The Delaware and Atlantic Rail Road was created to ship hard coal ( anthracite) to the NY and NJ markets. It ran from Honesdale to Port Jervis with trackage rights, then to the NY Market in the Jersey City area, and to South Jersey by buying a 50%stake in the Bel-Del Railroad. Routes were acquired to Campbell Hall and Maybrook, Scranton, Sidney, and Lake Ontario by buying selective NYO&W Routes. The purchase of the LNE gained access to the cement industry and more anthracite. Trackage rights were secured to Buffalo and Albany. When the Rutland RR went bankrupt the D&A purchased the trackage.
After WWII both the D&A and the D&H realized anthracite would soon die off, so they entered a strategic partnership to provide fast bridge Traffic throughout NY, NJ, and PA.
With the coming of Penn Central, the D&H was placed into Doreco, but the D&A stayed independent and kept its partnership with the D&H, and found a new Strategic partner in the EL.
With the coming of Conrail, the D&H was independent again, with new trackage rights. The D&A was allowed by the D&H to use the new trackage rights due to the continuing partnership.
With Guilford, the D&A kept the trackage rights to Buffalo, Pot Yard, Philadelphia, Allentown, Hagerstown and NYC via Newark, NJ. Shippers who were disgusted with the level of service on Guilford, soon switched to the D&A.
The D&A continued to add service, to Washington NJ, and points east. They also have entered a partnership with NJ Transit to aid in the restoration of the EL cutoff, to gain service to the New York/New Jersey market.
The power philosophy of the D&H is to acquire used Alcos and use them. If properly maintained they pull mountains and will last a long time. For example, Conrail got rid of the C-628s, C-630s and C-636s of the LV, PRR, and Rdg. The D&A was able to acquire quite a few and rebuilt them, with simplified electronics, GSC of Commonwealth trucks. To simplify the parts inventory, GE units are favored. The EMD units were acquired at bargain prices.
The story of the Delaware and Atlantic Railroad.
bruce
