As of May 18, 2018 the 67-mile Bay Coast Railroad hauled their last train before shutting down.
Reports are that the Bay Coast Railroad filed with the Surface Transportation Board to cease operation. The Delmarva Central Railroad has formally filed with the Surface Transportation Board to operate the upper 15 miles of the Bay Coast Railroad. Buckingham Branch Railroad will operate the Little Creek-Norfolk operations. Both of these operations may be temporary.
A document filed on May 17, 2018 with the Surface Transportation Board by the Delmarva Central Railroad read in part:
Pursuant to regulations of the Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) at 49 C.F.R. § 1150.42(e), Delmarva Central Railroad Company (“DCR”), a Class III rail carrier, hereby gives notice to employees of Cassatt Management, LLC d/b/a Bay Coast Railroad (“BCR”) that as soon as May 29, 2018, DCR intends to lease and thereafter operate a line of railroad owned by Canonie Atlantic Co. (“CAC”) on behalf of the Accomack-Northampton Transportation District Commission and currently leased to BCR extending from the connection with DCR’ s line (leased from Norfolk Southern Railway Company) at approximately milepost 30.9 five hundred feet south of Second Street in Pocomoke City, Maryland to approximately milepost 45.7 at the south side of Taylor Street in Hallwood, Virginia, a distance of approximately 14.8 miles (the “Line”). DCR’s operations will replace those currently conducted on the Line by BCR.
A notice of exemption to authorize the proposed change in operators transaction will be filed with the STB on or shortly after May 21, 2018 in Docket No. FD 36196. DCR anticipates that it will concurrently seek waiver of the normal 30-day effectiveness period for such a notice of exemption, as well as the normal 60-day period for this advance notice, so as to allow the transaction to be consummated immediately. DCR does not expect to hire any additional employees as a result of the change in operators. Employees desiring further information regarding the transaction may contact Amy Smith, Vice President – Finance and Administration, at (412) 426-6600.
As most or all BCR rail traffic on the line is concentrated on the northern end, the DCR will take over operations where there are remaining customers. Railpace magazine reported the Buckingham Branch Railroad will assume operation of BCR operations on the Norfolk side.
The November Accomack transportation minutes reported that Bay Coast lost their largest customer, DCP, on the Little Creek side. DCP stored loaded Butane tanks and was far and away the largest customer on the railroad.
Activity has been very slow for the railroad. In November, Bay Coast Railroad handled 80 carloads. Fifty-one of these were at Little Creek with the top shippers being Dynaric (8 cars), 30 cars for Mid-Atlantic Transload (grit), and 13 cars for Gordon Paper. Eastern Shore location handled the remaining 29 loads with the top shippers being Coastline Chemical with 6 cars, KMX Chemical 5 cars, 7 Pep Up Gas 4 Cars, Sharp Gas 2 cars, and 12 outbound loads from Bayshore Concrete.
Customers using the Eastern Shore end of the railroad have been part of seasonal operations. Pep-up Gas and Sharp Energy are the southernmost businesses using BCR, however, most of that traffic is only December through March. Helena Chemical (inbound liquid fertilizer) in Tasley only a had 13 cars last year, and is also seasonal.
The majority of traffic on the northern end of the line is from Coastline Chemical and KMX Chemical, both in New Church. The rest of the traffic is concentrated north of Tasley.
Bayshore Concrete pledged a commitment to Bay Coast to increase carloadings after a total of only 8 cars the previous year. Most of the large concrete members fabricated there went out by truck and barge, or a combination thereof. With the plant closed and on the market, the fate of Bay Coast operations was pretty much sealed.
The fallout continues. The dominoes are tumbling. The lack of talent on the part of our politicians displays itself once again. A complete lack of forward thinking, negotiating ability, and follow through on their own plans. You’re not sure what I mean ? AGAIN this goes back to ( for lack of a better term) the trickle down effect that was inevitable from the new CBBT Tunnel project. The $880 MILLION tunnel. Great job supporting local cement contract ? Part of the trickle down is the railroad.
