Operations

Operations

Over the summer of 2002, a lot of changes occured on Norfolk Southerns' Buffalo Line. In late August, trains 40T and 41T were taken off the Buffalo Line and rerouted over the NS Southern Tier line to Binghamton, NY. From there, they run south over the Canadian Pacific Freight Main to Taylor, PA., then over Reading Blue Mountain and Northern rails to reach their destination at Allentown, PA. On November 17, trains 12W and 13W made their final treks over the Buffalo Line, and have since received new symbols and routing. Train 12T now takes the place of 12W, and train 13T takes the place of 13W. The new routing has 12T originating daily in Enola, PA., traveling north on the Buffalo Line to CP KASE in Sunbury, then north over the Canadian Pacific Freight Main to Binghamton, NY. Train 13T arrives daily in Binghamton, NY., moves south over the Canadian Pacific Freight Main to Sunbury, and south over the Buffalo Line to reach its destination at Enola, PA. In addition to the rerouting of these four trains, new trains have been added to the line. Train H2W operates between Enola and Renovo daily and It's counter-part, H3W, operates daily between Renovo and Enola.

Local train H44, based out of Northumberland Yard, also operates over the line. The H44 is a daylight train, operating north to Watsontown on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and south to the Selinsgrove Industrial track on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday .

The North Shore Railroad (a shortline based in Northumberland) operates train KH30, which is usually an early morning train that runs between CP Norry and CP SF, to the Shamokin Valley Railroad, and then returns later in the afternoon. The Lycoming Valley Railroad (based in Williamsport) has trackage rights on the Buffalo Line and operates train KH25. KH25 is also normally a mid-evening train that runs south from CP Muncy to work the Union County Industrial Railroad in Milton, the North Shore Railroad in Northumberland, and then the Canadian Pacific Railroad north of CP Kase, before returning north to Lycoming Valley trackage. On the average, KH25 passes over the MP 247.4 detector around 19:30.

Numerous coal trains also operate over the line. PPL at Strawberry Ridge normally receives two loaded trains daily. Trains originating in western PA include NS 536, 612, and 642, operating over the Pittsburgh Line and Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad (via trackage rights), then south from Lock Haven to CP Wat, where the Watsontown Secondary track diverges from the Buffalo Line. The NS 622 originates in Keating, PA and passes through Renovo and Lock Haven, before reaching CP Wat and heading east on the secondary. Other NS run through coal trains destined for Shamokin Dam, Shire Oaks, Martins Creek and Baltimore may pass through at any time. CP Rail operates trains 8858 (Shire Oaks, PA - Binghamton, NY) and 8859 (Binghamton, NY - Shire Oaks, PA) over the Line. On NS, these trains are symboled NS 532 and NS 533. In addition the 8858 &8859, CP operates trains 412 (NS 11R), 413 (NS12R), 164 (NS 30J), 165 (NS 31J), 930 (NS 30T), and 931 (NS 31T) over the Buffalo Line between CP Kase and Harrisburg.

A good scanner will provide advanced notice of approaching trains. You'll need to monitor 160.860 (NS Road), 161.070 (Northumberland Yard), 161.475 (CP Rail) and 160.455 (North Shore RR). Audible defect detectors located in the area will also provide advanced notice of an approaching train.   These detectors are located at MP 265.8 (North Boyles), MP 258.3 (Sunbury), MP 247.4 (Milton), MP 238.0 (Monty) and MP 228.9 (Muncy). In the summer of 2003, these detectors have started repeating their audible message. In another area of this site, I'll provide some chaser information and good photo locations. Please practice safe rail fanning, and by no means, trespass on railroad property. Respect the railroad, so we may all enjoy a day of rail fanning on the Buffalo ine. Enjoy !!

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Last Updated: November 26, 2003

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