Sayre, PA to Auburn, NY

The Auburn Branch

Picture Point of Interest

Showing of

This picture was taken in Freeville, looking south. The main customer on this line in later days was the Cornell University heating plant. When Hurricane Agnes caused a washout between Etna and East Ithaca in 1972, the line was embargoed south of Etna and never saw a train again. Photo by Joshua Blay, January 2004.

Originally part of the New York, Oswego and Midland Railroad, Lehigh Valley's Auburn Branch started in Sayre, PA, at the heart of the LV, and extended northward into New York state, and ultimately to its namesake town, Auburn. The line was abandoned in segments -- a majority of the line was deemed unnecessary as a result of the Conrail merger, and most of the tracks were taken up by 1978. The last segment (Locke-Freeville-Dryden-North Harford) was abandoned shortly after April 1, 1978.

Not all is lost, though. Today, a small portion of the line is in tact south of Dryden and operated by the Owego & Hartford. Numerous artifacts remain of this branch line, such as old wooden bridges, a lone switch stand, an abandoned telegraph pole, etc. A derelict roundhouse also stands in Auburn.

More information and additional pictures can be found on Joshua's website.

Thanks to Joshua Blay for contributing information about this route.

No comments have been posted for this page yet.


Shortened Link: http://arotus.co/it0
Share: Bookmark this on Delicious

Do you have any pictures or information about The Auburn Branch? Please . You will get credit for anything you contribute.