Owasco River Railroad

The Owasco River Railroad (ORRR) was a historic railroad in New York. It was built in Auburn during the mid-19th century to service several mills along the Owasco River. It was used to haul grain, flour, scrap iron, coal, finished iron products, leather shoes, equipment grease, and farm equipment. The Lehigh Valley Railroad (LVRR) bought the line in 1856 and kept the ORRR name until the 1950s.

Overview

The OVRR was primarily an industrial line which maintained separate administrative offices in the LVRR passenger/freight station in Auburn. The ORRR had several sections of track in Auburn that involved "street running". Some of its lines were built on wooden trestles which traversed the Owasco River. In some places the bridges were 100 yards or longer.

Locomotives

Until the LVRR converted to diesel locomotives, the ORRR lines were operated with a single 3-truck Shay locomotive. This design was practical for several extremely tight curves and a 10.2% grade up Osborne Street to customers such as Zeric Products, Bowen Products, and other mills along the small 0.5 mile classification yard located on a hill along Mill Street.

Closure

The LVRR abandoned service and removed the OVRR tracks during the 1960s.