When The CBBT said they wanted our support for The Project it was given in a blanket manner. That support should have been given with the expectation of local business support, to Bay Concrete, AND with the charity expectation of a world class library. $10 million donated for a self sustaining library entity would be a drop in the bucket to the coast of that project. Where is the support from The CBBT for our depressed rural area ? Instead we get nothing and businesses continue on very hard times, so families continue to suffer. Where is our growth ?
In Richmond our Governor brags he’s signed new law implementing tax incentives to help businesses relocate to rural areas. At virtually the same time he announces he wants to forbid oil exploration off The Coast that our President supports. More big business put off.
While it is absolutely true that a major oil spill would be a disaster, there is also no denying that the petroleum industry gets better and better all the time at preventing those disasters. Blanket statements immediately come out putting off exploration. Doom and gloom concerns and predictions of disasters predicted. What kind of forward thinking open mind is that ? In my opinion, we should have talked to Big Petroleum. We should negotiate with the Feds and Big Petroleum to be sure the most modern technology and safety supplies and equipment are used AND guarantees from Big Petroleum that 60% of the laborers for the project are local rural workers, are they are hired and trained to do the labor.
No open minds. No positive futuristic plans. At least talk and find out what it all might mean to properly assess the situation.Totally negative and contradictory leadership. ASK .DISCOVER. Just like we tell our kids to do when they go to school.
Want more proof of negativity ? Wallops. The agreements to bring the big drone project there. Perfect location. Locals desire the talented workers to come in so that more locals can be hired, trained and assist. The County permits and financially supports the extension of the runway. BIG MONEY. Things are looking good. cooperation and mutual support from locals and NASA show we are for sure in the running for that big boost to the economy. Location, Location, Location near D.C. is a big positive. In the meantime, we have The Antares disaster. SUDDENLY local supervisors sell fear and snap back at NASA and complain “OH MY GOSH THAT WAS HORRIBLE AND OUR WORLD COULD HAVE ENDED”. My statement is overblown but you get the idea. So were too many of the local leaders. The very public questions and statements started in the papers stating fears for our homes and our lives. In actuality, that disaster was the perfect example of how smart NASA and Cygnus are when they work and design. Their forward thinking demonstrated how safe we are in the face of the worst of the worst. That rocket did not blow up like that on it’s own. The design and construction of it allows the rocket scientists to blow the rocket up right there as they instantly learned the need to do so and control and limit the problem. Their plans worked perfectly. Explosive charges are put strategically along the rocket’s length and when they knew the telemetry was going bad, and the engine was malfunctioning, they deliberately blew it up. Minimal damage to the surrounding areas. BUT what should have been our praise for NASA/Cygnus was ignorant and negative press. Great negotiating plan to show support for NASA wasn’t it ? Gee, that sad, negative and ignorant press sure brought positives from NASA didn’t it ? Big business is a team sport. I guess some never got the memo. So when the decision for the pick of the drone airfield went through NASA, what a surprise Wallops didn’t get the contract/agreement. We don’t support NASA they don’t support us. DUH ? Can we get some leadership please ?
Sounds as if you should run for office. You don’t have to quit your day job–local politicians work in their spare time, remember. If you feel so strongly about our lack of leadership, there’s really no excuse not to step up.
Well Mr. Muir, I will tell you straight out that I use this forum to voice my opinion. I think that’s what it’s for. Not to attempt to gain notoriety so that I may run for office. I do wish that this site would allow all that read comments to vote like, dislike, YAHOO etc. so local politicians would get feedback from constituents. In the meantime, 3 things. I/we don’t even know if you made your comment because you like or dislike my comments. You don’t voice an opinion. I don’t think my passion for the subject matter is a reason to run for office. At least I hope not. I would hope all our electorate are at least passionate for the position, even if they aren’t talented at it. Lastly, if I ever find some spare time I am sure I will just fill it with more closer to home responsibilities. I am your typical Shore Guy. Sr. citizen supposedly retired, living The Shore Life. 2 days a week p/t job. The rest of the week I am a farmer, which means I have a slave driving self for a boss. You want me to find spare time in the spring and summer ? Yeah. That’s right under the Pot ‘O Gold at the end of the rainbow. Oh, AND I care for a sweet but fully disabled Young Lady, which is a full time job in itself. Fixing The Shore’s economy will come in the next life for me. In the meantime, I opine.
