Catskill Mountain Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Catskill Mountain Railroad , is a heritage railroad
based in Shokan
, New York
, United States
that began operations in 1983. It leases from Ulster County
the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad
tracks from Mile Post
(MP) 2.8 in Kingston
to MP 41.4 in Highmount, where it connects with the Delaware and Ulster Railroad
.
was chartered in 1866, and was completed between Kingston and Oneonta in 1900. Generations of travelers flocked to the Catskills to vacation at the storied grand hotels and lodges. Lucrative freight traffic included coal, lumber and other commodities, as well as dairy and farm products. Passenger traffic began to fall off in the period between the wars, and plummeted during the Great Depression
. Improved roads and the rise of the private automobile doomed the little railroad, and it became part of the New York Central in 1932. The last regularly scheduled passenger train on the Catskill Mountain Branch departed Oneonta on March 31, 1954. Freight service continued, though in diminishing amounts over the years. The line was cut back from Oneonta to Bloomville in 1965, ending the railroad's role as a through route. New York Central became part of Penn Central in February, 1968, and conditions continued to deteriorate. Federally backed Conrail took over the operations of Penn Central in April, 1976, and operated the Catskill Mountain Branch on a limited basis as an operator subsidized by New York State. The six-month subsidy gave the remaining customers on the line time to switch to alternate modes of transportation. The last freight train left Kingston for Stamford on September 28, 1976. Earl Pardini hired on with Conrail in 1976, and his first day on the job was brakeman on the last freight train out of Kingston. Pardini was also President of the Catskill Mountain Transportation Corporation, a grassroots group that was seeking to purchase the railroad from the Penn Central estate. However, an agreement on price could not be reached. The last freight train finally returned to Kingston on October 2, 1976, with all 32 cars that had been present on the branch. The connection to the mainline was then spiked-shut, and the former Ulster & Delaware was officially taken out of service.
. He famously toured the line in 1977 and helped draw publicity to the tug-of-war between the communities and Penn Central over price. Residents along the former Ulster & Delaware line succeeded in convincing their local governments to raise enough money to buy the railroad from the Penn Central bankruptcy estate. In 1979, Ulster County bought the 38.6-mile segment from Kingston (MP 2.8) to the county line near Highmount (MP 41.4). In turn, the county leased this line to the new Catskill Mountain Railroad in 1983. Seven Towns in Delaware County purchased the right of way from the county line to the end of track in Bloomville (MP 86) in 1980. This section would become the Delaware and Ulster Railroad
.
The Catskill Mountain Railroad initially began operations in Phoenicia, using track cars and trailers to haul tourists and tubers three miles along Esopus Creek to Mt. Pleasant station. In 1984, the Empire State Railway Museum
relocated back to New York State and made its home in the Phoenicia depot. The stated goal of the CMRR was to reopen the entire route from Kingston to the county line and beyond. Many volunteers came on board to help with various tasks, from brush-cutting to track maintenance to train operations.
The decision was made to transition from track cars to conventional railroad equipment hauled by locomotives. The railroad asked Earl Pardini to come aboard as President to help guide them through the transition. Pardini was with the DURR at its startup, helping to train their engineers and conductors. He agreed to come aboard, and the CMRR embarked on a period of serious expansion. Looking forward to an increase in business as more and more track was reopened, the railroad purchased a variety of second-hand locomotives, coaches and freight cars. Some of the equipment was refurbished and put to work right away, while the rest sat in storage awaiting the call to duty. Sadly, the economic downturn of the late 1980s coupled with a lack of volunteers crippled the CMRR's expansion efforts. Some maintenance equipment was moved from Kingston and staged about mid-line at Ashokan. Operations re-trenched to the Phoenicia-Mt. Pleasant section, while some limited operations were conducted in Kingston. A flood in 1988 caused a major washout at Campground Curve, about midway between Phoenicia and Mt. Pleasant. The entire hillside supporting the railroad had been washed away, leaving the tracks dangling in the air. Because the washout threatened to undermine New York State Route 28
, funds were made available for partial restoration of the railroad right of way. Volunteers from the CMRR completed repairs and were able to resume operations.
