The New York, Susquehanna & Western passenger car fleet, announced for sale earlier on this forum, seems to have found a new home.

Although details are being finalized, the NYS&W trustees are reported to have accepted an offer for the entire for-sale fleet, including the ex-Army 0-6-0, from the New York & Greenwood Lake short line in New Jersey, which gained much railfan attention when it acquired Erie E8 833 from Bennett Levin in 2007. The equipment in question includes several ex-C&NW bilevels, two ex-SR "Crescent" coaches, an ex-Erie coach shell, and the four NYS&W RDC's, as well as several business/private cars. It is understood that a deal is in the works for the NYS&W Historical Society to claim for preservation at least two of the business cars, using monies from the sale of 142 (see other news item this forum). The rest of the fleet is reportedly being held in reserve for potential restoration of commuter service over the "Lackawanna Cutoff" in New Jersey, with a potential lease of United Railway Historical Society of NJ's two "Erie" E8s, "834" and "835" to provide additional motive power. In the meantime, it's believed the currently-operable coaches and RDCs will see duty on both the "Bel-Del" excursion operation along the Delaware River and on local holiday excursions on the NY&GL. The ex-Erie car shell is expected to be renovated with an eye towards possible dual service with both the NY&GL and the Erie-Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society's future dinner trains out of Scranton, Pa.

Further details are expected to be posted tomorrow at www.railpace.com/hotnews/aprilfool.