(erielack) Rail freight returns to Wayne County

[Todd Hollritt <thollritt_@_yahoo.com>]

Looks like the former Erie branch in Honesdale, Pa. is about to see some rail activity. $3.2 million being invested in the former Erie Lackawanna trackage! 
Todd ~
 
Honesdale, Pa. December 16, 2009  - 
 
 Railroad freight business returned to Wayne County and the Birthplace of the American Railroad, Tuesday.
The first of what is hoped to many shipments of steel arrived in a gondola car from Roanoke, Virginia, to an undisclosed location the Honesdale area. Alvin Siebold, manager of the Stourbridge Railway, said that this was a test run for Ideal Steel Corporation, the company planning to break ground in White Mills for steel redistribution. This shipment consisted of 80 tons of steel rebar used in reinforcing concrete foundations.
The one gondola car of steel equates to delivering it on the road with four tractor trailer loads, said Siebold.
Paul Brancato, a principal official with Ideal Steel Corp. on Long Island, purchased the local railroad in May of 2008 and hired Morristown & Erie Railway Inc. to operate the line.
He said that Ideal Steel is still working on their site plan for their rail warehouse facility in White Mills. Steel will be stored temporarily at the Honesdale area location. The company is testing both the interchange system with railroads across the country, and the market for steel. They hope to be able to sell steel  in the northeast Pennsylvania region, as well as taking it back to New York. Local contractors have already shown interest. Steel rebar and fabricated parts would be shipped out by truck.
“This is a HUGE step for the local railroad industry locally,” said Jeffrey Hiller, board member of the Greater Honesdale Partnership. “[This] will give a big boost to the future of possibilities both from tourism and freight delivery which makes the area much more accessible for manufacturing, distribution, and other job creating venues.”
The local railroad has not been used for freight in several years, interrupted both by the closing of a major rail user, Moore Business Forms in 1999, and then the washout of the Hawley railroad trestle in 2004 and 2006.
The steel was  hauled by the BL2, the locomotive of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Stourbridge Line. The BL2 picked up the steel at a rendezvous in the yard at Lackawaxen. Siebold stated that in early January, the BL2 will be taken to Morristown for refurbishing. Another locomotive, which will be designated for freight use, will then be brought to Honesdale. The freight locomotive eventually will be painted with the BL2 color scheme. 
The glad news comes within a week of another development, word that the state has allocated $3.2 million to the Stourbridge Railway. Siebold stated that  the money will be sued over the next three years to replace the ties on the 25 mile line, as well as upgrade crossings and switches. Presently limited to 15 miles per hour, trains are expected to be move at 30- 35 m.p.h. This will be both good for being competitive in the freight business and for longer tourist excursions, he said.
Siebold stated that there are other companies seriously looking at utilizing the Stourbridge Railway. “There area lot of eagles circulating,” she said. “One is about to land.” He said that that firm, which he was not at liberty to identify,  trans-loads bulk material. Rail cars may bring in sand, gravel, feed stock, grains, fertilizers or other materials. The products would be stored in rail cars for loading onto trucks for customers.
Two gas drilling firms have also been making inquiries and took test trips on the Stourbridge Railway. Siebold said that this has the potential of being a major player in the railroad’s economic engine. Pipe line segments and fracking sand were discussed for shipping here by rail.
What the area really needs to create jobs and provide rail service, he said, is to move another manufacturer into the DSFI building in Honesdale. The building is for sale. Dividing it up  into office space would be a loss to the railroad, he commented.
Restoration of the trestle and Tuesday’s arrival of a gondola car of steel are both symbolic. Siebold noted, “We’re a viable railroad again.”





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