Ontario Central Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Ontario Central Railroad is an American
class III railroad
company operating in Ontario County, New York
. As of 2007, the ONCT has been under the ownership of the Finger Lakes Railway
.
The ONCT was formed from an approximate 13 mile section of the Lehigh Valley
mainline from Shortsville, New York
to Victor, NY as well as a short section of the New York Central
's Auburn Road in Victor. This trackage was saved by the actions of the communities it serves. The plan for forming Conrail involved the abandonment of all the trackage that became the ONCT; but several rail customers wanted to keep rail service. With the building of a short connection from the LV to NYC trackage in Victor and an interchange in Shortsville, the ONCT began operating the rail lines in 1979; before which Conrail was obligated to do so as the designated operator.
Throughout the years, the ONCT has had a number of customers; but Victor Insulator Company
has been there from the beginning and still receives service as of 2011. Other customers include, or have been, Ryan Homes, Iron City Sash & Door and others. The sole interchange for the ONCT has been in Shortsville, where Conrail constructed a interchange with the former Auburn Road of the NYC.
From the beginning the ONCT was a member of the "Ontraio Lines" family of shorts lines in New York State until 1993. Other members included the OMID
and the Ontario Eastern. In 1998, the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
bought a controlling interest in the ONCT. Then, in October of 2007, the LAL sold the ONCT to the Finger Lakes Railway
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
class III railroad
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
company operating in Ontario County, New York
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
. As of 2007, the ONCT has been under the ownership of the Finger Lakes Railway
Finger Lakes Railway
The Finger Lakes Railway is a class III railroad in the Finger Lakes region of New York.The Finger Lakes Railway began operation on July 23, 1995 and operates in Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario, Schuyler and Yates counties....
.
The ONCT was formed from an approximate 13 mile section of the Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
mainline from Shortsville, New York
Shortsville, New York
Shortsville is a village in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 1,320 at the 2000 census.The Village of Shortsville is in the southwest part of the Town of Manchester and is north of Canandaigua, NY.-History:...
to Victor, NY as well as a short section of the New York Central
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
's Auburn Road in Victor. This trackage was saved by the actions of the communities it serves. The plan for forming Conrail involved the abandonment of all the trackage that became the ONCT; but several rail customers wanted to keep rail service. With the building of a short connection from the LV to NYC trackage in Victor and an interchange in Shortsville, the ONCT began operating the rail lines in 1979; before which Conrail was obligated to do so as the designated operator.
Throughout the years, the ONCT has had a number of customers; but Victor Insulator Company
Victor Insulator Company
The Victor Insulator Company based in Victor, NY is the oldest insulator company in North America. They originally made glass insulators for electrical lines. They suspended operations during the Great Depression, but resumed operations in 1935 as Victor Insulators...
has been there from the beginning and still receives service as of 2011. Other customers include, or have been, Ryan Homes, Iron City Sash & Door and others. The sole interchange for the ONCT has been in Shortsville, where Conrail constructed a interchange with the former Auburn Road of the NYC.
From the beginning the ONCT was a member of the "Ontraio Lines" family of shorts lines in New York State until 1993. Other members included the OMID
Ontario Midland Railroad
The Ontario Midland Railroad is an American railroad company operating in western New York.It was founded on 5 October 1979 and was created to save the entire Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad line from Oswego's West Yard to Suspension Bridge in Niagara Falls. However, the railroad managed...
and the Ontario Eastern. In 1998, the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
The Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad is a short line railroad that operates in Livingston County and Monroe County in New York, United States...
bought a controlling interest in the ONCT. Then, in October of 2007, the LAL sold the ONCT to the Finger Lakes Railway
Finger Lakes Railway
The Finger Lakes Railway is a class III railroad in the Finger Lakes region of New York.The Finger Lakes Railway began operation on July 23, 1995 and operates in Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario, Schuyler and Yates counties....
.