One of the new changes to operations with the Turtle Point, Pa., facility is the need for locomotives at each end the train due to a south end only switch. Western New York & Pennsylvania’s M636 No. 685 brings up the rear of a northbound sand train as three other Montreal Locomotive Works locomotives pull towards Olean, N.Y., on July 18.
Stephan M. Koenig
ERIE, Pa. — Western New York & Pennsylvania officials have opened the railroad’s new transloading facility in Turtle Point, Pa. This facility is the latest one built on the railroad and will serve the oil frac industry in Pennsylvania with sand deliveries.
Most of the frac sand transloading operations have moved out of Emporium, Pa., with the opening of the new facility.
The railroad delivered the first cars for a new customer on July 18 and is looking to expand track space as well as improve road access. What this means for operations is the frequency of trains south of the facility is now reduced to 3 to 4 trains a week and primarily the Driftwood turn trains.
This change greatly reduces the traffic across the famed Keating Summit as well. The WNY&P is also looking to add a transloading site at its Meadville, Pa., Yard location.
July 18th must have been the “official” opening date. Myself and many other fans chased the sand train to the Turtle Point facility on Tuesday July 9th.