The railroad scrambled to recover and operations continued through 2006. The railroad continued to push east and was able to reach a point on the other side of Route 28 near Cold Brook station. Despite the hard work by dedicated railroad volunteers, only 5 miles of the 38-mile corridor had been reopened since 1983. While the railroad was doing well at its Phoenicia base of operations, most of the audience for the railroad was at the other end, in Kingston. All they saw in the city was derelict equipment, and a right of way overgrown with trees and strewn with trash. The wake-up call came on January 24, 2006, when the Kingston Daily Freeman
pronounced, "Trail Plan Could Mark End of Line for Railroad." Trail advocates were pushing forward a plan to convert the unused, county-owned railroad into a recreational path, eliminating any hopes of restored railroad service.
were among the first to offer assistance. As the weather warmed up, brush-cutting and clearing the right of way took first priority. A high-profile activity with immediate results, reaction from the community was positive, and more volunteers were joining to help. By the end of 2006, the ranks had swelled to 45 full members and 30 provisional members. Together, they had cleared nearly 20 miles of brush from the mainline, and began aggressive rehabilitation of trackage in downtown Kingston.
Through 2007 and 2008, work continued on opening the Cold Brook Extension. The first train arrived at Cold Brook station on July 4, 2008: the first regularly scheduled passenger train to arrive at the station since 1954. Because Cold Brook station remains privately owned, the railroad maintains no agency there and there are no facilities to board or discharge passengers. With six miles open from Phoenicia to Cold Brook, attention returned to Kingston. Aggressive track rehabilitation programs resulted in the inauguration of seasonal Kingston Shuttle Service, on December 6, 2008. Running between Downs Street, Westbrook, and Washington Avenue, the new train proved to be extremely popular. In late 2009, the railroad opened more track west of Washington Avenue and offered additional seasonal service throughout the year. By December 2009, nearly two miles of track had been rebuilt in Kingston, from Cornell Street to the foot of Bridge C9.
As of 2010, the physical limit of track restoration has been reached on the "western" end of the operable railroad. To the west of Bridge Street in Phoenicia is a major washout preventing any serious restoration work beyond without sufficient outside funding. Volunteers have rebuilt tracks up to the limit of Bridge C30 (Boiceville Trestle), but Hurricane Irene washed away the entire trestle. The rehabilitation of Bridge C9 over Esopus Creek in Kingston prevents any further expansion to the west, absent sufficient outside funding. Work equipment and hi-rail trucks can traverse nearly the entire length of the railroad from Kingston to Phoenicia, however, and brush is cut and weeds are sprayed along the out-of-service segments regularly. The railroad has not relented in its efforts to negotiate for funding and other forms of assistance to rehabilitate either Bridge C30 or Bridge C9, that would allow continued expansion and fulfillment of the railroad's obligations.
, Phoenicia
, MP 27.5 to Cold Brook Railroad Station
, MP 22.1. Its trains originate from the former Ulster & Delaware station in Phoenicia, which is also home to the Empire State Railway Museum
. Passengers may board trains at Phoenicia or Mount Pleasant Railroad Station
, MP 25.2. Initially, service was provided by track cars hauling trailers. Realizing that the future lie in conventional railroad equipment hauled by locomotives, two flatcars were rebuilt as open air bench cars to accommodate passengers. A Porter 50-ton switcher
was enlisted to haul the expanded consist. A 1922-vintage wooden caboose often (ex-D&H 35952) brought up the rear, and offered additional capacity. After the 2005 flood, the caboose was taken out of service, but was replaced with a restored coach of Lackawanna heritage. This coach greatly increased the capacity of each train, and also helped offer "all-weather" service. A second coach was put into service on October 2, 2010, just in time for the Fall Foliage trains. Work trains generally consist of transfer caboose 697 (ex-CR 18015) and "The Duck," a small Davenport switcher. Equipment restoration and maintenance takes place at the railroad's open-air facilities. The original Phoenicia section house is undergoing a multi-year restoration, and is used by the railroad to store tools and supplies for the track gang. CMRR work trains venture as far east as the Boiceville Trestle at MP 21.3, which will continue to be the eastern limit for Phoenicia operations until the trestle is replaced. On May 6, 2010, Phoenicia operations acquired a new locomotive, fromer LIRR/SIRY Alco S1 407, which was placed in service on May 7, 2010. It will be the workhorse engine for Phoenicia operations starting in the 2010 season.
