THE GREATER ROCHESTER RAILFAN PAGE

GREATER ROCHESTER SHORTLINE RAILROADS

LOWVILLE & BEAVER RIVER

ADDRESS & PHONE: 5515 Shady Ave, Lowville, NY  13367, 315-376-2021 & 315-376-7799

MWHA Northern Division - North Mechanic, Carthage, NY   13619 - 315-493-6755

OWNERSHIP: Genesee Valley Transportation, 8364 Lewiston Road, Batavia, NY 14020-1245 - 585-343-5398

REPORTING MARK: LBR

RADIO FREQUENCIES:

161.460 - repeater
160.470 - repeater input / PBX 
160.920 - repeater input / PBX
161.280 - Lowville (used to talk to ADCX)
160.440 - ADCXs other freq is 160.440.

PRIMARY BUSINESS

ANNUAL TRAFFIC: xxx cars

INFRASTRUCTURE:

The Lowville Industrial Track (LIT) is 80# Dudley (NYCRR) a very rare rail these days! The NYC standard at the turn of the 20th Century was 105# Dudley ( Dudley, I believe was originally a Chief Engineer for the NYC), for the mains, secondary tracks were 90# and 80# Dudley. Later the NYC upgraded their mains with 127# Dudley. For some reason the LIT never got any rail up grades, the former through route from Lyons Falls south to Utica was up graded with 105#, and also has heavier sections of welded rail funded by NY State in 1978.

The LIT was upgraded with a Federal grant in 1996, with new ties and ballast, but there was not enough funding or traffic to warrant the replacement of the rail so the 80# Dudley remains. Occasionally the 80# Dudley is found in old sidings, along the former NYC trackage. We removed some for spares in Rome, NY, and we are planning replacing some in "Lowertown Batavia" on the DLWR which will provide some rare spare rail for the replacement of broken rails on the LIT. Because of the lite rail we prefer to use the 44 Tonners, but during the winter pushing snow and hauling cars up a grade is not their forte, so we use either the M420 or C425, and yes,the big units do waddle down the LIT. When they were the L&BR's only power, they usually ran with their wooden plow and cars downhill out of Lowville to the mills at Beaver Falls.

ONLINE CUSTOMERS:

SCHEDULE OF OPERATIONS:

TRAINSPOTTING LOCATIONS:

INTERCHANGE POINT & RAILROAD: Lowville with MHWA

LOCOMOTIVE ROSTER: Enginehouse located in Lowville.   See the GVT roster for engine assignments, notes, heritage and pictures.

 

 

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LINKS:

http://www.petesparlor.com/seriesgv.html
http://www.newyorktrains.com

HISTORY:  From the Railway Historical Society of Northern NY's website - www.newyorktrains.com

In 1903 a group of men at the Lowville Club discussed the possibility of building a railroad from Lowville to Croghan. They thought it would be beneficial to the area as dairy, log, lumber, and paper mill products could be shipped by rail. Construction began in the summer of 1904. On January 13, 1906, an excursion train left Lowville with 300 people on board. On Monday, January 15, 1906, the first paying passengers were carried, and the Lowville and Beaver River Railroad started business. People found the train more comfortable and faster than the stage. Quite a number of children from Beaver Falls and Croghan attending Lowville Academy used the train.  Business for the railroad showed a reasonably steady growth through the years, except for the depression period in the early 1930's. Eventually much of the freight business was lost to truckers, and in 1938 the train was abandoned. By the middle 50's it became evident that something should be done, and various plans were discussed.  In January 1960, negotiations were started with the J. P. Lewis Company for the purchase of all the railroad stock. By the end of August 1960, the purchase of stock was complete and the J. P. Lewis interests took over the company.  The railroad is now owned by Genesee Valley Transportation of Batavia, NY. It is used to haul feed, waste paper, and pulp and operates on an as needed basis. The railroad is 10.9 miles long, which includes 1,100 feet of trestle across the Black River Flats.

CREDITS: David Monte Verde, GVT timetable


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UPDATED: February 20, 2005

 

Copyright 2002 by Les Wilson - all rights reserved