Very well said!
These politicians quite obviously no longer understand the role of citizens like yourself who use the Cape Charles Mirror as a vehicle to make their voice heard, which is bedrock to our particular society and form of government in this country, something Mr. Muir either never learned, or forgot about, if he did.
The Cape Charles Mirror is to me the purest form of democracy we could ever have in this country, where citizens are free to speak out intelligently about matters of public concern without some politician or planning board member being able to impose a limit on what they can say.
Commercial uses should continue and be supported by the state if need be. What would be great to see is a light rail transport system using the railway and connecting our communities, building a stronger Eastern Shore. The right of way and track is there, how much would it cost to get a few light rial self propelled diesels cars to run on them?
“How much would it cost to get a few light rail self propelled diesels cars to run on them?”
The cost of light rail projects is absolutely enormous. The Eastern Shore couldn’t afford one, and it would see little use in any case.
You can get used equipment at a fraction of the cost of new. But political pressure always wants new and costly projects. So they can get kickbacks.
I support this idea.
Baltimore is a Bottleneck for Rail Transport, Washington isn’t much better, and Richmond has it’s problems…….. Alexander Cassatt had an idea over 125 years ago that is still good today. A rail Line from Cape Charles to Wilmington, connecting the major Northeastern systems to the South and spanning the Bay with a Ferry system. It worked very well then, it would work well today. The lack of vision for this, and similar projects, is crippling America……. And, Try this idea? Build a “Box Boat” (Container Ship) Terminal at Cape Charles, restore the Railroad to 50mph speeds, move containers up the coast in half the time it takes now from Norfolk to Wilmington……
Yeah, but that money was spent on BIKE PATHS……..get yer priorities straight!!!
Feel good programs versus actual economic engines will win every. Single. Time.
Mike, dude, not to get all technical and persnickety (an old word meaning “requiring a particularly precise or careful approach”) with you, although in truth, that is what engineers are supposed to do, maintain the bar at a certain level above that which the compromising politicians would lower it to, or allow it to be lowered to, but isn’t cost-benefit analysis supposed to be an integral part of any decision-making process involving expenditure of public funds on infrastructure like bike paths at any level of government anywhere in America?
Given that the bike trail won out, would the outside casual observer be wrong to conclude that that was the most cost-effective use of that money?
“…persnickety (an old word meaning “requiring a particularly precise or careful approach”)”
This writer treats his readers as less educated/intelligent than himself. And so, he condescends (assumes an air of superiority).
A friend,. you sure do – you treat your readers as less educated/intelligent than you feel yourself to be, and so, you condescend (assume an air of superiority), big time.
Assuming efficacy and intelligence on the part of the Goobermint always winds up an old cliché………@ss outa u and me…….
The way I see Bike Paths, the loudest constituency made the most noise.
A friend, I appreciate the back up, but Paul and I have begun this beguine a while back and seem to have reached a point where we actually enjoy each other.
It’s all good, as they say south of the M/D line.
I assume a world where people do what their damn jobs are, starting with public officials, who are supposed to be blind to who the applicant is.
Silly me.
Paul, IG Horowitz’s most recent report; IMO, destroys the façade that Government does as you wish, and servers the People.
America, 1778-2008. We had a good run.
Republicanism, Mike – that is what I trace my downfall to – my inability to shed the basic tenents of the spirit of republicanism in America I was raised up with, in order to become a more popular and much more socially acceptable anything-goes-do-what-you-want Bill Clinton/Barack Obama kind of Democrat.
Why do we never hear about the spirit of republicanism in this country from our public officials at all levels of government in this country?