On December 6, 2008, the railroad inaugurated seasonal shuttle service between Downs Street (MP 3.2) and Washington Avenue (MP 4.37). A small station and loading platform was constructed off Westbrook Lane (MP 3.78) opposite Kingston Plaza to support passenger operations in 2008. Trains are powered by Alco RS-1 401 (ex-GMRC 401), and consist of converted flatcar 278 (ex-LBR 26) and refurbished caboose 675 (ex-PRR 477672). The critical Washington Avenue crossing was reopened for limited use in 2008, and the track was opened to Bridge C-9 (MP 5) on November 15, 2009. As of August 2009, the regular operating section was extended across Washington Avenue to the Holiday Inn (MP 4.6), and service was extended all the way to Bridge C-9 (MP 5) on December 5, 2009 for the 2009 Kingston Holiday Train.
Repairs to Bridge C9 started in September 2011. Once the bridge is repaired and inspected, track can be rehabilitated to allow trains service to continue further west. The first goal will be to reach Hurley Mountain Road.
, and a stop at Ashokan Railroad Station
. Currently Bridge C-9 at MP 5 is in need of major repairs. Bridge C-30 (the "Boiceville Bridge") at MP 21.32 was washed away by Hurricane Irene on August 28, 2011. These damaged spans separate the two ends of the railroad and prevent conventional trains from operating the length of the line. Funds and assistance are being sought to repair these bridges. However, as of late 2010, the CMRR determined that it could repair bridge C-9 without outside funding, and has obtained enough bridge timbers to renovate the bridge. Other repairs are minor and can be performed by the CMRR. Redecking of the bridge is expected to occur in the summer of 2011. Once the bridge is inspected and ready for service, the Kingston Shuttle will be extended another .4 miles to Route 209.
Washouts at Hurley Flats and Butternut Cove also need to be repaired before the Phoenicia operation can be linked with the Kingston operation. Nearly the entire line from Phoenicia to Kingston is navigable by track cars and light maintenance equipment.
A major washout at Bridge C34 (MP 28.8) west of Phoenicia effective severs the CMRR. A washout and landslide near Shandaken needs to be addressed before more damage occurs to the right of way. Bridge C42 over Lasher Road needs to be restored to its original location, it was removed and set aside after the end of Conrail service to allow for greater vertical clearances. Volunteer crews continue to cut brush and keep the tracks clear all the way to the connection with the DURR at Highmount. The CMRR has been isolated from the national network since Conrail removed their Kingston interchange in 1996.
The Delaware & Ulster Railroad has expressed interest in trucking their stainless steel "Rip Van Winkle Flyer" train set to the CMRR upon the restoration of more track and starting service to Ashokan Reservoir. Both organizations are confident that a dinner train operation would prove popular and provide substantial revenues. The DURR has also expressed interest in resuming service between Arkville and Highmount, and continuing south/east over the CMRR to the horsehoe curves at Pine Hill. With the recent developments in regards in Hurricane Irene, restoration of any track between Phoenicia and Highmount appears to be a remote possibility.
(ALCO) RS-1 locomotives, No. 401 (Ex-Green Mountain Railroad
(GMRC) No. 401, Ex Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
(GM&O) No. 1052, Ex Illinois Terminal Railroad
No. 1056, née 756); and No. 2361 (former Alter Scrap No. 2361, Ex-Soo Line Railroad
(SOO) 2361). Only 401 is operational at this time. In 2010, 2361 was repainted and evaluated for reactivation; it was given a new number, 400.
