I recently was able to secure through my local library, a copy of the book WHEN THE RAILROAD LEAVES TOWN by Joseph P. Schwieterman which was published in 2001. One of the towns talked about in the book is Roscoe, New York, once served by the New York, Ontario & Western Railway; also known as the "Old Woman." In the Abandonment's Legacy section on Roscoe, it was pointed out that a local town historian, Mr. Wilmer E. Sipple, was successful in establishing mini-museums at both Roscoe and nearby Livingston Manor using former Erie Railroad cupola cabooses of the type once operated by the NYO&W. At Roscoe, Mr. Sipple and others, established a more extensive Ontario & Western museum which included an old watchman's shanty, an O&W signal and a seperate museum building. A 1927-era coach of the type used as a "trout car" was then acquired with the intention of displaying it near the museum building. Unfortunately, local officials rejected this additon. Mr. Sipple then tried to establish an even larger 3 acre museum complex at the site of the former NYO&W depot and acquired several former O&W boxcars for display along with the coach. Unfortunately, this proposal too was turned down. In the book, it was disclosed that the coach eventually did finally end up at the Roscoe museum complex, BUT no mention was made of the acquired NYO&W boxcars. Did these boxcars eventually end up being scrapped? Certainly anything remaining from the storied NYO&W is rare and to have lost these cars would have been sad indeed. Does anyone know? Thanks.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

I remember reading that the boxcars were burned. Don't know what happened to the passenger car. An O&W museum in Roscoe has an internet site and perhaps the answers you are looking for.

Joshua

joshua@joshuakblay.com