As I was taught, right from the time I was young, in our form of government based on republicanism, virtuous and autonomous citizens must exercise self-control for the common good, and what a joke that turned out to be, starting with the fact that there really isn’t a “common good” anymore, and there hasn’t been for some long time now, although I must admit, it took some time for that lesson to sink in.
That is why we have democracy instead – because in a democracy, you can do any damn thing you want, and nobody can stop you, especially if you are a corrupt public official!
No self-control is required in a democracy, nor is it often found.
Which takes us back to another serious fault found by modern-day politicians with not only Republicanism, but with myself as well as an adherent to it, as follows:
Republican citizens should not seek office or use public office for economic gain.
Public officials must subordinate their personal ambitions for the good of the community.
End quotes
There is my downfall as a public health official right there in plain sight.
In America, I thought those words had meaning.
It took a federal appeals court judge named Sonia Sotomayor, now a justice of the United States Supreme Court, God help the nation, to convince me of just how out of touch with the times in America I really was, going into as new millennium still harboring those thoughts on republicanism in America from yesterday.
As to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in my experience of the agency, which is based on contact with the Albany office, a place where FBI careers go to die, they are worthless, because they are engaged in politics.
They came along and confiscated evidence that I had been gathering as a part of a law enforcement investigation of endemic public corruption in New York state, and they made it disappear.
I wouldn’t trust the FBI as far as I could throw it, because they are not worthy of either trust or respect.
So that IG report is nothing new to me.
You could have both a rail line and a bike path alongside of it. A fence could keep cyclists separated from the rail line.
Where are the current bike paths along rail lines in the southern Delmarva peninsula? Thanks.
True enough, but have you ever stood next to a train going by at speed?
Would you want to be riding a bike next to one going by at speed?
Sure, I have. And I realize that this isn’t a universal solution but what is the top speed for this train line?
There are examples of trail with rail that have already been built. It can work sometimes.
Are there even any trains on it?
I thought they had stopped running and the issue was what to do with the tracks.
I am a fan of trains, but sadly, for a host of reasons, including politics, I think the day of trains in many areas of the country is long since past.
Not saying this is the solution, but check this out.
https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2018/03/02/pedal-unusual-trail-scenic-railbike-tour-hudson-river/
That actually is not all that far from me, and that is a good use of those tracks.
There are a lot of abandoned tracks up that way where there used to be a lot of mining.
You may be surprised at the amount of revenue bike paths can generate, while they improve the quality of life for local residents. The Duck Trail in North Carolina is one example: https://www.townofduck.com/news/nc-dot-study-shows-the-economic-and-health-benefits-of-shared-use-paths/
Very true and I love bike riding, but why isn’t the path to Cape Charles finished. AND you wouldn’t have bikes if the railroad didn’t deliver them in a ecologically cleaner then trucks delivery.Save The Bay cut back on trucks and Use trains!!!
They improve the quality of life for those who CHOOSE to improve the quality of their lives.
And I would say that I am a fan of bike trails.
I live in Durham and am able to commute to work because of a recent bike trail, the American Tobacco Trail. It enables me to bike to lots of places I would not consider otherwise. I’m looking forward to completion of the Southern Tip Trail from the Bridge Tunnel to Cape Charles, and would love to see it extended North to Onancock and beyond.
The AARP likes bike trails too:
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/livable-communities-fact-sheet-series.html
AARP Livability Fact Sheets
Information to help make your community a great place for people of all ages
The first one is “Bicycling”
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/livability-factsheet-bicycling.html
Table 6 shows information on “Local”
versus “Non-Local” point of trip origin by
travel mode on the trail. “Local” is defined
as the zip code area through which Duck
Trail passes (27949). “Non-Local” is defined
as all other zip code areas.
• In general, more Non-Local people used
the trail, with the highest percentage
being those who walk on the trail (97%).
• The highest proportion of Local trail
users is bicyclists (7%).
