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The NS Single Track Project ================================================== First, some background ================================================== Many years ago Conrail put plans in place to single track the Southern Tier line from New Jersey to Buffalo. The portion between Binghamton and Waverly was never completed by Conrail. Conrail successor Norfolk Southern has now completed the final segment. Here are two diagrams showing the Conrail plans from Waverly to east of Owego and from east of Owego to Binghamton. As you read about this project, you will see the NS implementation with regard to the placement of the new CP's 250, 236, 233, and 217 are close to the Conrail plan but many other proposed track changes, especially in Binghamton, have not happened. ================================================== Some memories of this former Erie double track line ================================================== These photos are provided from the collection of member Sam Botts. D&H sharks at Endicott on the Binghamton to Sayre run Eastbound by the semaphore at Endicott's Cider Mill EL eastbound at Hayes Avenue with view of the Endicott yard LV Sayre to Binghamton run along the Susquehanna River NS mixed freight on double track ================================================== Preparing for the single track cutover ================================================== This narration and photos are provided by member Dave Haynes. The first hint of activity was switch panels stacked near Kost Tire in Owego last winter. Switch panels in the snow There will be three sidings between Binghamton and Waverly. Coming west out of Binghamton the first siding utilizing the existing track 1 westward main will run from Binghamton to a point just east of Oakdale Road in Johnson City. The area is difficult to access as the railroad is high on an embankment behind a row of houses on Endwell Street. The switch and all three signals are installed. The name of this Control Point (CP) will be CP 217. Westward main (foreground) and siding signals Eastward main signal The next signal is located at MP 220 at Avenue B in Endwell. Eastward it is an approach signal to CP 217 in Johnson City. Westward it is a block signal. Prior to installation Signal installed, 23K running the wrong main The next signal is located at MP 222 just east of the existing 222.1 signal on East Franklin Street in Endicott. It is a block signal for both directions. Note that until put in service all new signals are covered or have the heads turned to the side. Endicott block signal Continuing west the next signal is located at MP 223 near the Route 17C bridge near Glendale. Glendale signal Glendale signal near the two existing signals The next block signal is located at MP 226 at the bottom of Holiday Hill Road in Crestview Heights, Town of Owego. It cannot be photographed without trespassing. The next block signal is located at MP 228 just west of Kinney Road in Campville. How they got it there Installed Next there is a new signal near MP 231. It serves as a block signal eastward and an approach signal westward for the beginning of the next siding at Owego, to be called CP 233. This is the only non-CP signal located on the north side of the tracks which means when the existing westward track 1 is removed, there will be a wide space between the main and the signal. Approach and block signal at MP 231 We now arrive at the east end of the new Owego siding which will be called CP 233. CP 233 is located just west of Miller Beach Road and near the entrance to Lockheed Martin. This siding will continue through the Front and Main Street crossings in Owego and terminate near Ward and Van Scoy at CP 236. There is a distance of 1.8 miles between the switch and Front Street. The switch installed Boom truck at Miller Beach Road All three signals installed Westbound signal Eastbound signals We now reach Owego at the location to be called CP 236. Instead of a single switch to end the siding near Ward and Van Scoy, there is a new crossover installed at MP 236. The existing track 1 westward main will continue from the crossover to a point just east of the Owego Creek bridge. This allows access to the Owego and Harford without fouling the new main. The new single main track from Binghamton to near Tioga Center will be today's eastward main track 2 which is welded (a.k.a. ribbon) rail. Half the crossover installed Full crossover installed Installing the eastbound cantilever signal 39T, the first train under the new signal Installing the westbound cantilever signal 12T, first train under both signals New gates at McMaster pedestrian crossing Moving west of Owego we located the eastward approach and westward block signal sitting beside Goodrich Road (MP 237.4). This signal will be moved west and installed at MP 238. Signal at Goodrich to be moved to MP 238 A September 1 trip west of Owego yielded a photo at MP 250 of the east switch of the new Barton to Waverly siding taken from the E. Barton Road bridge over the tracks. From Tioga Center to Waverly the new main will be today's track 1 westward main. East switch for the Barton to Waverly siding There was no evidence of new signal activity from west of Owego to Waverly, leading one to speculate that the Binghamton to Owego single tracking will occur before the Owego to Waverly section is finished. This turned out to be the case as the cutover between Binghamton and Owego was done first. The following photos were