, Altamont and Duanesburg.
Photographers who have contributed to the two volumes include; Curt Carlough, Gene Collora, Jerry Dziedzic, Mike Galesi, Jim Gerofsky, Bob Pennisi, Rich Pennisi, Gordon Smith, Rich Taylor and the author. Paperwork has been contributed by Bill Sosnowski.
The books are expected to be available from ARHS, ELHS, Lehigh Valley Chapter NRHS, Phoebe Snow, Henry Butz and Ron’s Books and possibly a hobby shop or two..
D & H, Susquehanna Division Volume I, Binghamton - Oneonta 1960 – 1983, 168 pages, soft cover,
indexed, glossy paper, 131 color images, 17 black and white images, 7 maps/track diagrams, 12
illustrations and 25 examples of railroad paper. (At dealers Aug, 20/21)
D & H, Susquehanna Division Volume II, Oneonta – Mechanicville –Albany 1960 – 1983, 194 pages,
soft cover, indexed, glossy paper, 161 color images, 30 black & white images, 15
maps/track/diagrams, 30 illustrations and 15 examples of railroad paper. (At dealers about 8/27)
Pete Brill
Before acquisition by the D&H Canal Company and designation as the Susquehanna Division, this was the independent Albany & Susquehanna Railroad built between Albany and the broad gauge Erie at Binghamton. D&H eventually built westward (railroad direction southward) from Mechanicville and a connection with the B&M’s predecessor, to Schenectady. Here it linked to a controlled short line to create the Schenectady Branch and thus create a shorter route from the Susquehanna Division main to Mechanicville, which was to develop into the long-lived gateway to northern New England.
Another railroad taken over by the D&H, the Rensselaer & Saratoga, provided a route north from Albany, a river port with access to the Atlantic Ocean, through what became a heavily industrialized area to Mechanicville and northward to Canada. This track segment was part of the Saratoga-Champlain Division which became part of the Third Subdivision. As D&H traffic to and from Binghamton could be routed to and from both Mechanicville and Albany, and some freights to/from Albany were routed via Mechanicville and the Schenectady Branch, the second book includes this section of the Third Subdivision, from Mechanicville down to Kenwood Yard in the Port of Albany.
The first volume, titled D & H, Susquehanna Division, Volume I Binghamton - Oneonta 1960 – 1983, begins with an extensive review of the D&H in the 1960’s right up to its acquisition by Guilford Transportation Industries on January 4, 1984. This illustrated section examines operations, management, ownership, connecting and competing carriers and federal/state agencies as the D&H evolved. This once highly profitable and diversified company enjoyed decades of independence and management stability based on its status as a carrier originating massive anthracite tonnage. The decline of the anthracite industry forced a new president to successfully shepherd the company through a thorough evolution into a profitable bridge line, profitable yes, but now dependent on its connections routing traffic to it. And then the largest eastern carriers pursued mergers in their interest and the D&H, still profitable, and the other former anthracite carriers, generally insolvent, were collateral damage. D&H financially dissolved, a victim of powerful forces beyond its control.
This was not a predictable quarter-century as presidents, Frederick Dumaine and Bruce Sterzing, bucked the national trend, by reviving passenger service with the acquisition of a fleet of iconic Alco PA’s and second-hand passenger equipment and brought notoriety to the freight motive power fleet with the purchase of a pair of Baldwin Sharks. Observation of the Nation’s Bicentennial and the D&H’s own Sesquicentennial brightened the mid-1970’s.
Add in a one-time all-Alco roster of RS3’s, RS11’s, RS36’s and C628’s augmented by GE U23B’s, U30C’s and U33C’s fore and aft on heavy freights grinding up to Belden Hill Tunnel or the summit of Richmondville Hill. If that was not enough, LV and EL power ran as far north on through freights as Mechanicville in the early 1970’s while N&W sent U30B’s and a variety of GP’s and SD’s. It was little wonder that the D&H was a travel destination for many railroad photographers. D&H’s hurried expansion in the wake of Chessie’s withdrawal as Conrail’s anointed competitor brought an influx of more colorful Alco’s in the form of LV’s C420’s as well as GP39-2/GP38-2’s from RDG and LV.
The balance of the first book proceeds from Binghamton northward into Oneonta Yard with historical text and customer information on virtually every location along the main line. Photographic coverage includes the Sayre Turn with Sharks, Liberty Street and Bevier Street yards in Binghamton, Nowlan Road/Hillcrest, Port Dickinson, Sanitaria Springs, Dyes, both sides of Belden Hill Tunnel, Harpursville Trestle, Nineveh Jct., Afton, Bainbridge and Oneonta.
The companion volume is titled D & H, Susquehanna Division Volume II, Oneonta – Mechanicville – Albany 1960 – 1983. It includes a tour of the Susquehanna Division stations west of Oneonta to Mechanicville and the Saratoga Division stations down to Albany. There are main line images in the vicinity of Oneonta plus photographs at Colliers, Cooperstown Jct., Schenevus, Worcester, East Worcester, West Richmondville, Richmondville, Richmondville Hill, Cobleskill, Howe’s Cave, Central Bridge, Esperance, Delanson, South Schenectady, Schenectady, Scotia, Mohawk Yard, Carman, Elnora, Ushers, Coons, Mechanicville Yard, Cohoes, Watervliet, Colonie, Albany and Kenwood Yard.
A number of photographs depict the Adirondack with PA power as well as RS3’s and RS11’s. Passenger equipment is significantly recorded at Colonie as are old cabooses at Mechanicville and Colonie. LV, EL and B&M power appear on symbol freights. D&H veteran, Gordon Smith has provided extensive descriptions of operations in Mohawk and Mechanicville yards.
All locations, including those without photographic coverage, are described with historical text including a 1922 customer roster and more modern customer information as available. Locations along the Albany Main, from Albany via Voorheesville to Delanson, are also covered by text in the same manner as the stations between Oneonta, Mechanicville and Albany. Photographs are presented for Slingerlands, Voorheesville, Altamont and Duanesburg.
Photographers who have contributed to the two volumes include; Curt Carlough, Gene Collora, Jerry Dziedzic, Mike Galesi, Jim Gerofsky, Bob Pennisi, Rich Pennisi, Gordon Smith, Rich Taylor and the author. Paperwork has been contributed by Bill Sosnowski.
The books are expected to be available from ARHS, ELHS, Lehigh Valley Chapter NRHS, Phoebe Snow, Henry Butz and Ron’s Books and possibly a hobby shop or two..
D & H, Susquehanna Division Volume I, Binghamton - Oneonta 1960 – 1983, 168 pages, soft cover,
indexed, glossy paper, 131 color images, 17 black and white images, 7 maps/track diagrams, 12
illustrations and 25 examples of railroad paper. (At dealers Aug, 20/21)
D & H, Susquehanna Division Volume II, Oneonta – Mechanicville –Albany 1960 – 1983, 194 pages,
soft cover, indexed, glossy paper, 161 color images, 30 black & white images, 15
maps/track/diagrams, 30 illustrations and 15 examples of railroad paper. (At dealers about 8/27)
Pete Brill
