B&H Rail Corporation
| Reporting mark | BH |
|---|---|
| Locale | New York |
| Dates of operation | 1872– |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Previous gauge |
|
| Headquarters | Cohocton, New York |
B&H Rail Corporation (reporting mark BH), formerly the Bath & Hammondsport Railroad, is a Class III shortline railroad. Initially the line served the communities of Bath, New York and Hammondsport, New York. In Bath, the railroad connected with the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. In 1996, the railroad was leased by the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad.
It was chartered in 1872 as a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railroad running from the Erie and Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroads' interchange in Bath, New York, to Hammondsport, New York. In Hammondsport, passengers could continue North via a ferry on Keuka Lake. The railroad was converted to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge in 1889.
The line eventually came under control of the Erie Railroad around 1903. Passenger service ended in 1917, when steamboat service on Keuka Lake was discontinued. Business continued as usual until a flood in 1935 damaged much of the railroad. Faced with having to rebuild miles of railroad, the management of the Erie Railroad instead began abandonment proceedings. Freight service was temporarily provided by trucks. Five local businessmen joined together to purchase the B&H from the Erie and return it to local control. The railroad was repaired and reopened with ceremonies on July 25, 1936.
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