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Wabash/Lehigh Valley in Buffalo

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  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: MP 32.8
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Wabash/Lehigh Valley in Buffalo
Posted by Kevin C. Smith on Friday, September 18, 2020 3:30 PM

As I understand it, the Pennsy had a share in both the Lehigh Valley and the Wabash. So, I would expect that they would tend toward interchnage with each other for freight through Buffalo. My question is...how? LV's yard was ESE of the city but Wabash's trackage rights on CN brought them in well to the north of Buffalo. Did the Wabash utilize trackage rights or was the there no real partnership with any lone line for east/west interchnage. I would think that common PRR influence would have kept it "in the family" if possible.

"Look at those high cars roll-finest sight in the world."
  • Member since
    April 2007
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Posted by Convicted One on Friday, September 18, 2020 5:00 PM

I always thought that the Wabash primarily used the EL Black Rock Branch  to access Bison Yard, which in turn had connections to many Eastern roads.

I believe that  use of Bison Yard survived into the N&W era.

I also thought that Wabash's initial interest in Buffalo was due to the proximity to the Western terminus of the Erie Canal. Which as  the canal faded in prominence, led to the Wabash's ill fated attempt through Pittsburgh.

I always suspected that if Gould had succeeded in completing a Pittsburgh/Connellsvile link,  the Ontario operations would have been seen as surplus.

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