The State Public Service Commission has approved a New York Central petition to discontinue all services at the Chapin station, two miles north of Canndaigua. The PSC order is effective immediately.
Principal change which he order will create at Chapin will allow the railroad to remove the double track section which extends for about a quarter mile near the former station.
"Chapin is now a non-agency station in Ontario County," the PSC report says, "which handles carload freight only, under the jurisdiction of the railroad's agent in Geneva. There is no local carloading business here, but a team track is maintained for the handling of carload freight.
"The petition alleges that there have been no carload shipments, neither inbound or outbound at Chapin from Jan. 1, 1958 to Sept., 1961. The railroad claims that team track facilities are available at Canandaigua, approximately three miles west of Chapin station. It is stated that in the interest of economy the railroad desires to discontinue all facilities and remove the team track here.
"Based upon the absence of carload freight business during the period exceeding 3 1/2 years, it is evident that public convenience and necessity no longer require the team track facilities at the Chapin station. The railroad's proposal would accomplish a saving in operating expenses without undue inconvenience to the shipping public. It is accordingly recommended that the railroad be authorized to discontinue all services and facilities at the Chapin station and to mend its tariffs accordingly."
The PSC order closes out 110 years of railroad activity in the Chapin hamlet area. The railroad was allowed o remove the railroad station four years ago, shortly after passenger service was discontinued on the Auburn division. The original depot was built in 1851 about a quarter mile east of the last station. Mature residents of the area can recall when Chapin was a regular stop for ten trains east and west each day and a flag stop for another half dozen.
