In General
Map
Sights
Bridges
Signals
Fire & Police
Floobydust
USGS Maps

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In General


Location / Name:
Binghamton NY, Broome County

What's Here:
Norfolk Southern
Canadian Pacific
New York Susquehanna & Western
former DL&W Depot
CP Binghamton Yard
NYS&W Yard
NS Binghamton Yard
Marconi Tower

Data:
GPS Coordinates: as needed
Phone A/C: 607
ZIP: 13901 (downtown)

Access by train/transit:
None

The Scoop:

Small(ish) town, big history - lots!

The railroad names of the 60's may have disappeared, but there is still plenty to see in Binghamton, and the surrounding areas, even more if you feel like traveling 20 miles out or so to see things like the Starrucca Viaduct.

The Norfolk Southern, Canadian Pacific, and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western all have a good sized presence in town, and all three have a yard here, altho the CP yard is by far, the largest.

DO NOT take a chance with trespassing on either NS or CP property, especially CP, because their cops are like no other, and won't blink an eye to arrest you - and we all thought no-one could get worse than the NS jerks.  Way back when, you could take a leisurely stroll thru the CP yard from Holmes Place down to Terrace Drive, but not anymore - it's a shame, because there used to be a lot of old infrastructure along the access road in the yard.  Back in 2001, I pulled off Holmes Place, just barley onto their access road to get a picture of a 60's generation diesel working under the Conklin overpass, and the CP cop came up on me like stink on you-know-what, and he said he had been following me ALL thru town... what a waste of time for him!

Binghamton does not have any Amtrak service, but here are the three closest towns where you can find Amtrak:



In this latest revision of the page (April 2021), I have added bridges and fire stations to the mix, and I am still looking for decent pictures of the signals in town.  If you know of anything else interesting that should be included, railroad oriented or not, please consider forwarding it to me, TNX.  Adding the bridges and USGS maps has made this a huge page, so you will need to be patient when it is loading.

Other towns you may pas thru to get here, with interesting "stuff":

Corning NY: Corning Glass Works, former DL&W depot, Amtrak station, NS comes thru at speed.

Olean NY: The Western NY & Pennsylvania RR, NS's Southern Tier comes thru.
http://www.wnyprr.com/

Salamanca NY: Former Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh depot built in 1912 turned into a museum.
https://www.facebook.com/Salamanca-Rail-Museum-171739779583682/

Acknowledgements:
John Sesonske
Denver Todd
Google Maps
Bing Maps

Websites and other additional information sources of interest for the area:
https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ny0465.photos/?sp=2 Pix of the Erie RR depot
https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.pa1899.photos/?sp=2 Pix of the DL&W from the Scranton PA area
http://railfan.com/the-final-decade-of-delaware-and-hudson/
https://www.cpr.ca/en/choose-rail/network-and-facilities


Getting Here

From the south, I-81 brings you up from Harrisburg and Scranton PA, and if you're coming from further south, 81 comes all the way from eastern Tennessee.  I-83 from Baltimore joins up with I-81 in Harrisburg.

From the north, such as Syracuse NY, it's I-81 again.

From Rochester NY, you have two ways to get here: Option 1 (about 155 miles) - Take I-90 east to Syracuse and then 81 south, or, Option 2 (about 170 miles) - take I-390 south about 72 miles till it hits I-86 just north of Bath NY, then take 86 into Binghamton about another 98 miles.  This route will take you through Corning and Elmira NY.

From Albany and Schenectady NY, use I-88 going west, it's about 120 miles to/from Albany.

From Boston and Springfield MA, take I-90 west to Albany, then jump onto I-88.

From the west, like Erie PA, it's I-86.  Long ride of about 240+ miles, but it takes you thru such towns as Olean, Salamanca, and Hornell NY - all of which have something railroad oriented of interest, such as the depot turned into museum in Salamanca.


