Ontario Central Railroad
The Ontario Central Railroad (reporting mark ONCT) 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 which is based in Geneva, New York.[1][2][3]
Overview | |
---|---|
Headquarters | Victor, New York |
Reporting mark | ONCT |
Locale | New York |
Dates of operation | 1979–present |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
Length | 13 mi (21 km) |
Other | |
Website | http://www.fingerlakesrail.com |
The ONCT was formed from an approximate 13 mile section of the Lehigh Valley mainline from Shortsville, New York to Victor, New York as well as a short section of the New York Central's Auburn Road in Victor.[4] 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.[4]
Throughout the years, the ONCT has had a number of customers; but Victor Insulators, Inc. has been there from the beginning and still receives service as of 2019. 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 an interchange with the former Auburn Road of the NYC.
From the beginning the ONCT was a member of the "Ontario Lines" family of shorts lines in New York State until 1993. Other members included the Ontario Midland Railroad and the Ontario Eastern Railroad. In 1998, the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad bought a controlling interest in the ONCT.[4] Then, in October 2007, the LAL sold the ONCT to the Finger Lakes Railway.[1][2]
Ontario Lines Affiliated Companies
- Ontario Midland Railroad (OMID)
- Ontario Central Railroad (ONCT)
- Ontario Eastern Railroad (ONER)
- Jersey Southern Railroad (JSRW)
- Allegheny Southern Railroad (ASRW)
- Rail Services Associates
References
- STB Decision 10/05/2007 - FD_35062_0
- Finger Lakes Railway System Map, Retrieved Mar. 17, 2018.
- Bloomberg - Company Overview of Ontario Central Railroad Corporation, Retrieved Mar. 17, 2018.
- The Greater Rochester Railfan Page - Ontario Central Railroad, Retrieved Mar. 17, 2018.