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Re: (erielack) DL&W diesel audio

The first timew I worked the Cortland job was in 1961 or 62. At that time, 
most of the road crew had worked the job a while in DL&W years. I, of 
course, came after the merger. Only by reading Taber's books did I really 
have an idea of what they were talking about. Hard to believe it's all gone.

Walt Smith


>From: William Shultz <wshultz1_@_twcny.rr.com>
>To: Walter Smith <wsmith5957_@_hotmail.com>
>CC: erielack_@_lists.railfan.net
>Subject: Re: (erielack) DL&W diesel audio
>Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2006 03:45:35 -0500
>
>Walter,
>
>I'm going from memory on this from what David Fairbanks told me and without 
>digging out the manuscript I have done by rail historian Richard Palmer 
>based in large part on David's recounting which Tabor also used in his 
>book.
>
>The Cincinnatus Branch job used to originate out of Cincinnatus until 1929 
>at which point it was changed to being called out of Cortland. After 
>passenger service(mixed train) ended in January 1939, but while steam was 
>still in use, there was a regular road crew assigned to the Cincinnatus 
>Branch. They would make two trips a day to service the Bordens plant and 
>Reid's creamery in Cincinnatus along with a couple other creameries and 
>whatever other work might be required, mostly coal, farm equipment and 
>other agricultural inputs and outputs.
>
>As the milk business dried up service on the branch was cut back to one 
>trip per day. The Cincy crew would also do work up in Homer to fill out 
>their day. After the Syracuse side was dieselized and GE 44 tonner number 
>52 was assigned to Cortland as its switcher replacing the 0-6-0 steam 
>switcher, is when the practice of swapping power started. With the milk 
>business on the Cincinnatus Branch gone by 1950, service was reduced to 
>three times a week. The road crew would come into Cortland and switch 
>engines with the Cortland switcher crew. The road crew would take 52 down 
>the Cincinnatus Branch while the Cortland switcher crew would use the 
>RS3(s) or GP7(s). Upon return from Cincinnatus, they would return to their 
>respective engines. Later an SW1, 431 was used at Cortland and I have seen 
>shots of one of the high hood Alcos there briefly and an NW2 making an 
>appearance as well. Probably while 431 was in for maintenance.
>
>Eventually service on the branch was cut back to twice a week and 
>ultimately a petition for abandonment was filed in June of 1960. The branch 
>was formally abandoned beyond Polkville December 29, 1961 and the rails 
>ripped up beyond that point the following year.
>
>Just as an aside, David was on that last passenger carrying train. He said 
>he rode in the cab part of the way.
>
>Regards,
>
>Will Shultz
>
>
>Walter Smith wrote:
>>Yes, Joshua, a 44-tonner worked Cortland yard & sometimes went to 
>>Cincinnatus & back with the road crew. I was too late for this fun, but 
>>was told by the old-timers that the practice was for the road crew  to 
>>trade engines upon arival at Cortland and take the little engine to 
>>Cincinnatus since the road engine could not be used on the lite track on 
>>the branch. After coming in from the branch, engines were exchanged aganin 
>>& the road crew returned to Binghamton. I GUESS this meant there was a 
>>regular job at Cortland. Can anybody else on the list shed some light on 
>>this or am I one of the last of the mohicans??
>>
>>Walt Smith
>>
>>
>

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