"Massive Branchline Freight!!" MA&N Utica NY Line

For the past several years, Mohawk, Adirondack & Northern has stored cars on an otherwise unused 10-mile stretch of track between Boonville-Lyons Falls NY. The cars are spotted late winter/spring and come off the line in the fall.
On April 26, 2023, I videoed one of the first "storage runs" of the season. The train had 4 engines (all 50+ year-old veterans, 1 MLW and 3 ALCos) 3 lumber racks consigned to 3B Timber, Boonville, and 81 tank cars destined for storage.
My dog, Witold, was especially enthusiastic about joining me on the day's chase!

[@douglasgreene923]

Are used to raise we’re king of the tracks back then just about all the time and the branches great memories take care

[@douglasgreene923]

I enjoy your commentary it’s very informative I remember this all is a young boy I remember August Berg Lake Placid Tupperlake you mention it I was there once upon a time and I surely enjoyed looking at your videos thank you sir great memories I have my own we’ll talk sometime outstanding take care

[@stanicarlos2244]

WOW still using the Ex-BC rail locomotive.

[@davidbrown4823]

Any video with Alco/MLW engines is a great video.

[@kazmertobias4772]

Thank you for standing by the train twice, 4 locomotives, 3 bulkhead flatcars and 81 tank cars. On my H0 field table, 4 locomotives and 3 flatcars are O.K.! Tank wagons can accommodate a maximum of 10-12. Thanks for the movie.

[@trenamerritt5344]

For around here, that WAS a long train! Thank you for the history points as well. Always good videos! You and Witold stay well!

[@christopherdibble5872]

The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore; not like they did back in 1954!

[@lisabishop6266]

Yea they do!!! I lived on Schuyler St for almost 10 yrs and they always honked the horns, rang the bells and waved to me and any of my grandkids who were over at my apt. They would even wave to my 2 cats lol😂😂😂

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Very cool mini chase with my favorite, Alcos! Great info too! (Dave).

[@tombarnes7196]

Howdy from Belton, MO! I enjoy your videos very much, Witold!

[@gregmoyer8959]

I lived in Grandview in the Early 70s my dad was stationed at Richards Geubaur Afb

[@Terk131]

I live right behind the Thendara station and I thought it was the rail line as well when that little earthquake hit. They have been bringing old rail cars to Thendara then moving them out. I have some great pictures from my camera (not cell phone).

[@gregmoyer8959]

Now that's a consist

[@electrictractiontrainsandt3063]

Excellent Channel! Always very interesting!👍

[@bobj151]

Was in Boonville today and saw the 4 engines and a few flat cars headed South.

[@princessofthecape2078]

It's interesting that the tracks are still in place all the way to Carthage. They're obviously deeply out of service, but usually railroads in that state are lifted. This one hasn't been...

[@AndreiTupolev]

That looked awesome! Good beefy horn on that leading loco

[@railroadingrambler218]

2042 does have a great horn, easily recognizable even when miles away. Thanks for your comment.

[@wesleywright6484]

So jealous!!!! I'd have loved to see that! But you got it for us! Thanks my friend! Be well and be safe!

[@CarolYannes]

Another great looking video.

[@cmdrflake]

Hello from Tonawanda NY! The traffic into the north country always peaked in spring with supplies being sent north to open up and repair buildings that had been buttoned up all winter.

[@Trenes-en-Rosario7756]

Beautiful video!!! Amazing train👏👏👏👏👏🤩🤩. Like and greetings👍👋👋😁

[@Steve-xf4uv]

Good shots, awesome train. I counted 86 cars, was that right ? Be good to Witold, faithful companion.

[@williammiller2750]

Great video from Okeechobee Florida.

[@tylerg7567]

That should put a very nice shine on those old rails ! 👍

[@andyknott8148]

I wonder if it was Witold who came up with the phrase "Per Diem", his knowledge of Latin is legendary.

