Re: PC: Goodby Conrail

[NYC4600@xxxxxxx]

Well, it's finally gone - yes, after 23 years, 2 months and enough 
abandonments that will never be forgotten - Conrail's operation of the 
ex-PRR, NYC, EL, LV, NH and other northeastern railroads, is over.

I for one, am glad that Conrail is finally gone.  I'm a New York Central fan, 
and welcome CSX, as if it were the NYC.  Of course CSX, Conrail, PC or any 
other railroad that ran, runs, or will run ex-New York Central lines, can 
never be as great as the old NYC was, CSX has a chance to get close to it.  
In fact, I regret that CSX is not getting more of the old NYC than they are.  
It would be great to see an even split with NS getting the entire old PRR and 
CSX getting the entire old NYC, but it aint happening that way as we all know.

Regarding the line abandonments, it is obvious now that CR was going WAY over 
the line.  Prior to serious talks about the split of CR, Conrail had planned 
on selling the Syracuse, NY - Montreal "Montreal Secondary."  CR's line 
abandonments had gotten severely outrageous.  I have heard nothing about CSX 
having any plans on selling the line thankfully, so at least that much of the 
old NYC will stay under one umbrella.  After all, CSX is probably glad they 
have the line - from a railroad that didnt even extend into New York State, 
to a route directly to Montreal.  Northern New York State once had quite a 
bit of New York Central lines, and as of yesterday Conrail only owned and 
operated the old Water Level Route and the Montreal Secondary which is mainly 
made up of the ex-NYC St. Lawrence Division.  I mean, it's one thing to 
abandon or sell off a small branchline here and there that serves barely any 
businesses, and costs more to operate than the line makes, but the Montreal 
Secondary - I dont think so.

I have quite a bit of memories of CR of my own, but I'm glad it's gone.  Some 
may say "but CR saved the old Water Level Route", and to that I say one 
thing.  In doing so, to obviously acheive the goal of a single New 
York-Chicago line, they destroyed more of the northeastern rail system than 
PC did.  Now let's wait and see what CSX and NS hold for the lines that once 
carried the proud trains of the New York Central, Pennsylvania, Erie, 
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, Lehigh Valley, New Haven Railroads, and all 
the other beloved railroads that are now but memories.  

Good bye Conrail, and I hope your ending means more trains and better service 
for a region that has been without railroad competition for too long.   

John W.