In May, 2010, the CMRR acquired its latest locomotive, former Long Island Railroad/Staten Island Railway Alco S-1 407. It arrived May 6, 2010, and was placed into service May 7, 2010 as CMRR 407. This engine is the workhorse for operations out of Mt. Tremper and Phoenicia.
CMRR No. 29, "The Goat" is an Ex-Navy 50 ton H. K. Porter, Inc
locomotive, which is a backup engine and main engine for worktrain service. CMRR No. 1, "The Duck", another worktrain locomotive, is an Ex-Army 38 ton Davenport Locomotive Works
locomotive
. Both of these locomotives are operational and located currently in Phoenicia.
(EL) Multiple unit
(MU) trailers that have been completely renovated: No. 4321 entered service as CMRR 701 in 2004, and No. 4332 entered service on October 2, 2010 as CMRR 702.
Phoenicia equipment also includes a privately owned N5G steel caboose, CMRR 673 (former LV 95041), which was placed in service on May 7, 2010, and will be a concession car. A wooden caboose, CMRR 671 (Ex D&H No. 35952), awaits restoration in Phoenicia after floodwaters damaged the car in 2005.
Kingston equipment consists of a 40-foot flat car, CMRR 278 (Ex-LBR 26), which is fitted with a canopy roof, and an N5B Caboose, CMRR 675 (Ex-PRR 477672, PC 22800, CR 20003).
Also stored west of Kingston at MP 5.5 are several passenger cars, including former EL MU Trailer 4322 and former Central Railroad of New Jersey
(CNJ) Coaches 1198 and 1204, awaiting restoration for future tourist train use in the Kingston area.
Two more US Army 50 foot flatcars await conversion to passenger use. One is stored in Shokan, No. 35112 and the other, No. 35111, is stored in Phoencia.
In Kingston, this includes two 50-foot boxcars, former D&H 26076 and NYC 72462, used for storage, and an ex-Army Difco dump car and a 40-foot flat car CMRR 201 (Ex LBR 27) are used for work train service.
In Shokan, there is a self-powered ex-Navy crane, CMRR 991, a 40-foot tender flat CMRR 291 (ex-Army 35305), and a privately owned caboose CMRR 674 (ex Susquehanna 117), all used for work train service.
In Phoenicia, a 40-foot box car (Ex-LV 65100) is used for storage, and a former Army Difco dump car, a 40-foot flatcar, CMRR 202 (Ex-CV 7704) and an N6A transfer caboose, CMRR 697 (Ex NYC/PC/CR 18015) are used for worktrain service.
Additionally, the railroad has in storage west of Kingston a ballast hopper, former NYC 51467 and a gondola, former PRR 518399.
The frame and trucks of former LS&I caboose No. 6, which were bought by a CMRR volunteer in the 1980s, are in storage at Shokan.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
based in Shokan
Shokan, New York
Shokan is a hamlet located in the Town of Olive in Ulster County, within the Catskill Park. The population was 1,252 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that began operations in 1983. It leases from Ulster County
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad
Ulster and Delaware Railroad
The Ulster and Delaware Railroad Company was a Class I railroad located in New York State, headquartered in Rondout and founded in 1866. It was often advertised as "The Only All-Rail Route To the Catskill Mountains." At its greatest extent, the U&D ran from Kingston Point, on the Hudson River,...
tracks from Mile Post
Milestone
A milestone is one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road or boundary at intervals of one mile or occasionally, parts of a mile. They are typically located at the side of the road or in a median. They are alternatively known as mile markers, mileposts or mile posts...
(MP) 2.8 in Kingston
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
to MP 41.4 in Highmount, where it connects with the Delaware and Ulster Railroad
Delaware and Ulster Railroad
The Delaware and Ulster Railroad is a heritage railroad based in Arkville, New York.-History:The last regularly scheduled passenger train over the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad tracks was operated between Kingston and Oneonta by the New York Central on March 31, 1954. The tracks were then...
.
