(erielack) This Month in Syracuse Branch History

["Joshua K. Blay" <mail_@_joshuakblay.com>]

I'm fighting a 'orrible summer cold so I with limited things I can do
thought I'd share some more history-

 

1913  On the first of the month, a train puts eight cars on the ground at
Maybury's Mills, along the Cincinattus branch.  No injuries.

1927  On the 21st, the first use of a 1200 class locomotive was noted - a
2-8-2.

Two days later, the superintendent, riding car Lake Forest, passes through

1930  On the 7th a boxcar is broken into in McGraw, again along the Cincy
Branch.  Railroad police later arrest two men who are prosecuted, results
unknown.

1931  On the second to last day of the month, five boxcars are vandalized
and vegetables are stolen.

1932  On the 22nd, the front truck of a locomotive switching the Sheffield
milk plant in Homer derails, blocking the track for twelve hours.  It is
re-railed much to amusement of the gathered crowd.  

1935  Flooding on the New York Central sees an unknown number of NYC
detoured along the line- exact route and count unknown.

1937  On the third day, a work train narrowly avoids hitting a truck at the
Grant Street crossing, north end of Cortland.           

1939  On the 14th day, a very lucky youth in Marathon survives after a
double-headed freight passes over the sleeping boy stops, and uncouples to
facilitate his removal.  No injuries. 

1939  On the first day, the removal of the second track between Apulia and
Preble is begun.

Three weeks later, a woman loses her right hand in Cortland after being run
over.

1940  Sometime in the first week, an alert farmer calls the Cortland station
warning of 50' of undermined track in Blodgett Mills in the nick of time.

1940  In the middle of the month, the line is rebuilt between Cortland
Junction to Grant Street in Cortland.

1948  General Electric 44-tonner #52 replaces 0-6-0 #135 as the Cortland
switcher and 2-8-0 #728 on the Cincinnatus Branch.             

Later that same month, the Oswego & Syracuse anniversary train passes
through, with the dolled up Lackawanna 952, under her own power- last ever
use of a camelback I'd say

1950 something- an engine derails at the north end of Homer siding- blocking
the passenger train.  Twenty people are bussed.

1995  NYS&W 2-8-2 142 heads down to Chenango Bridge and meets a train from
Steamtown by Milwaukee 4-8-4 #261, both doublehead to Syracuse.  The next
day, Sunday, 142 pulls a train to Tully, 261 follows behind and does a runby
at Tully before returning to Steamtown.  142 heads back to Syracuse.

2003/2004  CSX detour trains due to trackwork along the ex NYC 

 

Hope some of you found it of interest.

 

Joshua

 

 

 

 

 

 



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