So, a bike trail, in a TOURIST area, that parallels an existing roadway, that is mostly used by TOURISTS generates some ‘surveyed’ NOT ACTUAL expenditures is proof? Nope, sorry. Forever more the bike trail will require maintenance, and the way things are going security and that all costs money.
You can only spend a tax dollar ONCE. Use it wisely.
The rail line saw use as a “bridge route” for many years, but when CSX and Norfolk Southern split up Conrail between themselves two decades ago, the line’s use as a bridge route quickly came to an end as through-freight was rerouted along other rail lines.
If there was a demand for the line to be a bridge route now, railroad companies would be using it as such. Today it is a long railroad with little freight to sustain itself, which is why the Bay Coast Railroad came to an end.
Not exactly true, as a close friend of Arnold Mckinion CEO N&W,N&S and absorbing 1/2 of Conrail ( an example of poorly run government business) I witnessed the sale of all the short lines when N&W became N&S
Many people made many mistakes, many made fortunes. The last opportunity lies right here in Cape Charles.
This line was bought at a fire sale price with huge potential. It still has that potential. But is in need of real railroaded to mange it not Grocerers. If I want it welded I call a welder, if it’s a railroad I call railroaded not wannabes. It may be possible to make this an NYP&N resurgence but not by myself I need your support. Before the rails disappear we need to take control of the biggest tourist attraction in Hampton Roads. What do you say. Call me 757-779-9096.
Some time ago, I thought working for a railroad would be an interesting career for an engineer (not a train driver), so I answered an ad a local railroad had posted seeking help.
The man I spoke to dissuaded me, telling me back then that there was no future in it for me, as railroads were dying.
So I went in a different direction, as many others probably did, as well.
Hence, your difficulty in finding people who know about railroads to run railroads.
Been thru the area dozens of times to points south. I would support a tourist line. There’s a line up here in Pennsylvania , The West Chester Railroad , a touist line that has been successful for many years.
An awful lot of history there, when one bothers to look into it.
Not exactly true, as a close friend of Arnold Mckinion CEO N&W,N&S and absorbing 1/2 of Conrail ( an example of poorly run government business) I witnessed the sale of all the short lines when N&W became N&S
Many people made many mistakes, many made fortunes. The last opportunity lies right here in Cape Charles.
So Railman where are you?
Local goverments should form an advisory council to jointly work together to save the rail line with citizen input. This rail line , it’s a major part of history
A good friend of mine owns a shortline railroad, and called wanting to at least lease the rest of the line, and keep it open, moving whatever traffic there happened to be. All the while, trying to restore customers faith in the railroad (BCR’s treatment and service was pitiful for most of its existence) and getting more business. Heck, if they could get the grain silos back on board with shipping that would pay for fixing the railroad up just by themselves. But the agency just wants to shut it down, and leave it dead. If a company is willing to come in and occupy a dilapidated building you own, and is willing to do repairs and find tenants, would you let them? Something doesn’t make sense. No doubt someone is gleefully rubbing their hands together hoping to rip up the tracks in Cape Charles to build a restaurant or hotel or antique shop, while the rest of the shore’s residents who need jobs and supplies the float operation could bring can forget about it.
They stopped floating because when the barge was in the shipyard for almost a year, getting rebuilt with lots of state and fed money, the BCR did no maintenance to the float bridges. By the time the barge came back, they were in such bad shape that only a few small shipments happened. Bay Shore Concrete died because shipping stuff alllllllll the way to Baltimore to go south really cut into their business. And you have to market that through route, like it was stated, a railroad wants to keep the cargo on its own lines as long as possible to get paid the most. But customers CAN choose the routing. If you say going this way shaves off sometimes a weeks worth of transit, you bet they will take it.
I just hope someone keeps a close eye on things. They can’t rip the tracks up while it is out of service, only after it has been approved for abandonment. That includes the float operation. A sad case of shortsightedness.