History
The Ulster and Delaware RailroadUlster and Delaware Railroad
The Ulster and Delaware Railroad Company was a Class I railroad located in New York State, headquartered in Rondout and founded in 1866. It was often advertised as "The Only All-Rail Route To the Catskill Mountains." At its greatest extent, the U&D ran from Kingston Point, on the Hudson River,...
was chartered in 1866, and was completed between Kingston and Oneonta in 1900. Generations of travelers flocked to the Catskills to vacation at the storied grand hotels and lodges. Lucrative freight traffic included coal, lumber and other commodities, as well as dairy and farm products. Passenger traffic began to fall off in the period between the wars, and plummeted during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Improved roads and the rise of the private automobile doomed the little railroad, and it became part of the New York Central in 1932. The last regularly scheduled passenger train on the Catskill Mountain Branch departed Oneonta on March 31, 1954. Freight service continued, though in diminishing amounts over the years. The line was cut back from Oneonta to Bloomville in 1965, ending the railroad's role as a through route. New York Central became part of Penn Central in February, 1968, and conditions continued to deteriorate. Federally backed Conrail took over the operations of Penn Central in April, 1976, and operated the Catskill Mountain Branch on a limited basis as an operator subsidized by New York State. The six-month subsidy gave the remaining customers on the line time to switch to alternate modes of transportation. The last freight train left Kingston for Stamford on September 28, 1976. Earl Pardini hired on with Conrail in 1976, and his first day on the job was brakeman on the last freight train out of Kingston. Pardini was also President of the Catskill Mountain Transportation Corporation, a grassroots group that was seeking to purchase the railroad from the Penn Central estate. However, an agreement on price could not be reached. The last freight train finally returned to Kingston on October 2, 1976, with all 32 cars that had been present on the branch. The connection to the mainline was then spiked-shut, and the former Ulster & Delaware was officially taken out of service.
Formation
Conservationists campaigned to preserve the railroad and enlisted the help of well-known columnist and author William F. Buckley, Jr.William F. Buckley, Jr.
William Frank Buckley, Jr. was an American conservative author and commentator. He founded the political magazine National Review in 1955, hosted 1,429 episodes of the television show Firing Line from 1966 until 1999, and was a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. His writing was noted for...
. He famously toured the line in 1977 and helped draw publicity to the tug-of-war between the communities and Penn Central over price. Residents along the former Ulster & Delaware line succeeded in convincing their local governments to raise enough money to buy the railroad from the Penn Central bankruptcy estate. In 1979, Ulster County bought the 38.6-mile segment from Kingston (MP 2.8) to the county line near Highmount (MP 41.4). In turn, the county leased this line to the new Catskill Mountain Railroad in 1983. Seven Towns in Delaware County purchased the right of way from the county line to the end of track in Bloomville (MP 86) in 1980. This section would become the Delaware and Ulster Railroad
Delaware and Ulster Railroad
The Delaware and Ulster Railroad is a heritage railroad based in Arkville, New York.-History:The last regularly scheduled passenger train over the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad tracks was operated between Kingston and Oneonta by the New York Central on March 31, 1954. The tracks were then...
.
The Catskill Mountain Railroad initially began operations in Phoenicia, using track cars and trailers to haul tourists and tubers three miles along Esopus Creek to Mt. Pleasant station. In 1984, the Empire State Railway Museum
Empire State Railway Museum
The Empire State Railway Museum is a non-profit railroad museum located in the historic Ulster & Delaware Phoenicia Railroad Station, Phoenicia, New York....
relocated back to New York State and made its home in the Phoenicia depot. The stated goal of the CMRR was to reopen the entire route from Kingston to the county line and beyond. Many volunteers came on board to help with various tasks, from brush-cutting to track maintenance to train operations.
