Joe, I'll try to answer some of your questions: I plan to model this area myself since I'm from there... As to the busy part, don't forget that LVRR had trackage rights over the Erie from Waverly so train spotting at the bridge over the Chemung River would see several LVRR, several PRR, and several Erie trains a day (and after 1956, several DL&W trains too). 4.) With the DL&W mainline nearby, how did the consolidation arrangement work? I remember reading and hearing of both the Erie and DL&W consolidating mainlines, to reduce maintenance costs. Was the DL&W abandoned in favor of the Erie in this area, and if so, when? Pre merger or post merger. DL&W started using the Erie main through Elmira in 1956 for through traffic. The DL&W main through Elmira was still used for switching and local traffic. 6.) Did PRR passenger trains use the very ornate Erie Depot in Elmira, or just "pass through the neighborhood".? Looking at the ETTs from the Susquehanna Division, it looks like PRR would stop at the Erie depot if there passengers (I believe that's what the little 's' by the time means). 9.) American Bridge Company is said to be a foundry of sorts. Was this an electric furnace? (I can't picture a BOF there, thats why I ask) Or did they just re-shape steel into structural shapes. The latter. My dad worked there for 30 years putting together the steel for the bridges being built for the interstate highway system. 10.) Holding Point (Horseheads Industrial Complex). Though on the PRR line, mention is again made in the book of an Erie switcher "prowling" the area. How did the Erie access this? Via the PRR or via the Lehigh Valley? Erie had tracking rights over the PRR from HO to Salt Point in Watkins Glen so they used PRR track to get to Holding Point. 11.) From the Map in the book, it appears that the DL&W yard in Elmira was the largest, dwarfing both the Erie yard, and the small LV yard. My first impression is that DL&W Elmira was a division point or something, as it has a roundhouse and the sorts, where as Erie Elmira was more a staging yard for the Elmira Locals to work out of. I'm not exactly sure what I am asking here, maybe a comparison between the two yards in terms of trackage, capacity, etc. It depends on what era you are looking at. In the 30's and earlier, Erie had much more track in Elmira than did DL&W. Later on, more Erie track was paved over for city development than did DL&W. They consolidated the yards in 1956. I have Sanborn maps (electronic) to share if you're interested. Jonathan W. Liles ELHS # 3158 NMRA # 125464 CVRHS # 195 http://railroad.jon-n-bevliles.com/Railroad_Index.html ------------------------------
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