Ontario Midland Railroad

The Ontario Midland Railroad (reporting mark OMID) is an American railroad company operating in western New York.

It was founded on 5 October 1979 and was created to save the entire Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad (Hojack) line from Oswego's West Yard to Suspension Bridge in Niagara Falls. However, the railroad managed to buy only from Hannibal in Oswego County to Webster in Monroe County. The railroad also operates a line formerly operated by Conrail, Penn Central, Pennsylvania Railroad from Wallington, where it meets the Hojack, to Newark to interchange with CSX's ex-Conrail Chicago Line.

The track connection from Newark, NY to Geneva, NY was abandoned and scrapped before OMID could voice objection. Having access to Geneva would have given the railroad a valuable additional connection to the south. Early operations included runs to Sodus Point, where Genesee Beer & Ale maintained a malt house operation.

During the late 1970s, a dinner train operation was operated out of Webster using privately-owned equipment and OMID crews. For a number of years until 2004, the OMID ran fall foliage excursions in conjunction with the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, formerly Rochester NRHS chapter, which owns the former New York Central "Empire State Express" coach cars used for the trips.

In 1993, Ontario Midland severed its corporate partnership with the Ontario Central Railroad (ONCT). Known as the "Ontario Lines," this partnership also operated the short-lived Ontario Eastern (ONER) until 1986.

Operations on the Ontario Midland use VHF radio communications at a frequency of 161.370MHz. The OMID carries food products, lumber, fertilizer, pulpboard, and chemicals. The OMID moves about 850 cars a year and operates 56 miles of track. It operates Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (8:00-16:00).