Map


The above map in PDF format is available here

Railroads that came thru Binghamton around the 1940 timeframe:






Sights

The DL&W Depot
the Marconi Tower
the NYS&W Freight Shed
the Susquehanna Shops & Office
the CP Yard
the NS and NYS&W Yards


  Former DL&W depot in downtown Binghamton

GPS Coordinates: 42.10355, -75.90776
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_Terminal_Historic_District

This depot was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western RR in 1901, and is done in the Italian Renaissance style.  Passenger trains from the Erie joined the DL&W trains at the station in 1958.  Erie trains such as the Lake Cities, the Erie Limited and the Atlantic Express/Pacific Express served Chicago to the west and Hoboken to the east.  BTW, Erie trains stopped using Pavonia Terminal in Jersey City in the same year, 1958.  The last long distance train was on January 6, 1970 when the Lake Cities stopped running.






The winter shots are from early January 2009, and the non-snow pictures were taken July 2010.



You can usually see some NS stuff across from the depot (L), and on the other side of Chenango (R).


  The Marconi Tower at the DL&W depot.

 


  The NYS&W freight shed

This freight shed sits across the yard from the station.




  Susquehanna Shop and Yard

The shops and yard are located off Brandywine.  The entrance is between two sets of railroad overpasses.  I don't know if things have changed any, but things were pretty laid back the last time I visited around 2010, and no-one bothered me - however, I must stress that I never got out of the car to take pictures.





     












  The NYS&W and NS Yards

One vantage point for checking the yard out is the Chenago St overpass.  The only thing wrong with it is the really high, and closely knit fence as seen.  On the north side of the yard runs Eldridge, but there is no place to snap off any pictures from there, and on the south side, once you leave the area of the station, nothing allows for easy access if at all.




  CP's Binghamton Yard

GPS Coordinates, north end: 42.10022, 75.87022
GPS Coordinates, south end, Terrace Dr: 42.08866, -75.83845
642 Conklin Rd Binghamton, NY 13903
(607) 771-3443
The yard is about 1.73 miles long, according to Google Maps measuring.
As mentioned above, for your own sake, I wouldn't go into the yard, or even off the road onto their access road to take pictures, to do so you risk getting arrested.


  at the north end of the yard

  from Terrace Rd.

  1993, photo by John Sesonske

     


Bridges, Tunnels, and Overpasses


Along Kirkwood Ave

GPS Coordinates: 42.06155, -75.80150
As with almost all of the old Erie bridges along Kirkwood Ave, they were built for a double track mainline.
Does anyone have a better shot of this bridge?




Over Park Creek

GPS Coordinates: 42.09280, -75.82643








Over Carlin Creek

GPS Coordinates: 42.05577, -75.81130
You can't get much simpler than this.....




Over Court St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10385, -75.89356









from above



for the next three overpasses.....




NS, CP, and NYS&W Over Brandywine Ave

GPS Coordinates: 42.10390, -75.89808

looking north

looking south


NS Over Brandywine Ave

GPS Coordinates: 42.10475, -75.89817

looking south

looking north

6 detail & NYS&W yard entrance




NYS&W Over Brandywine Ave

GPS Coordinates: 42.10514, -75.89819

looking north

concrete detail

looking south


NS Over the Chanango (and then Water St)

GPS Coordinates: ~42.10393, -75.91279
The northern bridge is former Erie, the southern bridge is former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western.








NS Over Water St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10397, -75.91277
Tracks coming in from the west cross the Chenango here, adjacent to Clinton and Water Sts.

looking north

looking north

looking north

looking south





looking east

looking west

The set of pictures below come from the original making of this page....        


Over Robinson St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10714, -75.89525
Three bridges built by three railroads to gain access to Binghamton from the north.



9a

9a

9b

9c


CP Over the Susquehanna

GPS Coordinates: 42.10248, -75.87891
This is how the Canadian Pacific gets from downtown to the other side of the Susquehanna River.  It is a double-tracked four section steel through truss structure, roughly 685 feet long (measured with Google Maps).  You may be able to get access to the south end of the bridge by going thru Sandy Beach Park, haven't tried, so I can't say for certain.
http://www.structsource.com/railroadbridge/types/steelthroughtruss.html




NS Over Front St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10404, -75.91595
The northern set of tracks going over Front and Clinton Streets was the Erie, the southern tracks were the Lackawanna. The railroad crossing Front St on the west side of the Chenango, you can still see the "Lackawana" on the one bridge.



between the two bridges

looking south on Front St

 



         
The railroad crossing Front St on the west side of the Chenango, you can still see the "Lackawana" on the one bridge.


