Back in Dec. 2018, Watco Companies took over operations of the former NS Ithaca Secondary Line, ex-Lehigh Valley Railroad, operations from Sayre, PA to Lansing, NY. A recent news article, April 2019, (https://www.ithaca.com/news/ithaca/update-watco-quiets-idling-trains-behind-nate-s-floral-estates/article_f4eae4e6-5113-11e9-b228-0fcfdc07314f.html) addresses the topic of idling engines near a residential area. Within the article, statements are made indicating that Watco plans to increase the frequency of trains along with rebuilding a yard in the Ithaca, NY area. It further states there could be 45 to 50 trains moving through this area.
I'm originally from the Waverly, NY area and grew up with the LVRR along with the other rail carriers along the Southern Tier and left in 1978 for a railroad career in eastern Montana. Always interested in the rail news from my home stomping grounds and am curious if anyone knows what business does Watco hope to grow or expand on this line?
After all the years under LVRR, NS, and now the newly created ITHR, I surely can't believe there is going to be a new explosion of growth for this line and in this area. Great, if it does happen, but having been gone for so long, what's changed or developed in this area for this article to claim more rail traffic is on the horizon?
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