VISCOSE #6-OWNER SCOTT SYMANS, ENGINEER GARY ANSON, BRAKEMAN JOE RODNEY POSING WITH DINGMAN GRANDCHILDREN: CHASE WILLIAMS, CHEYANNE WILLIAMS, AND CARSON HUCH

HISTORY:                            

The New York & Lake Erie Railroad and the Dingman family celebrated 30 years in business as of August 9th, 2008.

It was August 9, 1978 that the New York & Lake Erie Railroad (NYLE) was founded and, subsequently, began running trains over the newly formed NYLE using a locomotive leased from Conrail.  In the spring of 1979 the NYLE purchased its first locomotive, No. #75.  Currently, NYLE has 7 operating locomotives, including the pride of the fleet, #6758 and #6764 which are pulling their trains today.  These are streamlined Alco FPA-2/4 locomotives built in 1955 and 1958, respectively, for the Canadian National Railway in Montreal, Quebec by Montreal Locomotive Works, a licensee of American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, NY.  They were purchased in 1996 and beautifully restored in their Gowanda, NY shop.

NYLE Locomotive #6758      

Also operating on the NYLE on special occasions is one of the very few steam locomotives in New York State.  The Locomotive owner, Scott Symans of Dunkirk, NY, rebuilt former American Viscose Company No. 6, which is a 1925 product of Baldwin Locomotive Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

   American Viscose Locomotive #6        

Over the years the operation expanded to include the Oil Creek & Titusville Lines in Titusville, PA, the St. Lawrence & Raquette River Railroad in Norfolk, NY, Trillium Railway Co. Ltd. in Port Colborne, Ontario and the Kelowna Pacific Railway in Vernon, British Columbia.  Even the NYLE itself has undergone many changes in carloads and route miles through the acquisition and loss of various lines over the years.

Today, the New York & Lake Erie operates from Gowanda, NY to Conewango Valley, NY, with a branch between Dayton, NY and Cattaraugus, NY.

Throughout all the changes, the New York & Lake Erie endeavorers to provide quality service to their customers.  The NYLE freight customers include Austin Milling, Keywell Corp., and Setterstix.  It is through their success and loyalty to rail service that the NYLE has been able to survive.