NYS&W Railway Northern Division Pictorial- Cincinnatus Branch

Pictures are in date order.

In the early 1960s the Erie Lackawanna abandoned an 18 mile branch from Cortland Junction to Cincinnatus. Two miles of track were kept for an industrial park that failed to materialize, and the remaining 16 miles were removed. In 2000, the NYS&W rehabilitated the track that remained and re-laid another mile or so to serve an asphalt plant. Even though the line was only partially rebuilt, it is referred to as Cincinnatus Branch by the company.

2000	Major work was needed on the north approach to the bridge, as well as the various abutments over the Ti.	Shawn Noe
2000	The bridge sat for forlorn for about thirty years covered in vines. The track was re-laid for about a mile after the bridge. It once led about to the towns of McGraw, Solon, and Cincinnatus.	Shawn Noe
April 12, 2001	4008 and 3040 switch SuiteKote.	Joshua K. Blay
April 12, 2001	4008 and 3040 shove from SuitKote towards the Syracuse branch.	Joshua K. Blay
May 28, 2001	2012, often called "the workhorse of the northern division," has the day off on Memorial Day right near the team track facility, just off the Syracuse main.	Joshua K. Blay
Summer 2001/2002	Two SD45s, a GP20 and a B40-8 switching cars. DL&W/EL only sent 44 tonners and SW-1s on this branch due to light bridges beyond McGraw.	Eric Robb
July 6, 2003	Overall view of the 4 tracks SuitKote, a forth added earlier in the year. Taken with permission.	Joshua K. Blay
August 27, 2003	3040 shoves empty tank cars towards the main, east of Franklin Ave.	Joshua K. Blay
September 8, 2003	The other customer besides the asphalt plant is a team track to serve Bestway Lumber. Bestway is a busy year-round customer. 116 on the team track.	Joshua K. Blay
February 9, 2004	Nearly the same spot, 5 months later.	Joshua K. Blay
May 5, 2004	Empty centerbeam flatcars being switched off the team track by 116.	Joshua K. Blay
May 5, 2004	SY1 after switching the team track.	Joshua K. Blay
May 7, 2004	2064 on the team track with more lumber for Bestway.	Joshua K. Blay
July 2, 2007	New track in Cortland Junction! One of the few rumors that becomes truth- a wye is being built to allow for better access to the Cincinnatus Branch. Here's the new switch to be installed on the mainline, a little ways south of Port Watson Street. This is all NEW track, there never was a wye here in the "good ole days."	Joshua K. Blay
July 2, 2007	Another view.	Joshua K. Blay
July 2, 2007	The north leg of the wye will curve to the left. The right of way is mostly graded. The west leg is the main, the south leg is the original right of way installed after the DL&W took over the Cincinnatus branch.	Joshua K. Blay
July 2, 2007	The day I discovered the new work, the second of two new switches had already been constructed, and personnel had just removed the bolts, joint bars, and spikes freeing rails to be pulled for the installation of the new switch.	Joshua K. Blay
July 2, 2007	A second view of the rails being pulled. The new switch is the other side of the branch.	Joshua K. Blay
July 4, 2007	Two days later the switch is installed, and SuitKote is again connected with the nation's rail network. Track to the left is the original DL&W right of way.	Joshua K. Blay
July 4, 2007	Again, curving to the left is the DL&W right of way. The Cincy's original construction and operation was originally contracted out the Lehigh Valley. The new wye partially follows the connection the Lehigh. After the DL&W took over the Cincy, they installed the connecting track to the DL&W Syracuse branch south of the LV/DL&W diamond. The new track will cross where the gondola is in the distance- the team track is to be relocated. The yellow dump truck at the right background is almost on the Lehigh right of way, which once led to Cazenovia.	Joshua K. Blay
July 4, 2007	A second track will soon cross South Franklin Street, look closely and you can see survey markings for the center line of the new track.	Joshua K. Blay
August 31, 2007	Almost two months later and much progress has been made. The second switch has been installed in addition to a lot of new track has been laid down. No ballast and the two sections are not connected yet.	Joshua K. Blay
October 29. 2007	The track has been completed, ballasted, and appears to be in service.	Joshua K. Blay