RE: (erielack) Binghamton/Sayre Connections

["Paul Brezicki" <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net>]

The origin of D&H rights over Erie to Owego to enable the direct connection to LV dates well back into the steam era, but I don't know exactly when or how this came about. I'm sure it was viewed very favorably by the ICC since it was pro-competitive. I doubt it was granted in exchange for switching rights at Moon Milling. First of all the terminating carrier was generally rate-disadvantaged, so there was no economic incentive for Erie to switch the mill. Secondly it would have been a very poor trade for the Erie to enable a competitor to have direct access to an important connection. There were no rights west of Owego.

The traditional symbols were OF-1 and FO-2; "O" for Oneonta, "F" I'm not sure, maybe Niagara Falls? Post-Dereco, N&W wanted increased emphasis on its LV connection at Buffalo, so the symbols were changed to BNW-3 (B&M-N&W) and NWB-4; this was a marketing device and had no material effect on operations. Happily for fans, these were not only daylight runs during the 60's and 70's but also frequently hosted interesting power, including LV Alco cabs in the 60's and the D&H ex-ATSF PA's and ex-NYC Baldwin Sharks in the 70's. That's an added bonus of modeling Binghamton, I get to run these trains also.

Paul B

From: "Schuyler Larrabee" <schuyler.larrabee_@_verizon.net>
Subject: RE: (erielack) Binghamton/Sayre Connections

Josh, first of all, I don't think Erie/EL was involved at all in this.

This was a link between the D&H and the LV.  LV, of course, had their own track to Owego (was that
continuous, or did the use of ERIE track begin west of Owego?) which went on up to Cortland, as we
all know.

What I have heard from more than one source is that the agreement to allow D&H/LV interchange via
the ERIE tracks was a bargain struck so that the ERIE could have the  switching rights to Moon
Milling in Binghamton.  The D&H owned those rights because that was D&H track over there.  Shipments
on the ERIE to Moon would get all the way to 100 yds from their destination, and then have to be
switched into place by the D&H.  Randy, no doubt, can explain how this affected the distribution of
the money involved, but as the terminating road, D&H was getting a good piece of it for doing
virtually no work.  In order to gain that last bit of revenue, the ERIE wanted to be able to switch
and deliver the shipments all the way.  Therefore, a trade, rights to switching Moon, for rights to
go to Sayre.  I think the ERIE figured the incremental increase in required track maintenance was
dang near zero, a rationale not applied to the operation of passenger trains later on.


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