NS Over Clinton St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10406, -75.91670
The northern set of tracks going over Front and Clinton Streets was the Erie, the southern tracks were the Lackawanna.
In the Google Streetview below, Clinton St is on the left, Front St is on the right.



 




Over Oak St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10385, -75.92211
You don't see many of these anymore -- an underpass to get to the other side of a set of railroad tracks -- and most of them you do find, have been closed, probably out of concern of the safety for people that would like to use them....

south side

north side


NS Over Murray St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10409, -75.91965



looking south

looking north



 


Over Walnut St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10407, -75.92201
This underpass is on Walnut on the south side of the tracks, and Titchener St on the north side.

south side on Walnut

north side on Titchener

north side again


Over Crandall St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10431, -75.92643
This underpass is at Crandall St.  Is anyone beside me surprised that the light bulb is lit on the south side?!

south side

north side


NS Over Jarvis St

GPS Coordinates: 42.10540, -75.92946



looking north

looking south


NS Over Glenwood Ave

GPS Coordinates: 42.10965, -75.93797



looking north

looking south


NS and the Vestal Spur Over Emma St

GPS Coordinates: 42.11198, -75.94257



looking north

looking north

looking south

looking south


NS Vestal Spur Over the Susquehanna River

GPS Coordinates: 42.11014, -75.97681




NS Over Oakdale Rd

GPS Coordinates: 42.11815, -75.97702








NS Over Watson Blvd

GPS Coordinates: 42.11839, -75.98038
The road and "bridge" is no longer used......






Over Bevier St

GPS Coordinates: 42.11917, -75.89150








Over Old State Rd

GPS Coordinates: 42.12785, -75.89283



looking east

looking west


NYS&W Over I-88

GPS Coordinates: 42.16330, -75.87602



looking east

looking west


NYS&W Over the Chenango River

GPS Coordinates: 42.16603, -75.87577




NYS&W Over Chenango Bridge Rd

GPS Coordinates: 42.16824, -75.87550



looking east

looking west


Signals


  Need Pix


  Need Pix


  Former Signal Location

GPS Coordinates: 42.14662, -75.87684
There are two cantilever bridges south of Lower Nowlan Rd, at least the first one from Nowlan Rd looks unused.








  NB NS/CP Searchlight Signals

The signals at this location are very difficult to access, especially in winter with a foot of snow and no boots!  They use GRS Searchlights.  Without a site inspection, it is hard to tell from the Bing aerial view whether or not both sets of signals are still here.... does anyone know?  BTW, for the most part, Bings aerial pictures have gotten worse in the past 10 years.

 

     

aerial view from 2008

aerial view from 2021


  Old Erie Colorlight Signal

Old Erie signal that hasn't seen a train in what, 40+ years?  South of Bevier St and signal location #4.

 


  "Jarvis" Interlocking

The old signals were replaced in July 2010... the new signals are already in place when I came thru, just waiting to be cut over.

            Bing Maps aerial shots.

             
The WB high and dwarf signals, notice the top head appears to be a single aspect light, judging from the housing.

   
Misc stuff, and a view down an alley (across from Grace) to get to the old signal bridge.

                 
A great signal bridge holding up a single searchlight installation... shame it's going bye-bye.  A dwarf sits below it.  The searchlights are by GRS.

 
The new WB signals on a cantilever, and the dwarf searchlight under the old bridge.

                 
The eastbound signals.


Mile marker a little east of the signals, taken from about a quarter of a mile away, hence the blurry edges from the heat.

     
The pole line, but judging from the condition of several poles nearby, not used anymore.


  NB/SB "Tri-Lights"

GPS Coordinates: 42.06721, -75.80400
Located about 150 feet north of Trim St on Kirkwood Ave (US11), south of Binghamton.