provided by member Bob Pastorkey. Moving west from Binghamton to Owego: CP Johnson Existing signal bridge,   Control center,   New westbound cantilever,   New eastbound signals Endicott, Milepost 221 West of Hayes Avenue Milepost 223 New and old signals Campville, Milepost 229 New and old signals Milepost 231 New signal,   Old signal Milepost 233 New signals at east end of new Owego siding Milepost 234 Owego siding Owego, Milepost 236 Looking west,   Nerve center,   Crossover,   Looking west from crossover,   Crossover switch closeup,   Eastbound cantilever,   Looking east at both cantilevers,   NS 23K at Owego ================================================== The single track cutover from Binghamton to Owego on September 19, 2010 ================================================== Photos by member Dave Haynes: Waiting for Track Authority to begin work at CP 233 Equipment waiting just before 8:33 am Track Authority was issued Every signal location had signal personnel assigned Track one at CP 233 severed and connected to the turnout Signal 2332 red for last time Removing rail from track 1 at CP 233 CP 236 signals uncovered and lit for the first time Testing at CP 236 Unloading removed track 1 rail at Miller Beach Road Old signal 2362 removed at Owego Signal crew at McMaster Street in Owego Signal 2332 being readied for removal Signal 2332 lift off Signal 2332 being cut in two Hauling away the base of signal 2332 Looks strange without signal 2332 Signal testing at CP 233 - Restricting Signal testing at CP 233 - Medium Approach Medium Signal testing at CP 233 - Stop Signal Signal testing at CP 233 - Medium Approach Signal testing at 228 - Advance Approach (yellow is flashing) Signal testing at 223 - Clear Photos by member Bob Gongleski: Removing battery box from signal 2341 Removing old signal 2341 Depositing signal 2341 for later pickup and demolition Putting the torch to signal 2341 Tractor used by signal removal gang Track removal gang at CP 233 Track equipment at CP 233 Looking east at CP 233 Looking west at CP 233 Removing rail from track 1 at CP 233 CP 233 viewed from Miller Beach Road Signal 2332 marked for removal Signal 2332 cabinet marked for removal Photos by John J. Young III: At CP Johnson note graffiti on control box and old signal is gone Making the new connection at CP 217 Looking east at CP 233 from the Route 17C bridge Track 1 severed and almost connected to the switch at CP 233 Starting a scrap pile at Miller Beach Road ================================================== After the single track cutover from Binghamton to Owego ================================================== Photos by member Dave Haynes: Excavating at Hayes Avenue, Endicott Tamping new road surface at Hayes Avenue Track 1 severed at Hayes Avenue Track 1 severed and gate moved at Duane Avenue, Endicott Crossing gate moved at Page Avenue, Endicott Track 1 severed at Page Avenue Until the final cutover from Owego to Waverly westbounds diverged with a medium-approach-medium signal at CP 233 to run track 1 to Waverly. NS 205 diverging at CP 233 39T on track 1 at CP 236 coming ... and going Track 1 being removed at Avenue B, Endwell Track 1 being removed at Duane Avenue, Endicott Track 1 being removed at Page Avenue, Endicott Back end of Herzog Multi-Purpose Machine (MPM) at Miller Beach Road Learn about the Herzog MPM. Herzog MPM backing into the siding at CP 233 Herzog MPM power unit at CP 236 Unloading ties from Herzog to NS top gons at CP 236 23K with all BNSF power passing Herzog at CP 236 23K passing the old Owego Erie depot Work train 90M with caboose at Owego ================================================== Preparing for the single track cutover from Owego to Waverly ================================================== Photos by member Dave Haynes: New signal west of Tioga Center New signal at Smithboro New signal at Barton All signals are in at CP 250. Compare with photo taken September 1. Old trailing point crossovers at Owego are gone ================================================== The single track cutover from Owego to Waverly on October 24, 2010 ================================================== Photos by member Dave Haynes: At Tioga Center main 2 is connected to main 1 to become the new main Signal at Smithboro is activated Removing old signal 2471 between Smithboro and Barton Westward approach and eastward block signal at Barton Cutting in the new switch at CP 250 ================================================== 2011 Photos ================================================== Photos by member Dave Haynes: Work train 90M picking up ties July 7th near MP SR 230 Photo 1,  Photo 2 Work train 92M smoothing ballast on August 3rd at Depot Street, Campville Photo 1,  Photo 2,  Photo 3 ================================================== Naming of tracks, plus a project map ================================================== The new sidings at Waverly and Owego are simply called "sidings" and the siding between CP217 and CP Johnson is called "Main 1" track. The new main single track is called "Main 1" track between CP Waverly and CP 217. Between CP 217 and CP BD the old nomenclature of "Main 2" and "Main 1" remains because east of CP Johnson this is still rule 251 directional running territory, i.e. it was not modified by this project. This creates an interesting situation whereby an eastbound train traveling straight through CP 217 goes from Main 1 track to Main 2 track. Here's a map of the single track project.

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