The Auburn Branch

Sayre, PA to North Fair Haven

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Originally part of the New York, Oswego and Midland Railroad, Lehigh Valley's Auburn Branch started in Sayre, PA, at the heart of the LV, and extended northward into New York state, and ultimately to its namesake town, Auburn. It was eventually extended northward to North Fair Haven on Lake Ontario.

Here is a timetable of the line:

MP	Station
0.0	Sayre
9.0	Smithboro
13.1	Tioga Center
18.6	Owego
22.8	Flemingville
28.3	Newark Valley
34.0	Berkshire
37.0	Richford
41.9	Mills
43.7	N. Harford
49.9	Dryden
52.7	Freeville
55.1	Peruton
57.8	Groton
64.1	Locke
67.7	Moravia
71.6	Cascade
74.6	Ensenore
78.2	Owasco Lake
85.3	Auburn
88.8	Throop
94.7	Weedsport
98.4	Brick Church
102.9	Cato
106.8	Ira
111.1	Martville
114.0	Sterling Jct.
115.7	Fair Haven
116.9	N. Fair Haven

The line was abandoned in stages over the course of 40 years:

            Sayre    Owego    Harford Mills    Dryden    Locke    Monrovia    Fleming    Auburn     Throop    Cato    Fair Haven    N. Fair Haven
==============================================================================================================================================
1937         |------------------------------ Lehigh Valley Railroad -------------------------------------------------------|..abandoned...|
1953         |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|..abandoned.|
1957         |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|.aband.|
1961         |----------------------------------------------------------------------------|.abandoned.|
1966         |------------------------------------------------------|.abandoned.|---------|
1971         |------------------------------------------------------|           |..aband..|
1976         |..aband..|------------------------------------|.aband.|
1978                   |---------------------------|.aband..|
1979                   |------------|..abandoned...|

A majority of the line was deemed unnecessary as a result of the Conrail merger, and most of the tracks were taken up by 1978.

Not all is lost, though. Today, a small portion of the line is in tact south of Dryden and operated by the Owego & Hartford. Numerous artifacts remain of this branch line, such as old wooden bridges, a lone switch stand, an abandoned telegraph pole, etc. A derelict roundhouse also stands in Auburn.

More information and additional pictures can be found on Joshua's website.

This picture was taken in Freeville, looking south. The main cus... — This picture was taken in Freeville, looking south. The main customer on this line in later days was the Cornell University heating plant. When Hurricane Agnes caused a washout between Etna and East Ithaca in 1972, the line was embargoed south of Etna and never saw a train again. Photo by Joshua Blay, 1/4/2004.

The top of an old wooden bridge, with a ballasted deck. This is ... — The top of an old wooden bridge, with a ballasted deck. This is looking railroad north (geographic east) toward Cortland. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

This bridge crosses Fall Creek (along with 5 other bridges in th... — This bridge crosses Fall Creek (along with 5 other bridges in the area), and is still used as a roadway. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

Looking north along side the east side of the bridge in the prev... — Looking north along side the east side of the bridge in the previous picture, a blockage of logs can be seen. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

South of the bridge, the access road leaves the right-of-way whi... — South of the bridge, the access road leaves the right-of-way which is more overgrown, yet still accessible due to the 4-wheeler track. View looking north. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

The right-of-way makes a gentle curve south towards Freeville. ... — The right-of-way makes a gentle curve south towards Freeville. Beyond this point, the ROW is hard to find until just outside of Freeville. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

The east side of another bridge that crosses Fall Creek. The oth... — The east side of another bridge that crosses Fall Creek. The other side, the upstream side, is cluttered with logs as well. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

Heading south of McLean, the right of way has become someone's d... — Heading south of McLean, the right of way has become someone's driveway/access road where it used to cross a major highway. Looking north towards McLean. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

A third bridge across Fall Creek is just north of Freeville. It ... — A third bridge across Fall Creek is just north of Freeville. It is in the middle of a farm field and the right-of-way on both sides has been graded down. The book *Rails North* has a picture of an RS-3 crossing this structure, taken by Paul J. Templeton, headed south. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

Not far off is another right-of-way entering Freeville from the ... — Not far off is another right-of-way entering Freeville from the north. Looking north, beyond yet another bridge. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

This is the general area where an actual diamond crossing where ... — This is the general area where an actual diamond crossing where the Auburn Branch crossed the The Cortland Branch. In the passenger era, there were 4 diamonds here, as a result of two tracks crossing each other. Looking north towards Auburn. The Cortland Branch would have crossed left to right. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

Just to right of the previous picture, a pole lacking all but on... — Just to right of the previous picture, a pole lacking all but one of its insulators is the only railroad artifact left at the junction itself. A unique five-faced freight station, subject of a February 1963 issue of *Model Railroader*, once occupied the land to the left of the pole. A connection between the lines to Sayre and Cortland was to the right of the pole. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

Looking south along the right-of-way towards Dryden and Sayre. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

A concrete base of a former railroad water tower exists adjacent... — A concrete base of a former railroad water tower exists adjacent to Railroad Street. The former EC&N and ex-LV's East Ithaca branch right-of-way is on the other side of the abbreviated structure. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

An old switch stand sits in the weeds about a block away from th... — An old switch stand sits in the weeds about a block away from the right-of-way to East Ithaca. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

A seven-stall roundhouse remains in the city of Auburn, near Cla... — A seven-stall roundhouse remains in the city of Auburn, near Clark Street. There's a bit of original Lehigh track left in the area, including a spur right by the roundhouse. Plans are underway to restore and preserve this roundhouse. Photo by Joshua Blay, 10/1/2003.

Here's a view from the pit area; the table is long gone. The fou... — Here's a view from the pit area; the table is long gone. The four stalls on the right are a bit longer then the three on the left. Photo by Joshua Blay, 7/2/2004.

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