[@dutch2120]

Just found you and love your videos and content!!! Liked and subscribed!!

[@railroadingrambler218]

Welcome aboard, thanks!

[@dutch2120]

You said in the last video too let you know where we are watching from, I'm in Phoenix, Arizona.

[@kmfsinny8436]

Again, an AMAZING video! I've never managed to catch a long train heading that way. Thanks!

[@vinnyg.8170]

Good to see Witold on the job checking for hot boxes. Nice video.

[@valeriebassett3107]

Great video. You really need for Witold to calm down. He is sooo excited! Haha love you both, you two really brighten up my husband's and my day! Watching you from Central Ohio, ( south of Columbus). Keep safe and we will be waiting to see your next adventure.

[@railroadingrambler218]

As always, great to hear from you! Be sure to check out my last video to catch Witold in action: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y16nY4Z-m8qYlcU

[@danielmoljr4090]

Nice catch! Good to see ALCO'S running. I am near the Delaware Lackawanna RR in Scranton which runs a variety of ALCO models also. The crews at GVT take excellent care of those workhorses.

[@kennethwithers9296]

Ah, good old Boonville. I used to ride my bike through that intersection of Main and Route 12 almost daily, 55 years ago, to be to the Erwin Public Library. And in my innocence, I wondered why I couldn’t hop onto a train south to the Big City (Utica). My memory of the depot was that it was in much better shape than today. But perhaps that’s just memory…

[@andyknott8148]

I wonder how the town got the name Holland Patent, I am sure I could research it, but for the moment it's lovely mystery.

[@beeble2003]

One of the meanings of "patent" is land or property granted to somebody by letters patent, i.e., public document by which a monarch or government grants property, titles and so on.

[@helenfederoff7603]

I counted 84 if my eyes didn't deceive me. The side to side movement is much more noticeable on these type of tanker cars compared to box cars. Hello from southern Dutchess county. I miss you upstate! Hope to be traveling back north soon! 👍

[@rickbennett5072]

Another good video. I counted 3 bulkhead flats and 81 propane tankers.I sure miss the 5 chime sound of the ex-BC RAIL locomotives. Glad these old workhorse units are still operating.Greetings from Kamloops,B.C.

[@warriormonx]

Amazing footage, but the state of that track!!😮

[@ocsrc]

So much history. I remember Cohoes and all the activities. 4 main tracks the whole length of the city. 2 main tracks. Now just 1 track, no local no sidings. They ripped up the run around at the papermill because they didn't want to maintain it. Very sad

[@ItsjustChris95]

Too bad it was too cold for a Mercer's ice cream at Mercer's Dairy ! 🍦🍦 Is there anything that get's Witold excited ? Thanks John From the Queen Village

[@railroadingrambler218]

Deliverymen, skateboarders, seeing a rabbit & playing ball all bring Witold into a higher state of consciousness, lol.

[@ItsjustChris95]

@@railroadingrambler218 Lol ! 😂😂 ...Thanks

[@mattmanyam]

Mercers was bought out a few (5?) years ago... (Edit: it's still there, just different ownership.)

[@ItsjustChris95]

@@mattmanyam Still open and doing great. They have one of the creamiest ice cream out there. Always a treat to go to Mercers ! I didn't know they were bought out. Glad new owners kept everything the same ! Thanks Matt

[@paulbergen9114]

I believe I saw Witold eating a few Blades of grass and he did turn his head so perhaps he partial sheep. Somehow I can picture at the end of the Revolutionary War the British apparently left behind their Scout dog. Anyway great footage and I'm Amazed at the speed those propane cars were going considering it's a smaller Shortline. I hope the line doesn't get a lot of flak from residents about the stored cars in the woods considering the Heat Saratoga & North Country. A few years ago. There the story was they were loaded some were leaking. Some held poisonous chemicals etc. I had to chuckle about the lead 3 flat cars in that they are short line and until about a year ago had sat in dead storage in NE Michigan after ceased hauling pulpwood. Suddenly two were sighted in Ohio and a few others headed south towards Kentucky. They belong to Lake States Railroad Company and pretty much operate some former Detroit and Mackinac trackage heavy on stone and cement. Special thanks for the close-up at the feed mill and the drive under. That little conveyor belt Bridge is hilarious. Milwaukee where it's cold damp and 37°

[@cp368productions2]

I have a time table that shows the trains through that starint in I think 1937.

