Bath and Hammondsport Railroad
Encyclopedia
B&H Rail Corporation , formerly the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad, is a Class III
shortline railroad. Initially the line served the communities of Bath, New York
and Hammondsport, New York
. In Bath, the railroad connected with the Erie Railroad
and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
. In 1996, the railroad was leased by the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
.
and Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
railroads' interchange in Bath, New York
, to Hammondsport, New York
. In Hammondsport, passengers could continue North via a Ferry on Keuka Lake
. In the same year as it started, the railroad was converted to standard gauge. The line eventually came under control of the Erie Railroad. Passenger service ended in 1917, when 'Steamer' service on Keuka Lake
was discontinued. The Erie Railroad disowned the line in 1937. The last B&H steam locomotive was #11, was built by Alco
at its Cooke Locomotive and Machine Works
in Paterson, NJ for a sugar railway in Cuba
, but the order was never fulfilled. It was sold to the Narragansett Pier Railroad
, before being sold to the Bath & Hammondsport. The B&H sold #11 to Rail City Railroad Museum's Sandy Pond & Lake Ontario, after Rail City closed was sold back to the Narragansett Pier Railroad, to be used in an excursion service, which never occurred. It was sold to the Middletown & New Jersey (M&NJ).
The B&H dieselized with two GE 44 tonners which were eventually replaced with two Alco S1s.
1960 saw the merger of the Erie and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroads with the formation of the Erie Lackawanna. On April 1, 1976, the Erie Lackawanna became part of Conrail. That same year, Conrail sold the DL&W line between Bath and Wayland to the Steuben County
Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA). The county operated the line with the nickname of 'The Champaign Route'.
In May 1996, shortline Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
(LAL) assumed operation of the county-owned trackage, including the original B&H. These operations were transferred to subsidiary Conhocton Valley Railroad in 2001, and later that year this company was renamed B&H Rail Corporation and assumed a long-term lease of Norfolk Southern Railway
trackage between Wayland
, Bath and Painted Post. At this time, the LAL embarked on an aggressive track rehab program, replacing many ties. The track to Hammondsport remains out of service, but is not abandoned.
As of August 2008, the B&H sees regular service between Cohocton and Painted Post. About half of a mile of the Hammondsport branch line being used as a siding. The line continues to be very well maintained, and some new construction is occurring on the main line from Bath to Painted Post just past the junction where dirt embankments have been built up as if additional sidings were going to be added.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
shortline railroad. Initially the line served the communities of Bath, New York
Bath (village), New York
Bath is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 5,641 at the 2000 census. Bath is the county seat of Steuben County. The community was named either for the English city or for Lady Bath, daughter of William Pulteney, one of the original landowners.The Village of...
and Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 731 at the 2000 census. The village is named after its founding father.The Village of Hammondsport is in the Town of Urbana and is northeast of Bath, New York....
. In Bath, the railroad connected with the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
. In 1996, the railroad was leased by the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
The Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad is a short line railroad that operates in Livingston County and Monroe County in New York, United States...
.
History
It was chartered in 1872 as a narrow gauge railroad running from the ErieErie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
and Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
railroads' interchange in Bath, New York
Bath (village), New York
Bath is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 5,641 at the 2000 census. Bath is the county seat of Steuben County. The community was named either for the English city or for Lady Bath, daughter of William Pulteney, one of the original landowners.The Village of...
, to Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 731 at the 2000 census. The village is named after its founding father.The Village of Hammondsport is in the Town of Urbana and is northeast of Bath, New York....
. In Hammondsport, passengers could continue North via a Ferry on Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake is an unusual member of New York's Finger Lakes because it is Y-shaped, instead of long and narrow. Because of its shape, it was referred to in the past as Crooked Lake...
. In the same year as it started, the railroad was converted to standard gauge. The line eventually came under control of the Erie Railroad. Passenger service ended in 1917, when 'Steamer' service on Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake is an unusual member of New York's Finger Lakes because it is Y-shaped, instead of long and narrow. Because of its shape, it was referred to in the past as Crooked Lake...
was discontinued. The Erie Railroad disowned the line in 1937. The last B&H steam locomotive was #11, was built by Alco
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
at its Cooke Locomotive and Machine Works
Cooke Locomotive and Machine Works
The Cooke Locomotive and Machine Works, located in Paterson, New Jersey, manufactured steam railroad locomotives from 1852 until it was merged with seven other manufacturers to form American Locomotive Company in 1901...
in Paterson, NJ for a sugar railway in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, but the order was never fulfilled. It was sold to the Narragansett Pier Railroad
Narragansett Pier Railroad
The Narragansett Pier Railroad was a Class III railroad operating in Rhode Island from 1876 until 1981.- History :The Narragansett Pier Railroad was chartered in January 1868 and opened on July 17, 1876, between Kingston, Rhode Island and Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island.Trolleys were operated over...
, before being sold to the Bath & Hammondsport. The B&H sold #11 to Rail City Railroad Museum's Sandy Pond & Lake Ontario, after Rail City closed was sold back to the Narragansett Pier Railroad, to be used in an excursion service, which never occurred. It was sold to the Middletown & New Jersey (M&NJ).
The B&H dieselized with two GE 44 tonners which were eventually replaced with two Alco S1s.
1960 saw the merger of the Erie and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroads with the formation of the Erie Lackawanna. On April 1, 1976, the Erie Lackawanna became part of Conrail. That same year, Conrail sold the DL&W line between Bath and Wayland to the Steuben County
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA). The county operated the line with the nickname of 'The Champaign Route'.
In May 1996, shortline Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
The Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad is a short line railroad that operates in Livingston County and Monroe County in New York, United States...
(LAL) assumed operation of the county-owned trackage, including the original B&H. These operations were transferred to subsidiary Conhocton Valley Railroad in 2001, and later that year this company was renamed B&H Rail Corporation and assumed a long-term lease of Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
trackage between Wayland
Wayland (village), New York
Wayland is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 1,893 at the 2000 census.The Village of Wayland is in north part of the Town of Wayland, near the north border of Steuben County.- History :...
, Bath and Painted Post. At this time, the LAL embarked on an aggressive track rehab program, replacing many ties. The track to Hammondsport remains out of service, but is not abandoned.
As of August 2008, the B&H sees regular service between Cohocton and Painted Post. About half of a mile of the Hammondsport branch line being used as a siding. The line continues to be very well maintained, and some new construction is occurring on the main line from Bath to Painted Post just past the junction where dirt embankments have been built up as if additional sidings were going to be added.