The decision was made to transition from track cars to conventional railroad equipment hauled by locomotives. The railroad asked Earl Pardini to come aboard as President to help guide them through the transition. Pardini was with the DURR at its startup, helping to train their engineers and conductors. He agreed to come aboard, and the CMRR embarked on a period of serious expansion. Looking forward to an increase in business as more and more track was reopened, the railroad purchased a variety of second-hand locomotives, coaches and freight cars. Some of the equipment was refurbished and put to work right away, while the rest sat in storage awaiting the call to duty. Sadly, the economic downturn of the late 1980s coupled with a lack of volunteers crippled the CMRR's expansion efforts. Some maintenance equipment was moved from Kingston and staged about mid-line at Ashokan. Operations re-trenched to the Phoenicia-Mt. Pleasant section, while some limited operations were conducted in Kingston. A flood in 1988 caused a major washout at Campground Curve, about midway between Phoenicia and Mt. Pleasant. The entire hillside supporting the railroad had been washed away, leaving the tracks dangling in the air. Because the washout threatened to undermine New York State Route 28
New York State Route 28
New York State Route 28 is a state highway extending for in the shape of a "C" between the Hudson Valley city of Kingston and southern Warren County in the U.S. state of New York. Along the way, it intersects several major routes, including Interstate 88 , U.S. Route 20 , and the...
, funds were made available for partial restoration of the railroad right of way. Volunteers from the CMRR completed repairs and were able to resume operations.
Expansion and setback
The railroad entered into a 25-year lease with Ulster County in 1991, and once again turned their attention to expansion. Railroad operations ended at busy Route 28 in Mt. Pleasant. The crossing had been out of service for many years, and the railroad sought replacement if it was to continue east toward Kingston. Initially approved for the project, it took almost ten years to release the funding to complete reconstruction of the crossing and installation of warning lights and gates. The new crossing was put into service on October 9, 2004, offering the railroad its first significant expansion. The CMRR finally seemed to be gaining forward momentum when tragedy struck. A devastating flood nearly wiped out the railroad, and caused much damage to the tracks and equipment. It would take many years to recover from this event, just to get the organization back to where it started from.The railroad scrambled to recover and operations continued through 2006. The railroad continued to push east and was able to reach a point on the other side of Route 28 near Cold Brook station. Despite the hard work by dedicated railroad volunteers, only 5 miles of the 38-mile corridor had been reopened since 1983. While the railroad was doing well at its Phoenicia base of operations, most of the audience for the railroad was at the other end, in Kingston. All they saw in the city was derelict equipment, and a right of way overgrown with trees and strewn with trash. The wake-up call came on January 24, 2006, when the Kingston Daily Freeman
Daily Freeman
The Daily Freeman is a seven-day-a-week morning newspaper in Kingston, New York, the Ulster County seat. Serving all of Ulster County and parts of three other counties in the Mid-Hudson Valley, the broadsheet publication has a weekday circulation of approximately 22,000.In addition to its Uptown...
pronounced, "Trail Plan Could Mark End of Line for Railroad." Trail advocates were pushing forward a plan to convert the unused, county-owned railroad into a recreational path, eliminating any hopes of restored railroad service.
Volunteer resurgence
Throughout the winter of 2006, the railroad suffered a number of public relations setbacks as protests from the trail advocates grew. The railroad took the opportunity to regroup and refocus its efforts once more. Publicity from the trail proposal encouraged many new volunteers to come forward. A group from the nearby Ulster & Delaware Railroad Historical SocietyUlster & Delaware Railroad Historical Society
The Ulster & Delaware Railroad Historical Society is a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society . It focuses on the history of the railroads and related social, economic, and cultural institutions of the Catskill and Hudson Valley regions...
were among the first to offer assistance. As the weather warmed up, brush-cutting and clearing the right of way took first priority. A high-profile activity with immediate results, reaction from the community was positive, and more volunteers were joining to help. By the end of 2006, the ranks had swelled to 45 full members and 30 provisional members. Together, they had cleared nearly 20 miles of brush from the mainline, and began aggressive rehabilitation of trackage in downtown Kingston.
