About the Railroad
Built locally. Grown with purpose. Operated for the long term.
What began as a community effort to preserve local rail service has grown into a family-owned regional railroad system serving industries and communities across New York and Pennsylvania.
A railroad preserved by its community—and built to keep serving it.
In 1964, local business leaders and approximately 1,200 community shareholders came together to preserve rail service on a line that might otherwise have disappeared. The first train operated over the reopened railroad on April 7, 1965.
That practical, local beginning still defines the company. The railroad has grown by responding to customer needs, investing in infrastructure, restoring freight corridors, and taking a long-term view of the industries and communities it serves.
The leader who helped shape the modern LA&L.
Eugene H. Blabey II devoted decades to the railroad and to the advancement of the short line industry. His entrepreneurial vision, personal commitment, and belief in the importance of local rail service helped guide LA&L from a community railroad into a broader regional system.
As long-time chairman, Gene helped shape the growth of LA&L, B&H, WNYP, and OMID. His contributions to the industry were recognized in 2021 when he was inducted into the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s inaugural Hall of Fame class.
Following his passing in 2024, the company continues as a family-owned organization. That ownership provides a long-term perspective—one centered on stewardship, reinvestment, customer relationships, and preserving rail infrastructure for the next generation.
Six milestones that shaped today’s railroad family.
The company’s growth has come through preserving rail service, investing in infrastructure, and building lasting connections between regional industry and the national freight network.
The line is saved.
Local business leaders and community shareholders organize to preserve rail service.
Operations begin.
The first LA&L train runs over the reopened railroad on April 7.
B&H joins the family.
LA&L assumes operations of the historic Bath & Hammondsport line.
WNYP begins operations.
A major Southern Tier and Pennsylvania freight corridor returns to regional service.
OMID becomes affiliated.
LA&L takes a controlling interest in Ontario Midland and preserves service along the Hojack corridor.
One connected family.
Four railroads support freight, transload, storage, and industrial development across two states.
The standards that guide every railroad in the family.
The company’s mission is customer success delivered through safe operations, trusted relationships, quality service, and continuous improvement.
Safety
Safety comes first in every operating decision, every work plan, and every customer interaction.
Integrity
We work to earn the trust of customers, employees, communities, suppliers, and the public.
Excellence
We pursue reliable execution, sound judgment, and better outcomes across the railroad system.
Respect
We value the people, businesses, and communities affected by our work.
Dedication
We remain committed to quality service and long-term customer relationships.
Four regional railroads with shared values and coordinated support.
Each railroad maintains its own territory and operating identity while benefiting from shared leadership, business development, customer tools, and long-term planning.
Greater Rochester
Regional freight service with access to CSX and Norfolk Southern, plus transload, storage, and industrial-development capabilities.
LA&L RailroadSteuben County
Industrial and transload service across the Corning–Bath corridor with Norfolk Southern interchange at Painted Post.
Visit B&HSouthern Tier & Northwest PA
A broad regional freight corridor supporting manufacturing, energy, metals, storage, and transload operations.
Visit WNYPLake Ontario & Finger Lakes
CSX-connected service supporting agriculture, food, packaging, industrial customers, cold storage, and transload activity.
Visit OMIDExperienced leadership supporting the next chapter.
The executive team combines railroad operating, commercial, financial, and customer experience with the long-term perspective of a family-owned organization.
Bob Babcock
President & CEO
Jeff Bauman
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Corey Zeh
Vice President, Operations
Michelle Pfeiffer
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Customer success through safe, responsive, and dependable rail service.
We aim to anticipate and respond to customer needs, support the industries and communities along our lines, and invest in the people and infrastructure required for long-term railroad service.
Work with a railroad that stays close to its customers.
Whether you are evaluating a freight lane, transload location, rail-served site, storage requirement, or industrial project, the LA&L team can help identify the practical next step.