Tracking the O&W past

County seeking rails and timbers for D&H canal linear park

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County Legislator Kathleen LaBuda has announced that the Division of Public Works (DPW) is seeking approximately 40 feet of railroad track (rails and timbers) that was once used on the Ontario and Western railroad which operated in Sullivan County until 1957.

DPW would display and interpret the track at the former railroad’s Y-turn, located in Summitville. The rail bed is being used as a link to connect the park’s towpath trail. The project is being funded by a $670,000 TEA-21 Transportation Enhancement project, administered by the New York State Department of Transportation.

The park features four and one-half miles of trail utilizing the former Delaware and Hudson canal’s towpath, three parking accesses, access to four canal locks, a dry dock and interpretive displays.

“The D & H Canal Linear Park is a link to the history of our area,” said LaBuda. “If anyone knows of any railroad track that was used on the O & W, please contact us. We will treat it with the respect it deserves.”

The current grant is being used for construction of a visitor/interpretive center, restoration of lock #50 and a dry dock and development of an interpretive trail and displays, to be located at the Bova Road access. Additionally, the grant was used to install a 70-foot bicycle/pedestrian bridge linking the towpath trail over the Bashakill south of McDonald Road and a park access featuring a parking area, picnic area and interpretive displays located in the Hamlet of Summitville.

To offer donations of rails and/or timbers or for more information call 845/794-3000, ext 3066.