Through 2007 and 2008, work continued on opening the Cold Brook Extension. The first train arrived at Cold Brook station on July 4, 2008: the first regularly scheduled passenger train to arrive at the station since 1954. Because Cold Brook station remains privately owned, the railroad maintains no agency there and there are no facilities to board or discharge passengers. With six miles open from Phoenicia to Cold Brook, attention returned to Kingston. Aggressive track rehabilitation programs resulted in the inauguration of seasonal Kingston Shuttle Service, on December 6, 2008. Running between Downs Street, Westbrook, and Washington Avenue, the new train proved to be extremely popular. In late 2009, the railroad opened more track west of Washington Avenue and offered additional seasonal service throughout the year. By December 2009, nearly two miles of track had been rebuilt in Kingston, from Cornell Street to the foot of Bridge C9.
As of 2010, the physical limit of track restoration has been reached on the "western" end of the operable railroad. To the west of Bridge Street in Phoenicia is a major washout preventing any serious restoration work beyond without sufficient outside funding. Volunteers have rebuilt tracks up to the limit of Bridge C30 (Boiceville Trestle), but Hurricane Irene washed away the entire trestle. The rehabilitation of Bridge C9 over Esopus Creek in Kingston prevents any further expansion to the west, absent sufficient outside funding. Work equipment and hi-rail trucks can traverse nearly the entire length of the railroad from Kingston to Phoenicia, however, and brush is cut and weeds are sprayed along the out-of-service segments regularly. The railroad has not relented in its efforts to negotiate for funding and other forms of assistance to rehabilitate either Bridge C30 or Bridge C9, that would allow continued expansion and fulfillment of the railroad's obligations.
Hurricane Irene and the Floods of 2011
On August 28, 2011, the Catskill Mountain Railroad was devastated by the effects of flooding as a result of Hurricane Irene's attack. Flood waters inundated the yard at Phoenicia, scouring the right of way and threatening the depot. A significant washout occurred at Campground Curve, similar to the situation encountered in 1987. All operating equipment had been moved to safe ground at Mt. Tremper, east of Campground Curve. Additional damage had been incurred at MP 23.3, where damage from a previous washout was already underway. In the non-operating segment east of Cold Brook station, the most significant damage was the loss of three of the four spans of Boiceville Trestle (Bridge C30) to rising flood waters. There was no significant damage to the restored trackage in the Kingston area. As of this writing, the railroad is engaged in cleanup and recovery efforts, and fully intends to operate through the end of the 2011 season, albeit with an abbreviated ride out of Mt. Tremper station. At this time, no determination has been made as to the full extent of the damage or any potential for Federal assistance.Phoenicia operations
The CMRR operates a tourist excursion train from Phoenicia Railroad StationPhoenicia Railroad Station
The Phoenicia Railroad Station is located on High Street just south of Phoenicia, New York, United States. It is a frame building dating to the end of the 19th century....
, Phoenicia
Phoenicia, New York
Phoenicia is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 381 at the 2000 census.Phoenicia is located in the northeast part of Town of Shandaken, on Route 28. It is the largest community in the town...
, MP 27.5 to Cold Brook Railroad Station
Cold Brook Railroad Station
Cold Brook Station, MP 22.1, was built by the U&D about 1900. It replaced an earlier flagstop at Cold Brook Bridge, MP 22.38.After the flooding of the Ashokan Reservoir, six stations were submerged forever, and one of these was the Boiceville Station...
, MP 22.1. Its trains originate from the former Ulster & Delaware station in Phoenicia, which is also home to the Empire State Railway Museum
Empire State Railway Museum
The Empire State Railway Museum is a non-profit railroad museum located in the historic Ulster & Delaware Phoenicia Railroad Station, Phoenicia, New York....
. Passengers may board trains at Phoenicia or Mount Pleasant Railroad Station
Mount Pleasant Railroad Station
The Mount Pleasant Station, MP 24.9 on the Ulster and Delaware Railroad, served the town of Mount Pleasant, New York, and was three miles from the site where the Stony Clove and Kaaterskill Branch separate from the main line at the Phoenicia Station....
