The 1906 annual report of the New York State Railroad Commissioners included the following inspection report for the Silver Lake Railway.
SILVER LAKE RAILWAY,
( Inspected July 24, 1906. )
On July 24, 1906, I made an inspection of the Silver Lake Railway, and respectfully submit the following report :
The Silver Lake Railway is a single track road connecting with the Buffalo division of the Erie Railroad and the Silver Springs branch of the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway at Silver Springs, and extending to Perry, distance of 6.86 miles, and has approximately 1.5 miles of sidings and yard tracks.
The roadway is well graded and the drainage system good.
There are two small iron bridges, on timber and pile foundation. The bridges are in good condition and properly painted. There are no wooden bridges or pile trestles in the roadway. There is but one open culvert ; it has masonry abutments and timber stringers. The ties and guard timbers to the bridges and the culvert are standard and in good repair. The box culverts and iron pipe drains are properly maintained. There are no arch culverts .
The cross-ties, mixed oak and cedar, are 7 x 9 inches, 8½ feet in length, and laid at the rate of 2,816 to the mile of track; they are in good condition, necessary renewals having been made, are very well spaced and full spiked.
About one-half mile of the main track is laid with 80-pound, 1 mile with 71-pound, and the remainder with 60-pound steel rail. The connections are angle plates 26 inches in length with four bolts. The 80 and the 71-pound rail is in very good condition ; the 60-pound rail is somewhat worn and is being gradually replaced with heavier rail. All connections are full bolted and very few loose bolts were observed.
Most switches are split point with rigid stands; three stub switches remain in the main track .. Rigid frogs are used. No sidings were observed where derailing switches were apparently needed. Switch lamps are not used, as no night trains are operated.
The road is lightly ballasted with gravel and cinders. The track is maintained by a foreman and six laborers .
The right of way is clear and clean. Fences are of wire , some needed repairs, and in places lacking; the condition of fences, however, has been improved since the last inspection ( July , 1904) . The highway crossings are very well graded, planking in good condition, and are protected by signs of triangular form. Some cattle guards are lacking; those in use are metallic.
The only station at which an agent is employed is at Perry. This is a frame building, in good repair and properly furnished.
The equipment is in good condition. The coaches have automatic couplers and air brakes, are arranged for steam heating, and lighted with oil lamps. Emergency tools are properly located in the centers of the cars and drinking water is provided. The passenger trainmen are uniformed and wear a badge. The freight equipment is in good repair, -cars equipped with automatic couplers and air brakes.
Since the last inspection about 15 per cent. of cross- ties have been renewed ; 0.50 miles of second- use 80-pound rail have been laid, replacing worn 60-pound rail; some additional ballasting has been done; the condition of fences has been somewhat improved, and metallic cattle guards put in at several of the high-way crossings; a new iron bridge has been put in at Perry, replacing a lighter structure, and several stub switches have been replaced by split point switches .
Recommendations.
That the worn 60-pound rail be replaced ; that the stub switches- be replaced with split point switches ; that the fences be put in proper repair and cattle guards with proper guard fences be put in at the highway crossings where they are now lacking .
A copy of this report was sent to the company with a letter making the recommendations in the report the recommendations of this Board. The company replied stating that “we have repaired most of our fences since the last inspection and will put in place the cattle guards next spring. The heavy iron is being put in to replace the light iron now in use, and it is expected that it will all be relaid by next spring.” ( No. 12 – 1906. )