  Need pictures.


 

Inbound Susquehanna freights (to Binghamton) used to stop here a lot, at my signal location 8 along US11.... but why didn't I get a picture of the signal??? When Google Maps came thru in 2019, it appears that the signal was no more, as the searchlight signal heads were removed from the mast.



   


  Interlocking

Inbound trains hit two tracks on their way into Binghamton at this point - about 2.800 feet south of Nowlan Road, County Road 80.




CP Interlocking

GPS Coordinates: 42.06478, -75.81541
South of the Binghamton Yard, and just north of Powers Rd, is where the single track mainline coming up from Scranton turns into two tracks.  There are no signals here, but there are some equipment detectors.








NYSW Interlocking

GPS Coordinates: 42.09785, -75.83369
Just south of the Collins Kirkwood overpass, the NYS&W tracks go from one track to two.  Like the Canadian Pacific interlocking above, there are no signals here.  In fact, it looks like the second (western) track is used as a siding, and there is a derail before trains from the siding can hit the mainline.








Fire and Police


Union Volunteer Emergency Squad

GPS Coordinates: 42.11687, -75.96875
875 Riverside Dr, Johnson City NY 13790






 Binghamton Police and Fire Dept HQ

38 Hawley St, Binghamton, NY 13901
607-772-7133








 Binghamton Fire Department Station #2

2120 Pierce Creek Rd, Binghamton, NY 13903
Engine #2 and Tanker #2








 Binghamton Fire Department Station/Engine Company #3

39 W State St, Binghamton, NY 13901








 Binghamton Fire Department Station #4

176 Robinson St, Binghamton, NY 13904
Engine #4 and EMS #4






 NY State Police Barracks




Floobydust






Milepost JC 208
GPS Coordinates: 42.07430, -75.80818
Located north of Trim St on Kirkwood Ave.




  Interchange tracks, just above the shot below.

  Here where the tracks come down from the north, and cross Robinson, one can see signs of old trackwork.


Off of exit 4 on i88 is what appears to be either an old freight shed or depot... anyone have close-ups?

 


Crossing at Phelps St.




Historical USGS Maps


Courtesy of the University of Texas Library, click here for their index page.






Disclaimers:

I love trains, and I love signals.  I am not an expert.  My webpages reflect what I find on the topic of the page.  This is something I have fun with while trying to help others.

Please Note:  Since the main focus of my two websites is railroad signals, the railfan guides are oriented towards the signal fan being able to locate them.  For those of you into the modeling aspect of our hobby, my indexa page has a list of almost everything railroad oriented I can think of to provide you with at least a few pictures to help you detail your pike.

If this is a railfan page, every effort has been made to make sure that the information contained on this map and in this railfan guide is correct.  Once in a while, an error may creep in :-)

My philosophy: Pictures and maps are worth a thousand words, especially for railfanning.  Text descriptions only get you so far, especially if you get lost or disoriented.  Take along good maps.... a GPS is OK to get somewhere, but maps are still better if you get lost!  I belong to AAA, which allows you to get local maps for free when you visit the local branches.  ADC puts out a nice series of county maps for the Washington DC area, but their state maps do not have the railroads on them.  If you can find em, I like the National Geographic map book of the U.S..... good, clear, and concise graphics, and they do a really good job of showing you where tourist type attractions are, although they too lack the railroads.  Other notes about specific areas will show up on that page if known.

Aerial shots were taken from either Google or Bing Maps as noted.  Screen captures are made with Snagit, a Techsmith product... a great tool if you have never used it! 

By the way, floobydust is a term I picked up 30-40 years ago from a National Semiconductor data book, and means miscellaneous and/or other stuff.

Pictures and additional information is always needed if anyone feels inclined to take 'em, send 'em, and share 'em, or if you have something to add or correct.... credit is always given!  Please be NICE!!!  Contact info is here

Beware: If used as a source, ANYTHING from Wikipedia must be treated as being possibly inaccurate, wrong, or not true.

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