N.Y. Canal Law Section 101
Railroads operating over canals

The corporation shall have a general supervisory power over so much of any railroad as passes over any canal or feeder belonging to the state or approaches within ten rods thereof, so far as may be necessary to preserve the free and perfect use of such canals or feeders, or for making any repairs, improvements or alterations thereupon. No railroad corporation shall construct its railroad over or at any place within ten rods of any canal or feeder belonging to the state, unless it submits to the corporation a map, plan and profile of such canal or feeder and of the route designated for its railroad, exhibiting distinctly and accurately the relation of each to the other at all the places within the limits of ten rods thereof, and obtains the written permission of the corporation for the construction of such railroad, with such conditions, directions and instructions as in its judgment the free and perfect use of any such canal or feeder may require. Whenever any street railroad shall cross over any bridge spanning a canal, or canal feeder, the company owning, maintaining and operating the same, shall be deemed liable for and shall pay all damages that may occur or arise, either to the state or to persons, by reason of its laying and maintaining its tracks or rail over, upon and across any such bridge, or by reason of the operation of its cars over the same; and any such company shall, upon demand of the corporation, make any repairs to such structure to insure the continued safety thereof, as shall have been rendered necessary by reason of such use of said structure by said company. Any company maintaining or operating a street railroad over, upon and across any such bridge shall indemnify the state including the corporation against any and all loss, damages or claims for damages for injuries to persons or property of passengers which shall be incurred by or made against such state by reason of the operation of such railroad over any such bridge, and the or corporation may, in its discretion, require any company so maintaining or operating a street railroad to furnish a bond, with sureties to be approved by it to indemnify the state including the corporation from all such loss, damage or claim. All such permits heretofore or hereafter granted shall be revocable whenever the free and perfect use of any such canal or feeder may so require, or if such railroad company shall fail to make any such repairs when required by the corporation. The railroad company using or occupying any bridge over the same shall, within a reasonable time after the service upon it, by the corporation of a written notice of such revocation, or to make such repairs, remove at its own cost and expense, its railroad from such bridge and from the limits of ten rods of said canal or feeder.

Source: Section 101 — Railroads operating over canals, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/CAL/101 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Feb. 21, 2026).

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Verified:
Feb. 21, 2026

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 101. Railroads operating over canals's source at nysenate​.gov

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