I drove along this line a couple of weeks ago, and noticed flange impressions at a sandy road crossing, and wondered what activity there was on the line. The NF Paper mill has been hollowed out, and the Benson Mine is long closed. I see that the county, which apparently owns the line, has secured money to rehab the line. Do they have some commitments from industries to use the line?
This seems in stark contrast to nearby Lake Placid, which wants to tear up their line, that already has an active toutist opperation.
I'm pretty sure there's work being done on the line (Mohawk, Adirondack & Northern is the operator), but I haven't heard what the future holds, industry-wise. The paper mill was the original impetus.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
As I recall besides the now shuttered paper mill in Newton Falls, a site I assume they'd like to see be reused for another industry that might view rail service as an asset, they'd like to see the hauling of the thousands of tons of waste crushed grainite out of Benson Mines be made viable thanks to rail service along with having rail access for that site as well once it's cleaned up and able to be reused (It's one of the few industrial zoned sites in the Adirondacks).
And there are businesses in Jefferson County, Natural Bridge, and Harrisville that were actively using this line back 3 or 4 years ago like Slack Chemical, but I don't know about their status at the moment.
Whatever you do, don't thank St. Lawrence County any for this despite Benson Mines being located there.
I'm pretty sure Slack still gets traffic by rail.
I see Slack Chemical is at about MP 1 on the branch. St Lawrence County spent over a million $ on rehabing the line, and has lined up about $10 million more. Reclaiming the waste rock at Benson Mine would be similar to what they are doing at Tahawus, which led to the re-opening of that extension of the North Creek branch by S&NC.
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