The city of Norwich and town of Oxford, NY both along NYS&W's ex-DL&W Utica-Binghamton branch, have made commendable efforts to commemorate their railroad heritage. Although most of the Utica branch has been out-of-service since 2006's flood (another flood in 2011 caused further damage), the tracks are slated to be restored to service in 2015 using nearly $6 million garnered over the past several years (almost all government funds) by the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency.

Norwich uses the handsome DL&W passenger station as city office space while Oxford has converted the former Oxford passenger station into the town historical society.

I recently visited both communities and thought these pictures would be of interest.

1) Norwich passenger station;
2) Gateman's Tower, Norwich;
3) Interpretive Sign for the Gateman's Tower, Norwich.

4) Plaque on Gateman's Tower, Norwich.

5) Norwich was the approximate half-way point on the Utica line as this well-maintained sign attests (passenger service ended on the Utica line April 1950).

6) Old mailbox attached to Norwich station.

7) restored DL&W shanty, Oxford.

8) Plaque DL&W shanty, Oxford.

9) DL&W station, Oxford.

10) Bumping post, station grounds, Oxford.

Nice to see railroad heritage get respect. SOmebody with an eye for architecture was no doubt involved.