So Railman, you and I seem to get it, call me. 757-779-9096
This Railroad could shave 30hrs of sea time per shipment and help to alleviate the grid lock up north reducing the amount of trucks on the roads and reducing the amount of latex (check with Chesepeake Bay Foundation) poisoning in the Bay which has already killed a number of oyster beds ect.
So Railman, The story we got in VA.Beach was that the county would overhaul the barge and the ramp in Cape Charles. Virginia Beach on a handshake agreed to overhaul the LittleCreek ramp. When the county was done Va Big said, with good reason, “What’s in it for us?” Not enough to invest a million on a handshake.
Anyone with proper credentials can jump in any time , but I smell poor business decisions and might just have to get to the bottom of this.
“Save The NYP&N”
There are 75 million plus in railroad enhancement grants, but you don’t get the money if your worthless, how come the farmers I spoke to were turned away by the railroad. Why wasn’t the Oil recycling plant put in Cheriton Industrial park? Business for the railroad that they turned down.Does somebody not want the railroad even if it is productive?
Sadly, and I have studied it extensively, over time, and this is not at all recent, railroads and politics became so intertwined that it was impossible to determine where one ended and the other began.
Politics and competition from lobbyists from other means of transportation being able to buy up state legislators and other public officials once owned by the railroads started the death spiral for railroads that we are witnessing today, right here in this thread.
Is thete any update on anyone saving what is left on the Bay Shore Railroad? I read your opinion here. Thanks. Mike.
Under Railroad federal land grants 1850 land taken from families for the railroad must be returned to the families after the line has undergone abandonment proceedings. Normally it is very polluted and must be cleaned before returning. If the people shutting down the railroad are prepared to use their money to clean and return the farm lands given to Alexander Cassatt to build this National Monument. Then fine shut it down. file bankruptcy and walk away from the environmental mess the railroad made or keep it a railroad and let some co.petent people come in and run it. Better the pollution stays on the railroad easement then in the bay.
You are trying to talk sense to a nation that lacks any.
Bring it on,show me interest I will talk with friends to find try and find work for it. I have a plan, but I’m not a pencil pusher , I’m a commodities pusher, as clean as possible.It’s a new world Let’s show them how it should be done.
Paul and Railman you need to get with us.Show support be at the thurs council meeting.
Call me.
I wish that could be so, John W Paffrath.
I’m now too old and too far north to be more than moral support!
The fascinating and historic BCR/ESHR/VAMD operation was doomed when Conrail was divided between NS and CSX. That was the immediate end of any real market justification for the bridge route (overhead connection) between Little Creek and Pocomoke City since essentially all rail freight destinations north of the Pocomoke River Bridge can only be reached via NS or CSX. Never in a million years would NS originate a line haul then interchange that load to an overhead carrier only to receive the same load back to terminate it. But at least there was a direct connection with NS on both ends of the line. The CSX connection at the south end also involved costly a switching movement via the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line which drove most traffic originated on CSX off the BCR back when it was still the ESHR even before Conrail went away. Traffic between CSX and NS is inherently going to be interchanged directly and not schlepped via NPBL & BCR. To survive in that environment the BCR needed to originate or terminate its own carloads and the Eastern Shore of Virginia simply does not originate or terminate remotely enough rail traffic to keep the line in operation. Moreover, the first time that ancient Pocomoke River swing bridge needs any costly work will be the last time the Delmarva Central runs a train south of the feed mill at King’s Creek. I say all this after several years of involvement with the sales & marketing side of the ESHR operation in the late 80’s. I would love to see the line keep running but the business just isn’t there for it.
Whose now responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the railroad property? The grass in the towns where the stations were once located has not been cut all season. It is a haven for insects, snakes and other varmints.
A company called Canonie Atlantic owns the railroad property and the “Bay Coast Railroad” only ran the trains over it. Shutting down the trains doesn’t change the Canonie Atlantic’s responsibilities, but getting that enforced might not be easy.
Local goverments should form an advisory council to jointly work together to save the rail line with citizen input. This rail line , it’s a major part of history
My husband and I are all for rail to trail for bicycling.