[@SteveH-gt3wz]

New Hartford not to far from where the train tracks cross Oneida Street north of Chadwicks... :)

[@petere4540]

Ex bc rail m420 and c425 locomotives, counted 84 cars

[@charlesbraun515]

Back in the day, was jointed rail, where now, its welded rail

[@ccffire6666]

hay john 🛤🚂

[@thomascarnachan2621]

That alco was a former BC rail locomotive and is very rare

[@poppopstrains8570]

Another good video. It was 87 degrees here in Florida today but it felt in the 90's. We could have used some of your natural air conditioning!

[@jimkelton4052]

2455 in British Columbia colors. Where did they get that unit? I'm wondering if it was the 4204 that was in Morristown N.J. then moved to the DL in Scranton Pa. Last time I was in Scranton I did not see the 4204. Anyway nice video as always. From Upper Mount Bethel Pa. have a good one.

[@cp368productions2]

The only 4204 i could find was solid black.

[@jimkelton4052]

@@cp368productions2 Yes, it was black.

[@TheTrainExpert]

2455 was EX EL 2455 - EX BCOL 805 - MHWA 805 then it was Americanized but had a fresh coat of BCOL's two tone green paint

[@NikonF5user]

Surprise there is a runaround long enough for the locos to clear that train...

[@MokkaMatti]

Nice to see what appears to be a relatively unmolested former BC Rail lead unit in that consist. As someone born, raised, and continuing to live in Western Washington State (greater Seattle-Tacoma area), they were a familiar name in these parts (I believe they were even one of the regular contributors to the local PBS TV station in Seattle that could also be received in Vancouver) - and as I recall, a far more familiar sight when I was attending Uni up north in Bellingham (WA) in the early to mid-'90s. It's a real shame how they were done dirty by their own country's government and essentially wiped from existence, though so many other lines have succumbed to these silly mega-mergers over the decades.

[@beeble2003]

The fourth is also a BC rail unit.

[@douglasgreene923]

That should be Ogdensburg thank you

[@jameshaxby5434]

What is the purpose of the diagonal stripes on the fronts of many Loco's ?

[@beeble2003]

To make them more visible.

[@metoo5867]

Wow I never saw a train pointer dog😊 Was breed is your side kick?

[@railroadingrambler218]

Witold is a curly-coated retriever, a very old English breed.

[@roberttapken1139]

Isn't this a big hit to their bottom line?

[@beeble2003]

Not sure what you mean. The car owners pay money _to_ the railroad to store the cars when they're not needed for traffic. For example, demand for propane is much higher in the winter, so propane tanks often end up in storage over the summer.

[@lisabishop6266]

How far in advance does a train that long have to plan a stop??? You cant stop that much weight on a dime lol

[@tomp8871]

How can you have your dog sitting in front of a freight trains horn blowing, seriously.

[@railroadingrambler218]

He is always well secured and never moves an inch. Ever.

[@lisabishop6266]

​@@railroadingrambler218my cats would race to my front door or window to watch the trains!!! They loved em, even the horns and bells!

[@ThomasWLalor]

You are too close to the tracks. I hope that's only the camera on a tripod, and you are MUCH farther away for your own safety.

[@ocsrc]

That's a really bad angle He can't read the placards or the lettering on the cars

[@railroadingrambler218]

I think Witold might've been giving me the cold shoulder since he didn't get his breakfast until our return to Utica, lol.