stopped receiving shipments of coal in the first quarter of 2010, the only traf- fic remaining south of Geneva is the FGLK exercising trackage rights to ac- cess Himrod Junction. There’s also the NS local which delivers FGLK inter- change to Geneva from the Southern Tier Line at Corning.
The Auburn Main
This route is truly a short line success story. The former New York Central Auburn Branch secondary route suf- fered years of decline through the Penn Central years into Conrail. The demise
of Conrail in 1999 increased the compe- tition of interchange between NS and CSX. Freight also comes from the Canadian Pacific at Corning, delivered to FGLK by NS. In 2007, a new service put the New
York, Susquehanna & Western into the equation. Slipping under the radar of the large carriers, NYS&W and FGLK created a network in cooperation with upstate New York grain companies to start shipping export grain to China, and FGLK has maintained and ex- panded its network of shipping loads of soybeans granting a significant traffic
boost to the Auburn Main. With a resurgence of activity in Auburn and the growth of RockTenn (formerly Solvay Paperboard), this line is busy. The Auburn Main is just over 45
miles in length and has scattered ten and 25 m.p.h. speed limits. The line is serviced by two stationary locals in Auburn and Solvay, and a six-day-a- week road train that handles the CSX interchange traffic, customer work in Seneca Falls, and blocks of cars for Auburn and Solvay. As if the customer base and in- creased sized trains isn’t enough, the line traverses some terrific territory for photography. Based on operation and time of the year, the fall/winter east- bound trains offer some impressive views while summer westbound trains flip the switch with workable sunlight. When a train leaves Geneva east- bound, Routes 5 & 20 follow the tracks
LEFT: The railroad has kept former Conrail B23-7 1989 in its original number and color scheme as a “heritage unit,” the only depar- ture from their horsepower-related numbering scheme. The unit has been equipped for re- mote control operations, and is seen here at Bridge Street in Solvay performing the almost constant switching required for RockTenn, Southern Container, and Solvay Paperboard. JOHN HUMPHREY BELOW: With the town of Geneva as a backdrop, FGLK train GS-2 has completed its air test and is now departing eastbound from Geneva for Solvay with B23-7 No. 2303 leading the charge. In the yard is the GY-1 which is utilizing U23B No. 2201 today. JEFFREY FAHERTY
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