Below is the 1907 inspection report of the New York State Public Service Commission of the Buffalo and Southwestern Branch of the Erie Railroad.
The Buffalo and Southwestern branch is a single track road extending from a connection with the Buffalo Creek road at South Buffalo to a connection with the Meadville division at Waterboro, a distance of 55.78 miles, and has 17.88 miles of sidings and yard tracks. From the junction with the Buffalo Creek the trains of this branch operate over the Buffalo Creek railroad, a distance of about 14 miles, to a connection with the main line of the Buffalo division near East Buffalo. This branch, in reality, extends to Jamestown, but from Waterboro to Jamestown, a distance of 10.60 miles, it is operated by the Meadville division and used as a second main track, and is treated in this report as a portion of the Meadville division.
The general alignment is very fair, and most curves are light; there is, however, a maximum of 8 degrees, located east of Dayton. The grades on a large portion of this branch are also light, but there is between Gowanda and Dayton about 4 miles of grade of 132 ft. per mile.
The cuts and embankments& are of full width and proper slopes, and the roadway is well drained. Sub-drains& are used in wet cuts.
The steel and iron bridges are in good condition and a large proportion of them have been newly painted. Some are erected on pile or framed bents, used in place of masonry; all such are sound. The masonry to bridges having masonry is in very good condition. The ties and guard timbers are of standard dimensions and generally in good repair; a few were noted where ties and guard timbers were somewhat decayed, but in all such cases materials were on hand and men engaged putting them on. Inside guard rails are maintained on the long structures. There is a large number of small and low trestles, generally on pile bents, with stringers, ties and guard timbers of yellow pine, all of standard construction and in good repair. Most of the open culverts and cattle passes are constructed entirely of timber; the balance have fair masonry. Some I-beam stringers are used, but the majority are of yellow pine. The ties and guard timbers are of standard dimensions and the entire structures are in good repair. The arch and box culverts and iron pipe drains are in good condition.
The cross-ties, about 65 per cent. yellow pine, 30 per cent. oak, and 5 per cent. chestnut, are in good condition, evenly spaced and full spiked; the standard dimensions are 6 x 8 in., 8 ft. in length, and they are laid at the rate of 2,816 to the mile of track. Tie-plates are extensively used, and on curves are double spiked on the outer side. Of the track, 37.88 miles are laid with 74-lb., 5.82 miles with 80-lb., and the remainder, 12.69 miles, with 90-lb. steel rail. The 74-lb. rails are partially connected by angle plates 25 in. in length with four bolts, and the remaining portion by angle plates 40 in. in length with six bolts; the 80-lb. rails are connected by angle plates 25 in. in length with four bolts, the 90-lb. rails partially by angle plates 30 in. in length with six bolts, and the remainder by angle plates 24 in. in length with four bolts. The rail is in fair to good condition; all connections are full bolted, and no loose bolts were observed. The main track switches are split point. Both rigid and automatic stands are used, and all have proper targets; outlying and obscure switches have high targets. Switch and semaphore lamps show red light for danger and green for safety; yellow is used for caution. Derailing switches are in all sidings where their use appears necessary; some, however, were observed where targets were lacking. The track is ballasted with slag, gravel, and cinders in good quantity. The alignment and surfacing of track are good, and the outer rail on curves properly elevated for the speed at which the trains are scheduled. The track sections are about 6 miles in length, and the force maintained on each consists of a foreman and six laborers. The section gangs are furnished with flags, lanterns, and torpedoes for protecting their work. All portions of the track are patrolled daily.
One track of the Chautauqua division of the Pennsylvania railroad and one of the New York, Chicago and St. Louis railroad, side by side, are crossed at grade at Blasdell; the crossings are protected by a tilting board signal, and all trains are required to come to a full stop. No interlocking plants are maintained except at the junction with the Meadville division, at Waterboro.
The right of way is free from trees, brush, and rubbish; grass and weeds have been cut and removed. The fences are of wire and generally in fair repair, although a few places were noted where repairs are needed and a little fence is lacking. The highway crossings are in proper condition and protected by signs of the diamond or X form. A few wooden slat cattle guards are maintained, but a majority of the crossings there are none. Two highway grade crossings are protected by electric bells, and the remaining 59 by crossing signs only.
The movements of trains are governed by the telegraphic block signal system. Mile posts are maintained, and the whistle posts are properly located.
The station buildings, while many of them are small, are in fair to good repair, and are apparently sufficient for the requirements. Considerable repairing and repainting have been done since the last inspection, and the general condition improved; the sanitary conditions are also good. They are furnished similar to those on the main line, New York division, and the same remarks apply.
The principal repairs and improvements noted as made since the last inspection are as follows : About 17 per cent. of the cross-ties have been renewed; 9.85 miles of 80 and 5.74 miles of 90 – lb. rail have been laid, replacing worn 74-lb. rail; 15 miles of track have been re-ballasted with cinders; 8 open culverts and cattle passes have been replaced with iron pipe and filling, and 9 have had solid covering of metal and concrete put on, thus eliminating the openings to grade; new stations have been erected at Eden Valley and Blasdell; repairs and improvements made to stations at Hamburg, Water Valley, Eden Center, North Collins, Lawton, Collins, Gowanda, Dayton, South Dayton, Cherry Creek, and Conewango; and to sand house and ice house at Gowanda; and practically all these buildings repainted; 42 miles of right of way fence and 3 miles of snow fence have been repaired.
Recommendations : That targets be put on the stands of derailing switches where now lacking, and that fences and cattle guards be maintained as required by law.