History
In 1880 the New York, Lackawanna and Western Railroad was incorporated to build a line from Binghamton to Buffalo. The line was built using the money and expertise of the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W) which immediately leased and operated the company when construction of the line was completed in 1882. The Lackawanna, at the time, was controlled by Jay Gould who wanted the line from Binghamton to Buffalo to connect New York to his western railroad holdings.
For much of its route between Binghamton and Buffalo the DL&W closely followed the course of the existing Erie Railroad line. Because they were already being serviced by the Erie, many landowners along the route were reluctant to allow the Lackawanna to build on their land and the company paid handsomely for its right-of-way in New York.
Some segments of this line are still in use, including:
- Bath to Wayland, operated by Erie Lackawanna and Conrail. It was conveyed to the Bath & Hammondsport Railroad, which is now the Southern Division of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad.
- Groveland to Greigsville was conveyed to Genesee & Wyoming Railroad
- Lancaster to Depew was operated by Erie-Lackawanna and Conrail. It is now operated by the Depew, Lancaster & Western Railroad
Timetable
1869: The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad incorporated the Valley Railroad to build a connection from the DL&W at Great Bend, PA to Binghamton to avoid having to use Erie tracks.
1882: The New York, Lackawanna and Western Railroad completed construction of the line from Binghamton to Buffalo and was immediately leased by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad.
1960: The DL&W merged with the Erie Railroad to form the Erie Lackawanna Railroad.
1961: The Vestal to Nichols and Waverly to Horseheads segments were abandoned.
1962: The Nichols to Waverly segment was abandoned. The last passenger trains operated over old DL&W mainline on June 30, 1962.
1963: The Wayland to Groveland and Ray to Lancaster segments abandoned.
1964: The North Alexander to Ray segment abandoned.
1976: The Erie Lackawanna is merged with other Eastern railroads into the Consolidated Rail Company (Conrail).
1982: The Greigsville to North Alexander segment abandoned.
1995: The Binghamton to Vestal segment abandoned.
A special thanks to Richard Palmer who provided the abandonment information.
Stations
Conklin Center * Conklin * Binghamton * Johnson City * Willow Point * Vestal * Apalachin * Owego Lansberry * Nichols * Litchfield * Waverly * Wilawana * Lowman * Elmira * Elmira Heights * Horseheads * Big Flats * Gibson * Corning * Painted Post * Erwins * Coopers Plain * Curtis * Campbell * Savona * Bath * Kanona * Avoca * Wallace * Cohocton * Atlanta * Wayland Jct. * Wayland * Portway (Perkinsville) * Dansville * Groveland * Mount Morris * Leicester * Greigsville * Craigs * Linwood * B&O Jct. * East Bethany * East Alexander * North Alexander * Ray (Cady) * North Darien * Fargo * Alden * West Alden * Dollwood * Lancaster * Depew * Buffalo (Main St. Station) * Black Rock
The Syracuse Branch connected to the main line at Binghamton and the Ithaca Branch connected at Owego.