| Railway Preservation News https://www.rypn.org/forums/ |
|
| Genesee Valley Trans. files with STB to abandon LBR & MHWA https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47647 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Justino99 [ Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Genesee Valley Trans. files with STB to abandon LBR & MHWA |
Genesee Valley Transportation Company (GVT) has filled with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to abandon the Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad (MHWA) and Lowville and Beaver River Railroad (LBR) from Carthage NY to Lowville NY and from Lowville to Croghan NY. GVT has apparently entered into a contract with Lewis County to purchase the right of way and convert portions into a multi use trail system. The Surface Transportation Board Docket number is AB-180-0-X for the Lowville and Beaver River abandonment and AB-768-0-X for the Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern abandonment. Here is a link to all pdfs that are currently available for docket numbers AB-180-0-X & AB-768-0-X. Here is a link to my previous post on this topic showing how Lewis County (allegedly) began cutting and removing rail without permission from GVT. The latest update is that GVT needs to provide clarification on several issues to the STB by October 10th 2023. |
|
| Author: | elecuyer [ Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Genesee Valley Trans. files with STB to abandon LBR & MH |
Does anyone know how light the "light rail" on the Lowville and Beaver River Railroad is? Specifically, is it 60#? (or lighter.) |
|
| Author: | LeoA [ Mon Oct 02, 2023 2:31 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Genesee Valley Trans. files with STB to abandon LBR & MH |
I thought that they still served a chemical plant or two in Carthage? If Slack Chemical and other one are still active, will the trackage there remain in service by the MA&N? If not and everything in Carthage is slated for abandonment, I wonder if the government will step in and purchase the trackage to the nearby CSX connection? A lot of recently rehabbed track to Newton Falls that was done in the hope of attracting an industry at the former papermill site (along with the potential to ship waste tailings from the old J&L site in Star Lake) would be guaranteed to never be used if they don't. St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency invested around $10 million in rehab from Carthage to Newton Falls less than a decade ago, iirc. While a bet that likely wasn't going to pay off in the end with the mill closure, this would seal the deal with the gap from Carthage to the nearby CSX connection being severed. Hopefully if they're pulling out, the Carthage depot at least gets a new lease on life with a new owner. Has looked pretty shabby in recent years with it obvious that they weren't taking care of it anymore. Needs a new roof and a lot of TLC soon or she'll be a goner. |
|
| Author: | alex035 [ Fri Oct 06, 2023 1:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Genesee Valley Trans. files with STB to abandon LBR & MH |
I appreciate you posting the STB docket links - very helpful to have access to those documents detailing the proposed abandonment. The timeline and process is more clear now. It does seem rather presumptuous that rail removal began prior to abandonment approval being granted. Hopefully GVT can provide satisfactory clarification to the STB on the issues cited. At a minimum, a full environmental and economic impact review should be conducted before allowing such a major regional rail loss. The door should be kept open to potential future operators. Once rails are gone, restoring service becomes exponentially harder. Thank you for the update and sharing your insight. This will be an important proceeding to follow for anyone concerned about preserving northeast regional rail connectivity. Please keep us posted on any developments! |
|
| Author: | cjvrr [ Fri Oct 06, 2023 2:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Genesee Valley Trans. files with STB to abandon LBR & MH |
What kind of economic and environmental impact is needed? Economic. There have been no trains or customers on the line in over 10 years. It has made "$0" economic impact on the region. As far as potential customers? Again there has been no movement in 10 years any potential for large customers like a paper mill or lithium mine? If not, it is more economical to move those product by truck. Shouldn't the local county (owner) be allowed to use the property to what they feel would be the highest and best use? Environmental. Currently the line is unused but has creosote ties every few feet for its entire length. There may also be spots where hazardous materials were spilled. In a trail conversion the ties are removed and the suspect areas are test and cleaned. While I understand the desire of some of the locals to keep the rails in place and not build a trail, sometime taking a different direction, such as a trail conversion may bring potential to the area. |
|
| Author: | LeoA [ Fri Oct 06, 2023 4:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Genesee Valley Trans. files with STB to abandon LBR & MH |
The region has no shortage of trails. Hundreds of wonderful options to explore. |
|
| Author: | Justino99 [ Fri Jun 28, 2024 8:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Genesee Valley Trans. files with STB to abandon LBR & MH |
I have updated the google drive with the most up to date filings as of 6/28/2024. Not much of interest to report, but it seems like this may be the first time that GVT has acknowledged the initial incident that kicked off this process:  This is a screenshot from filing 308254 on STB docket number AB-768. This filing was submitted by Dyer & Peterson which is a firm representing the Lowville & Beaver River Railroad Company and the Mohawk, Adirondack & Northern RR Corporation. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|