ABOVE: Identity crisis — it’s November 20, 2008, and snow has arrived early in Geneva, as two FGLK trains prepare to depart. On the left, B23-7 in Conrail paint holds down the Canandaigua Line, while on the right, light- ning striped B23-7 2303 leads south on the NS Corning Secondary for the connection with FGLK trackage at Himrod Junction TODD HUMPHREY RIGHT: Seneca Lake forms the backdrop as HG-2 with an ex-Providence & Worcester B23-7 in the lead crosses over North Glenora Road. The train is in Glenora on its way north back to Himrod Junction to- wards the end of its day. JEFFREY FAHERTY
this location are the first two customers located along the line that need to be switched by a westbound train. When the local finishes this work, it
is interesting to see whether or not they shove back to the Canandaigua Line or proceed west. Pay attention to the cars in the consist. A load of lumber or a short covered hopper could be an indi- cation of a run to Victor. If they go west, take State Street back up to Route 96 and continue straight to Victor as they will go there first, and run around their cars at the east end of town. Victor In- sulator has their own spur (a connec- tion built by Conrail from the ex-LV to the ex-NYC Auburn Branch) and the local will shove from town to spot a car or run light to pull an empty. This spur starts immediately west of Maple Av- enue (Route 444) in downtown Victor. Keep in mind that if you do happen to catch the local operating the entire Vic- tor Branch, about three spots is proba- bly the maximum as the combined 25 m.p.h. track speed mixed with traffic prohibits more. Lumber for Ryan Homes gets spotted in Farmington im- mediately east of Hook Road and has to be done eastbound.
Return to Route 21 in Manchester and if you see the local shoving east to
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the Canandaigua Line, you can easily drop down to the left-hand turn onto Water Street to return to Shortsville. From there, take Water Street south to Pioneer Road, which follows the tracks south to a cut-over on County Route 19 back to Route 21.
When approaching the Town of Canandaigua, take a left onto Hanna Road and then a right onto County Route 4 (Ontario Street). This will take you along the tracks right into the heart of Canandaigua at Main Street. From that point, the tracks are not really accessible until you reach Buffalo Street. Between Buffalo Street and North Street in Canandaigua, the local will run around the train; they could break for lunch based on workload. Pactiv, the largest regular customer on the line, is usually a solid two hours of switching. During winter months, your sunlight is gone following some pic-
tures from the North Street crossing and only long days of summer can the train be followed reverse route in daylight.
The NS Corning Secondary Today and Tomorrow
In years past, the FGLK used to oper- ate north on the Corning Secondary to access the CSX interchange in Lyons. NS took the line out of service more than three years ago north of Block Station RICH on the north side of Geneva. According to reports, FGLK is interested in leasing the line and re- opening the CSX interchange, but nothing has been announced at this time. There is still some activity north of the Geneva Yard as the yard job will wander north to switch Guardian Glass, and some of the northern yard tracks must occasionally be pulled to bring boxcars out of storage. When the power plant in Dresden
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