CN in Depew, NY?

[BNSF4ever]

I had a five hour layover between the Lake Shore Limited from Chicago and the Maple Leaf to Toronto. I found the station at Buffalo-Depew to be in a rather boring location but it did have great train watching. I saw several CSX freights come through. However, one freight that passed through had a FURX SD40-3 and a CN SD40-3. Would this have been a run-through or does CN have trackage rights on this line? And if so, from where to where?

[ShaunCN]

it's possible the CN unit is on horsepower hour payback.

[rtstasiak]

I live about 3 miles from the Depew station. You could have sorted out my rail picures or driven model spikes while you waited. The CN units on CSX (actually NYC!) are probably lease power. The NS "Southern Tier" (actually ERIE!) line about 1/2 mile south of the station platform is alive with CN runthroughs.

Rich

[BNSF4ever]

rtstasiak--Too bad for me: I would have probably taken you up on your offer. I had heard from others that Niagara Falls and Buffalo were not far from Depew. Well that might be true as the crow flies, but I found out that both were 26-30 miles away. So you can imagine my surprise when I alighted at Depew only to see nothing around it (at least in visual range).

I ended up staying at the Oak Tree Inn (?) for a few hours so I could get a shower and sort out of my stuff. Ironically, this motel was where the CSX crews stayed overnight.

[PBenham]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSF4ever

I had a five hour layover between the Lake Shore Limited from Chicago and the Maple Leaf to Toronto. I found the station at Buffalo-Depew to be in a rather boring location but it did have great train watching. I saw several CSX freights come through. However, one freight that passed through had a FURX SD40-3 and a CN SD40-3. Would this have been a run-through or does CN have trackage rights on this line? And if so, from where to where?

Well, take it from me, the Depew amtrak station is one of the few where they leave you alone so long as you are not dumb about your safety! [;)]By the way CSX has an assortment of older CN power on short term lease, including IC SD40As (albeit rebuilt),WC SD45s and an Algoma Central SD40!(renumbered, obviously). A short distance away,across Broadway, one can see activity on the old Erie (IF there is any). Make arrangements for a rental car, since the station is relatively isolated. The Oak Tree Inn is one of a number of such facilities around CSX, but they do not go out of their way to advertise them, except to transportation professionals.[8)] It is one of the few motels/hotels in Willard OH, for example, but at the rate Willard is growing, that will change. NS will send CN units anywhere-as far as Atlanta or Jacksonville-if the need is there. The same applies to BNSF,CP and UP units, as well. I have seen KCS units in on CN trains, but not running through off CN.