This strategic geography establishes
six different local trains that originate from Geneva each week, though not all runs are made daily (see sidebar for scheduled trains).
The Watkins Glen Division
The Watkins Glen Division is approxi- mately 30 miles of former Pennsylva- nia Railroad track rated for ten m.p.h. between Bellona and Watkins Glen. The FGLK has a small yard in Himrod, which is also the junction with the NS Corning Secondary. Local HG-2 is based at Himrod and one locomotive is kept to cover the service. The primary operation is to serve the salt mines in Watkins Glen, and the tracks north of
Penn Yan are now out of service. The normal pattern of operation for
HG-2 has been Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with turns all three days between Himrod and Watkins Glen. While the turn to Watkins Glen is a giv- en, the FGLK operates usually once a week up to Penn Yan for their two cus- tomers up there. HG-2 will often run to Geneva and tie up, or start in Geneva and operate down to Himrod before go- ing over to Watkins Glen.
Following the Watkins Glen turn is
quite simple. Start in Himrod at Stone Jug Road off Route 14. From that cross- ing looking north is the Himrod Yard and is an excellent waiting spot for the local to start moving south. From this
point, all road crossings to the south are accessible from side roads that con- nect to Route 14 through Starkey, Lakemont, Glenora, Rock Stream, and Reading. Once you are south of Lake- mont, one should take note that many of the roads are steep and do not all see maintenance in the winter months, so some discretion should be used when snow or ice are present.
Upon arrival in Watkins Glen, Salt
Point Road follows the tracks adjacent to Seneca Lake. This road takes you right to U.S. Salt, but they are not very welcoming
to photographers; fortu-
nately a telephoto lens will help you get many angles from a public location. Further south from Salt Point Road is a series of side streets that access the tracks before reaching Route 414. Fol- low Route 414 to see the local switching Cargill Salt, with convenient parking in the back of the Walmart lot. To continue to Penn Yan, take Norris Road to a left on Route 28 (Leach Road) where you’ll cross the tracks, and then
LEFT: On a bitter cold but bright March 3, 2011, U23B 2211 in the Lehigh Valley inspired “heritage” scheme, along with a New York Central decorated caboose, delivers cars to Seneca Foods at the Gambee Road crossing in Geneva. This industry requires several switches per day and is a major customer on the Canandaigua Line. TODD HUMPHREY BELOW: Symbol GS-2 (the “Sweep Train”) pauses at the Martisco during the annual Cen- tral New York Chapter NRHS picnic, for which the passing of this train is a highlight. On this day in August 2012, B23-7 2309 and GP9 1751 provided the power. JOHN HUMPHREY
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