Railroad Forums 

  • Which Northern Division is More Active?

  • Discussion related to New York, Susquehanna & Western operations past and present. Also includes some discussion related to Deleware Otsego owned and operated shortlines. Official web site can be found here: NYSW.COM.
Discussion related to New York, Susquehanna & Western operations past and present. Also includes some discussion related to Deleware Otsego owned and operated shortlines. Official web site can be found here: NYSW.COM.

Moderators: GOLDEN-ARM, NJ Vike

 #62098  by steamboy
 
I would assume the Syracuse to Binghamton is more active. Is that correct? Are there daily runs from both Syr and Utica? Where's a good spot on each run to photo them?

TIA

 #62262  by O-6-O
 
steamboy; HI. I see your kind of new to the forum,welcome. Syr to Bing
is definitely busier than the Utica side. They interchange with CSX in
Dewitt nearly every day. Binghamton trains are symboled BH. Example
BH-1, BH-2, BHx for an extra. Trains out of Syracuse are SY. Utica trains
are UT something. (you can see a pattern here, can't you).
As to viewing/photo locations, get your self a DeLorme NY state Atlas
and Gazetteer and start exploring. Loads of good photo locations on both
sides, start with the jct at Chenago Forks and work north. There are way
too many to list here. While out "fanning " please be safe and DON'T
trespass.

STEAM ON
/--OOO--:-oo--oo-

 #62263  by steamboy
 
Thanks for the info, 0-6-0!

 #62859  by BlockLine_4111
 
How much further is CF from Bingo and in what direction ?

Is CF where the lines split to go to Syracuse and Utica ?

How BIG (or how long) are some of the trains going up these lines ?

 #62914  by GVrooman
 
Chenango Forks is about twelve miles north of Binghamton by rail, and yes, it is where the Syracuse line branches off. The average train on the Utica line is 6 - 8 cars pulled by a GP20 plus whatever power that is being transported to the shop in Utica. The Syracuse line has some pretty decent size trains although I have never counted the cars. The schedule is pretty erratic however.

There is also a 4,800' run-around at CF where they store cars, and there is a lot of switching action there sometimes. Most of the time it is pretty dead, but now and then there is a little excitement. A couple of weeks ago a south bound UT1 arrived at FORKS around 3:00 PM to find the MOW gang working on the track, and an SY1 and a BH3 switching cars in and out of the run-around. Six or seven hours later the Utica train ended up outlawed at Phelps St. about eight miles down the track.

 #63438  by dtravisjr
 
Yeah, The Syracuse side trains can get pretty big. With all the trash NYSW is hauling, alot of it ends up heading to CSX at Syracuse. There were several times over the summer where they ran trains of at least 100 cars. They're a little shorter now, averaging 50 or so cars, mainly because the paving season is wrapping up. No stone for Barret paving in Binghamton or liquid asphalt for Suit Kote in Cortland.