Need to know when Last Erie- Laccawanna (Conrail?) train ran to Dunkirk NY in 70 or 80s?

[Anonymous]

Dunkirk NY was the eastern termunus of the Erie RR. It never became the big port that it was supposed to. Even pictures in the late 1800s show the Erie docks in disrepair. But ALCO and Brooks had locomotives shops on this line from Dayton NY to Dunkirk. Land records show a NY and Lake Erie owning the Right of way in 1990. So when was the last train and the tracks pulled up

[Anonymous]

I think it was the western terminus.

[METRO]

Conrail's main drag (now CSX) goes through Dunkirk. The old NYC Water Level Route cuts the city and has about 8 tracks west of the small switching yard.

The old ALCo/Brooks plant sits between the main and a seperate line that runs parallel. The parallel line used to be double track, but was reduced to one years ago. Currently the parallel line (which I suspect could be your Erie line) is operated by NS.

My grandparents were from Dunkirk and my grandfather worked in the Brooks plant for a good chunk of his life. The NYC/Conrail/CSX line is where I first got my love of trains and I've got a ton of pictures of it, and the old abandoned Brooks plant (some of it is still standing)

Acording to the 1994 airal photo on TerraServer, the line was single track back then too. However I can verify personally that the line was still active (in NS service) as reciently as last summer. In fact there were signs up to make residents aware of increased train traffic.

Check out this airal photo:
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/PrintImage.aspx?T=1&S=11&Z=17&X=1596&Y=11763&W=3&qs=%7cDunkirk%7cNew+York&D=21+Apr+1994&P=Dunkirk%2c+New+York%2c+United+States&Lon=-79.313499&Lat=42.490391

The main Conrail line is in the center, crossed on the north by Middle Rd. and east by South Robberts Rd. Just south/east of the industrial complex is the NS line. (looking kind of like a thin road with no cars on)

The southern line into the city had been removed by 1994, but the ground was still rather dark as though the track had just been removed and I do recall trains running on the line in the late 1980s.

Anyways, hope that helps out, if you've got any further questions regarding the lines in Dunkirk, shoot me an e-mail

~METRO
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Dunkirk sorry was the western terminus of the Erie RR... On the ground I having trouble following the route so I will have to try again using the air photo. Seems to me that NS got the running rights to use any and all of former Erie RR Propertys in the Conrail deal?
They run the southern teir so if the Erie mainline is ever brought back from the dead it would probaly be NS on it.

[Anonymous]

If you are refering to the line from Salamanca to Dunkirk, The track from Salamanca to South Dayton is cut and most of it is pulled up. I road an excursion in 1981 from Salamanca to Little Valley. The cut in South Dayton was done last summer when they rebuilt the highway (US 62) through town. The piece from Gowanda down to Conowango is still in use as there is a customer on that end of the line. Dunkirk south to Fredonia has been gone for 50 years or better. New York and Lake Erie only runs Conowongo to Gowanda on the old Erie, and Buffalo Southern runs to Blaisdale from Gowanda through N. Collens and Eden. The CR main fron Buffalo to Erie was a New York Central Route. The only active piece South of Dunkirk runs down to Fredonia to Lyle Redwing and Welches at US20 about 3-miles. It runs by the fairgrounds.

[slotracer]

I rode the NY&LE frequently as well as did many photo shoots of it in the early eighties. The Dunkirk line Original main from NYC via Salamanca) junctions (Crossed) the Buffalo and Sout Western (Bufflao to Jamestown via Gowanda) at South Dayton. The first time I personally saw S Dayton was probably 1977 and the old Erie from S Dayton to Dunkirk was already long out of use with major trees obscuring it. The South Dayton Tunnel is actually where the old Erie Dunkir main crossed over the B&SW.

The portion of hte original Erie main between S Dayton and Salamanca was still operated by the New York and Lake Erie in the very early eighties as I rode it many times on excursions they held, the scenery between S Dayton and Cattaragus was spectacular. Washouts, falling trees and aggressive growth of trees encroaching on the right of way plus lack of business and little value of interchange at Salamanca led to it's closing in the early to mid eighties.

As for the S Dayton to Dunkirk segment, it had to be closed in 1970 or even before based on it's condition in 77.

[Anonymous]

The Erie Mainline is back from the dead. It is the present day mainline of the WNY&PA running from Hornell NY to Cambrige Springs Pa. Their home is Jamestown(Falconer)NY. They are owned by Livonia Avon & Lakeville and Morristown & Erie and are a full Alco run railroad.

[Anonymous]

Land Deeds in Chat. County still showing that the Dunkirk to South Dayton still belonged to the NY&LE