Amtrak trains on the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision

The CSX Syracuse Terminal Subdivision

  The Syracuse Terminal Subdivision was formed from the western end of the CSX Mohawk Subdivision in January 2011. The Syracuse Terminal Subdivision starts at Control Point (CP) 263 (milepost QC 263.8) in Oneida, New York. It then goes west to CP296 (MP QC 296.8) at Airport Road, to the west of Solvay, New York. The Mohawk Subdivision now ends at the westbound absolute signals (WAS) of CP263, since CP263 is part of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision. On the western end, the STS meets the CSX Rochester Subdivision and ends at the westbound absolute signals. CP296 is part of the Rochester Subdivision. Both the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision and the Rochester Subdivision are controlled by CSX's NF dispatcher in Jacksonville, Florida.

Auto 280/CP280

On October 2, 2021, I caught AMTK 711 leading train P063 at Auto 280/CP280 (MP QC 280.5), along the three-track segment of the subdivision. Auto 280/CP280 sits along Saintsville Road in Kirkville, New York. Between CP278 and CP282, the STS has three tracks. Track 4 begins off of Track 1 at CP278 and goes west to the eastern edge of CSX's DeWitt Yard near CP282. CP280 is a semi-CP. It only controls Track 4. Track 1 and Track 2 are controlled by automatic block signals. P063 is rolling west on Track 2, which is the southernmost track. Track 1 is the middle track, and Track 4 is the northernmost track. Only Track 4 is controlled CP 280. The block signals for Track 1 and Track 2 are automatic signals that are approach lit.

Westbound P063-02, led by AMTK 711, splits the signals for Track 1 and Track 2 at Auto 280/CP280.

P063 normally runs as Amtrak's Maple Leaf train, but due to the current US-Canadian border restrictions the train has been reclassified as an Empire Service train. Under normal circumstances, P063 runs from Penn Station in New York City to Toronto, Ontario, but currently, the train terminates at Niagara Falls, New York.

Looking to the west, as AMTK 716 leads P284-25 east at CP280, along Saintsville Road.

On March 25, 2022, I headed over to CP280 to capture Empire Service train P284 from the air using my drone. Below, AMTK 716 is leading train P284-25 east toward Auto 280/CP 280. DeWitt Yard is about a mile and a half to the west of here.

Auto 282 and CP 282

AMTK 97 leads P048, the Lake Shore Limited, east on Track 2 of the STS at Auto 282. CP282 eastward signals are to the right.

Auto 282 and CP282 are by the "Green Bridge" in Minoa, New York. Auto 282 controls movements on Track 2. CP282 controls straight-through movements on Track 1, as well as movements to and from DeWitt Yard's Departure Lead.

DeWitt Yard and CP285

AMTK 707 leads P284 east on the eastern edge of CP285 at DeWitt Yard.

On the western edge of DeWitt Yard is CP285 (MP QC 286.0). On September 22, 2021, I caught Empire Service train P284, led by AMTK 707, coming east on Track 2 through the eastern edge of CP285. CP285 is at the Bridge Street overpass in East Syracuse, New York, and the control point spans to both sides of the overpass. Behind P284 a westbound CSX intermodal train is departing DeWitt Yard. The intermodal train is on one of the two departure lead tracks that feed into Track 1 at CP285.

AMTK 115 & AMTK 142 lead the Lake Shore Limited east, at CP285.

In another view at CP285, taken on October 2, 2021, AMTK 115 is leading the Lake Shore Limited, train P048, east on Track 2. This view is looking west as the train splits the westbound signals on the eastern edge of the control point. Behind train P048 is the Bridge Street overpass, and beyond the overpass are some old New York Central (NYC) coaling towers from the days when this rail line and yard were part of the NYC. For a better photograph of the coaling towers, see the third photo on the linked post. 

AMTK 716 leads train P284 east at the western edge of CP285, on 12/22/2021.

  As mentioned above, CP285 extends beyond both sides of the Bridge Street overpass. Below, AMTK 716 leads Empire Serice train P284 east through the east bound control point signals. The NYC coaling towers are just to the left of these block signals. 

CP 286

Empire Service train P281-20, led by AMTK 707, passes the westward absolute signals at CP 286. In the background are the old NYC coaling towers at DeWitt Yard. To the left is Track 1, Inbound Lead, and North Runner.

CP286 is at Burnet Street and Carr Street, just to the west of CP285. Burnet Avenue crosses over the CP on an overpass. Carr Street is at track level and the northern end of the street ends at the tracks. CP286 marks the western end of the Inbound Lead, which diverges from Track 1. The western end of the North Runner ends here as well and leads into Track 8 to the west of Burnet Avenue. Track 7 diverges from Track 2 on the south side of the CP and runs west to the Amtrak station. 

AMTK 119 leads the Maple Leaf east on Track 2 at CP286. Ethanol train B779-11 sits in the background on Track 7 at the location known as Wegmans. Photo taken on 07/17/2022.

CP 291

Moving west, the final Amtrak train is Empire Service train P284-30, led by AMTK 701. P284-30 is eastbound at CP291 (MP 291.5) on Track 2 of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision (STS). Behind P284-30 is CSX intermodal train Q017-29 (now renamed to I017) going west on Track 1 of the STS. P284-30 is just about a minute away from arriving at the Syracuse Regional Transportation Center.

On September 30th, 2021, AMTK 701 leads Empire Service train P284-30 east at CP291.

 The STS at CP291 skirts around the southeastern end of Onondaga Lake. The lake is just on the other side of the trees behind the two trains. The street in the foreground of the photograph is Harborside Drive, which runs between Destiny USA Mall and the tracks. CP291 is also where CSX's St. Lawrence Subdivision connects with the STS. The STS ends to the west of here at the westward absolute block signals of CP296 (milepost (MP) 296.8), where the CSX Rochester Subdivision begins. 

The green platform (in the lower left corner) is the now unused Carousel Center station platform. The station served the, now defunct, OnTrack commuter railroad operation. OnTrack operated from 1994 to 2008, before being discontinued.

Post updated on January 10, 2022, with a photograph and text featuring P284 at CP285.

Post updated on April 4, 2022, with a photograph and text featuring P284 at CP280.

Post updated on June 21, 2022, with a photograph of AMTK 707 leading P281-20 at CP286.

Post updated on July 20, 2022, with a photograph of AMTK 119 leading the Maple Leaf east at CP286.