NYO&W: The Forgotten Mountain Road

I'd have to say gone but not quite forgotten.

One of the pictures was taken in town here, and there is a station still exists.

I enjoyed that electroliner, thanks!  BTW the last "phase" of the video - Thank goodness for Model Railroading!  The NYO&W lives on!

I'm a big O&W fan. I'm currently reading the Mohowski book about the O&W's milk business.

Bob

I started with a weather beaten copy of William Helmers 'O&W" that came out two years after abandonment in 1959 and I was hooked, even without the benefit of a lot of photos, it was mostly text. I have followed the Old and Weary Car Shop as well as the excellent NYO&W Historical Society..modelling the O&W is one of my biggest dreams that never got fulfilled, mostly due to my own lack of persistence. I thought the video was very well done. The coal, tourist and milk business ( what an odd mix) once gone never seemed to be made up by bridge traffic. That LNE photo brings up another forgotten road I want to read up on. Lately most books seem to be picture books. Speaking of pictures, here's one of the LNE that seems to qualify it as another forgotten Eastern mountain railroad.

Thanks for that, electroliner.  It's very interesting and well-made.

For about the last 10 or so years, I have been fascinated with that bridge on the LNE. It is about three miles from my house. It is a shame, most of the people around here hardly know it existed, let alone anything about it.

Then again, there were two other railroads that ran under that bridge, the LV and CNJ. The CNJ is now NS, and the LV is now a walking trail. I don't think most of the people who walk it know that it was a railroad bed, unless they are old enough to remember it in operation.

Just more of our history disappearing...

Are you saying the bridge is still there?

That LNE book is superb. I remember the author, Mr. Robert Fischer, when he owned and operated his train store The Gingerbread Stop. One of his specialities was brass models. His store had shelves full of fabulous brass models. To this day, I'm upset with myself for not purchasing an Overland GP40P. I can still see them sitting there in my mind.

In addition to the LNE book, I have CNJ and LV titles written by Mr. Fischer. He is very thorough in his approach and his books are an excellent read.

Bob  

The bridge has been gone since the 1960s. It crossed through the Lehigh River Gap. The gap is a cut in the Blue Ridge Mountain.The Appalachian Trail follows the ridge from Maine to Georgia. I've hiked up both sides of the gap. I think the remains of the mid river pier are still visible in the water.

Chris

LVHR

I wouldn't go all the way to forgotten as the OWRHS is one of the most active and prosperous historical societies with over 600 members, a large archive of original O&W photo's, track valuation drawings, engineering blueprints and official correspondence as well as great annual publications and calender and a very active modeling community.

As to bridges, here's my favorite at Orrs Mill over Moodna Creek just West of Cornwall and Firthcliff. Its after abandonment in 1958 as the second (Southbound) track was  removed in 1946. The bridge was scrapped in the 1960's.The photo with double track is from Feb 1946.

I have to look for the mid piers next time I am up there. They may be there, but I have never seen them (or felt them rafting through the river). Some of the piers which were on land are still there though.

Mike

I should have clarified my comment regarding "forgotten". What I meant are that layouts and manufacturing interest appear to be a distinct minority. Whether this is the chicken or the egg type of thing I don't know but up until fairly recently finding information on the road was a challenge. I do think it's not that well known in comparison to other roads, although the O&W historical society has done an excellent job in giving exposure to it and seemingly quite a few books have come out, including the ones previously mentioned. One of these days, I would like to take a tour of the row if I am up that way. At 62, I better get a move on. Maybe they will run another guided tour. The LNE and NYO&W definitely take a back seat to the WM, Reading etc as far as anthracite roads. Again, I hope that changes and it seems to be doing so. Those bridges would make for a great feature on a layout.

If I’m not mistaken they had an nice article on the O&W in a recent issue of “Classic Trains” Magazine. Since it’s published quarterly, “recent” may have been a number of months ago.  Maybe the Summer issue?

Here's a nice shot of the 806 in Sidney just before the railroad shut down in '57:

Bob

My sister lives in Monticello. I have pics of the old O&W station, now a lumber yard. I'll look for them and post them.

Peter

I went to school in Norwich, which was the site of a major steam facility on the O&W. After the O&W shut down, the City of Nowich bought the RR property, demolished the facility, and built a new high school on the site. I know exactly where the turntable was, and once inside the school, I can show you the evidence in 30 seconds. It's getting tougher all the time to find evidence of the railroad. 50 plus years of being gone will do that.

Chris

LVHR

Outstanding Tribute and sadly so true for all the fallen flags.

Back in 1976 Kamlbach published a book Railroads You Can Model.  The first railroad featured was the O&W.  Excellent article, especially for a teenager first learning about railroads other than the big ones.

Stuart

Found them!

Peter

Here's NW2 116 on the Delaware & Ulster at Arkville:

Bob

This is my favorite O&W picture.....

Sadly, this lady moved to another city! This cake cost only $25!

Peter

Some of the NYO&W right of way just south of Delhi, NY on Rt 10 is still visible.

A NYO&W work train.......

Peter