Eastern Railroad Discussion > Along NYS&W's Utica, NY Branch....

NYS&W's Binghamton-Utica, NY branch line (ex-DL&W) from Chenango Forks to Sherburne has been out-of-service since 2006 when the Chenango River jumped its banks causing great damage to the railroad. Further flooding in 2011 caused additional damage and that portion of the line from Sherburne north to Sangerfield was also placed out-of-service. Presently, the branch sees daily weekday activity between Utica and Sangerfield and also serves customers in New Hartford & NY Mills on ex-West Shore & NYO&W trackage.

However, funding has finally been secured (nearly all governmental), and a $6 million rehab project will likely start in spring 2015 which will re-connect Norwich & Oxford, NY, among other municipalities, to the national rail network.

A few days ago, I visited Norwich & Oxford, places rich in small town railroad history and, in particular, DL&W history. Here are a few photos:

1) Gateman's Tower, Norwich

2) Plaque Affixed to Tower

3) View of Norwich Station (presently used by the City of Norwich)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/14 16:26 by ut-1.

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4) Old mailbox attached to Norwich Station (used as a bill depository by City)

5) Norwich is nearly mid-way between Binghamton & Utica as this sign on the station attests.

6) View of the Oxford station, presently used by the Town's historical society.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/14 18:09 by ut-1.

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7) Side view, Oxford Station

8) Watchman's Shanty, Oxford

9) Plaque attached to shanty, Oxford

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10) Switch stand on station platform, Oxford

11) Bumping post on station grounds, Oxford

12) Southbound view, Oxford

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Thanks for the tour.

I believe Norwich NY was (is?) the location for Victory Foods. That large employer's needs led indirectly to the acquisition of the line by the Delaware-Otsego interests. One of Victory's owners bought and restored the NYO&W switch engine used on the NYS&W for many years.

Unadilla Valley Railroad was also in the area as well.

Here is Norwich in better days - very early weeks of Conrail with the Norwich based local sunning itself in the yard. Not much left now of what was in this photo. Conrail kept a local based here until they pulled out in 1982 and NYSW moved in. The agent went in May 1981.

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And here is a later Conrail photo of Oxford taken April 14, 1979 the day before Easter as a Saturday Extra was called out of Norwich, probably to serve Victory Markets as the regular crew had Good Friday off. We are approaching the Oxford depot passing the playground of the Episcopal Church headed for Binghamton on SW-7 #8884.

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And speaking of the DL&W heritage, this shows the crossing tower now relocated and restored up by the depot at East Main Street in Norwich in its' original location near Brown Avenue. Also visible are the DL&W section and signal buildings. An EL Hi-Rail is also just barely visible, one of the crew cab Internationals. The track at left was the piggyback ramp track lead and the lights for that track are out of service but still extant - silver light poles to the left of the track. Photo taken May 15, 1976 Norwich, NY looking south.

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The Unadilla Valley Railroad was over in the next valley to the east about 10 miles away as the crow might fly, but the NYO&W was a few blocks east of the DL&W in Norwich with an interchange track on the south end of town below Hale Street and another "connector" at Borden's (later Victory Markets warehouse)at Borden Ave on the north end of town.

The NYO&W was up the hill to the east of the DL&W at Oxford. O&W was gone in March 1957 and UV was gone in October 1960

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> Thanks for the tour.
>
> I believe Norwich NY was (is?) the location for
> Victory Foods. That large employer's needs led
> indirectly to the acquisition of the line by the
> Delaware-Otsego interests. One of Victory's
> owners bought and restored the NYO&W switch engine
> used on the NYS&W for many years.
>
> Unadilla Valley Railroad was also in the area as
> well.


The 116 was bought by a director of IL Richer. They were a large feed dealer and another large NYSW receiver. Victory was owned by Australian interest for much of the time that they were served by the NYS&W.

One more of Norwich showing a Conrail train switching out the Victory Warehouse facility on February 20, 1978. Before the warehouse extension this track the train is on looped around and became the O&W lead to the facility. After the O&W demise, and maybe even before, this track handled the high cars around the Norwich Mitchell Street overpass. Cars were routed off the DL&W onto the existing O&W ROW through Norwich and back to the DL&W. Until about 1960.

Sorry about the quality but all I had was one of those 110 pocket cameras on this day. The track to the right was a stub track for hold cars (constructive placement). CR 5980 was ex EL 1242.

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These are wonderful pictures, thanks for sharing them.

train1275 Wrote:
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> And here is a later Conrail photo of Oxford taken
> April 14, 1979 the day before Easter as a Saturday
> Extra was called out of Norwich, probably to serve
> Victory Markets as the regular crew had Good
> Friday off. We are approaching the Oxford depot
> passing the playground of the Episcopal Church
> headed for Binghamton on SW-7 #8884.
It looks like there getting ready to rebuild the road crossing to. Great pics. Ken

NYSWSD70M Wrote:
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> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thanks for the tour.
> >
> > I believe Norwich NY was (is?) the location for
> > Victory Foods. That large employer's needs led
> > indirectly to the acquisition of the line by
> the
> > Delaware-Otsego interests. One of Victory's
> > owners bought and restored the NYO&W switch
> engine
> > used on the NYS&W for many years.
> >
> > Unadilla Valley Railroad was also in the area
> as
> > well.
>
>
> The 116 was bought by a director of IL Richer.
> They were a large feed dealer and another large
> NYSW receiver. Victory was owned by Australian
> interest for much of the time that they were
> served by the NYS&W.

Thanks for that info. That was a long time ago.

Was the director Albert / Elbert Button, or something like that? That name is in my mind re this matter.

Adelbert Button known as "Del".

VP of IL Richer 1951 - 1975
President of IL Richer 1975 - 77

also Mayor of Norwich 1954 - 1959

A real nice guy.

train1275 Wrote:
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> Adelbert Button known as "Del".
>
> VP of IL Richer 1951 - 1975
> President of IL Richer 1975 - 77
>
> also Mayor of Norwich 1954 - 1959
>
> A real nice guy.


thank you.