Freight trains of the New York, Ontario & Western Railway

Mogul on a freight

One of New York, Ontario & Western’s ancient 2-6-0 steam locomotives, No. 33 (Cooke, 1904), leaves Rome, N.Y., on a wintry day in 1936 under a canopy of steam.

Photo by William Barton

FT duo at Campbell Hall

New York, Ontario & Western FTA-B diesel set No. 802 leads a short way freight past the disused tower at Campbell Hall, N.Y., in the 1940s.

Photo by Donald Wallworth

Two engines for a way freight

New York, Ontario & Western 4-8-2 steam locomotive No. 453 leads a way freight south out of Cadosia, N.Y., in the 1940s. The helper engine cut in about 16 cars back testifies to the tough grades and curves on this part of the NYO&W.

5,400 horsepower

Two of New York, Ontario & Western’s FTA-B sets head freight BC-3 between Neversink Bridge and Fallsburgh Tunnel in the 1940s.

Photo by Wayne Brumbaugh

Ten-Wheeler on a local freight

New York, Ontario & Western 4-6-0 steam locomotive No. 228 powers the Cornwall local freight at Campbell Hall, N.Y. In summers, the old Ten-Wheeler worked NYO&W’s seasonal passenger trains.

2-10-2 fore, 2-8-0 aft

Burly 2-10-2 steam locomotive No. 354 works Utica–Scranton freight US-2 at Preston Park, Pa., on August 3, 1941; helping on the rear of the 47-car train is 2-8-0 No. 216.

Photo by Robert F. Collins

FTs on hoppers

Two-unit FT diesel locomotive No. 803 leads empty hopper cars back to the coal mines at Burnside, N.Y., in the mid-1940s. The recent removal of the second main track here is indicative of the economy measures taken by the New York, Ontario & Western in the face of declining traffic.

Camelback Consolidation on a local freight

New York, Ontario & Western Camelback 2-8-0 No. 220 departs Cadosia, N.Y., for Mayfield, N.Y., with a lengthy local freight on February 4, 1940. The third and fourth cars are empty milk cars to be set out at Starlight and Lakewood.

Photo by Robert F. Collins

Four units on a freight

FTA-B sets 804 and 601 lead 44-car New York, Ontario & Western freight BC-3 onto the main track at the north end of the yard at Middletown, N.Y., on June 25, 1946.

Big-time bridge

New York, Ontario & Western freight SU-1 (Scranton to Utica) crosses the substantial Delaware River bridge at Hancock, N.Y., on June 7, 1941. Up front is 4-8-2 steam locomotive 408; 79 cars back, 2-10-2 352 lends a hand.

Photo by Robert F. Collins