(erielack) EL yards-Binghamton

[TGAC2_@_aol.com]

In a message dated 01/02/2002 4:52:04 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
wdperson_@_hotmail.com (Michael Reilly) writes:

> East Binghamton - East Binghamton yard, this was the ex-DL&W yard that was 
>  mothballed for much of EL's 16 year existence. EL used the ex-Erie 
Chenango 
>  St yards primarily for local switching. New England interchange was 
handled 
>  mostly (I think) by D&H run-throughs that were classified elsewhere (eg, 
>  Bison).  EL leased Liberty Street Yard at Binghamton from the D&H when EL 
>  closed East Binghamton. EL used Chenango Street and Liberty Street for 
local 
>  service, for traffic to and from Utica and Syracuse, and for classifying 
>  some of the traffic received from the D&H.   

Mike brought up the topic of yards in general.  I'd like to inquire about 
yards in Binghamton pre and post-merger.  My observations are from 1973 - 
1975 timeline.

It seems to me that the EL had a yard adjacent to and west of the D&H's 
Bevier Street yard.  I suspect this was a former DL&W yard on the line to 
Syracuse and Binghamton.  What was the name of this yard?

Given the proximity to the larger DL&W East Binghamton yard, why was this 
yard established/maintained?  
What was the role of this yard in the EL era, active or dormant?

Did activity on the S&U change much after the EL merger.  As the Erie didn't 
reach either city, I wouldn't expect much change.

It seems to me that the Erie's Chenango Street yard was smaller than the 
Lackawanna's East Binghamton yard.  How was it possible for the EL to combine 
the operation of two railroad's yards into the single smaller facility?

When the LV interchanged with the D&H, was there an EL block as well, or 
would that have been interchanged at Buffalo for shipment further west?

How many locomotives were maintained at Binghamton for service on the S&U?  I 
recall nominally four dynamic equipped GP7 or GP9 units laying over on 
weekends.

I photographed PC units laying over in Binghamton on one occasion.  Would 
this have been run westbound out of Maybrook terminating at Binghamton?  (Not 
likely I suspect) Or would this have involved run-through ops on the line to 
Utica, terminating (swapping power) at Binghamton?

Thanks for your input.

Tim Costello

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