, MP 25.2. Initially, service was provided by track cars hauling trailers. Realizing that the future lie in conventional railroad equipment hauled by locomotives, two flatcars were rebuilt as open air bench cars to accommodate passengers. A Porter 50-ton switcher
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
was enlisted to haul the expanded consist. A 1922-vintage wooden caboose often (ex-D&H 35952) brought up the rear, and offered additional capacity. After the 2005 flood, the caboose was taken out of service, but was replaced with a restored coach of Lackawanna heritage. This coach greatly increased the capacity of each train, and also helped offer "all-weather" service. A second coach was put into service on October 2, 2010, just in time for the Fall Foliage trains. Work trains generally consist of transfer caboose 697 (ex-CR 18015) and "The Duck," a small Davenport switcher. Equipment restoration and maintenance takes place at the railroad's open-air facilities. The original Phoenicia section house is undergoing a multi-year restoration, and is used by the railroad to store tools and supplies for the track gang. CMRR work trains venture as far east as the Boiceville Trestle at MP 21.3, which will continue to be the eastern limit for Phoenicia operations until the trestle is replaced. On May 6, 2010, Phoenicia operations acquired a new locomotive, fromer LIRR/SIRY Alco S1 407, which was placed in service on May 7, 2010. It will be the workhorse engine for Phoenicia operations starting in the 2010 season.
Kingston operations
The Catskill Mountain Railroad also has a yard in Kingston, referred to as "Cornell Street Yard." As of 2009, construction is underway to expand the yard facilities to allow for the storage and restoration of passenger cars for expanded tourist train operations. Equipment restoration and maintenance takes place in the open air. Since November 2006, volunteers have re-opened 1.8 miles of trackage in Kingston. The current operable section stretches from Cornell Street (MP 3.0) to the C9 bridge over the Esopus (MP 5.0), which is also the Kingston City Limits, so all track in the city of Kingston has now been rehabilitated. Materials have been acquired to redeck Bridge C9, with the goal of having it inspected and open to rail traffic once more.On December 6, 2008, the railroad inaugurated seasonal shuttle service between Downs Street (MP 3.2) and Washington Avenue (MP 4.37). A small station and loading platform was constructed off Westbrook Lane (MP 3.78) opposite Kingston Plaza to support passenger operations in 2008. Trains are powered by Alco RS-1 401 (ex-GMRC 401), and consist of converted flatcar 278 (ex-LBR 26) and refurbished caboose 675 (ex-PRR 477672). The critical Washington Avenue crossing was reopened for limited use in 2008, and the track was opened to Bridge C-9 (MP 5) on November 15, 2009. As of August 2009, the regular operating section was extended across Washington Avenue to the Holiday Inn (MP 4.6), and service was extended all the way to Bridge C-9 (MP 5) on December 5, 2009 for the 2009 Kingston Holiday Train.
Repairs to Bridge C9 started in September 2011. Once the bridge is repaired and inspected, track can be rehabilitated to allow trains service to continue further west. The first goal will be to reach Hurley Mountain Road.
Shokan operations
The CMRR's third base of operations is at MP 16.4 at Shokan, New York. Currently, the operating equipment there consists of a self-powered crane, flat car, and an ex-Susquehanna caboose (privately owned). Shokan also serves as a base for the CMRR's track car crews, who are now charged with maintenance of the section of the line currently inaccessible to full sized equipment, from bridge C9 at MP 5 to bridge C30 at MP 21.3. A main line switch is being installed in Shokan, part of a future run-around, so that the equipment stored at Shokan can be moved off the main line.Long-term goals
The CMRR's long term goal is to run tourist trains on the entire 25-mile run from Kingston to Phoenicia, which will include lengthy views of the scenic Ashokan ReservoirAshokan Reservoir
The Ashokan Reservoir is a reservoir in Ulster County, New York, USA. The reservoir is in the eastern end of the Catskill Park, and is one of several reservoirs created to provide the City of New York with water. However, it is one of only two reservoirs in the Catskill Watershed. It is also New...
, and a stop at Ashokan Railroad Station
Ashokan Railroad Station
The Ashokan Station was a station location located at MP 16.2 on the Ulster & Delaware Railroad in Ulster County, New York. The location was selected as a station site in 1913 a part of the realignment of the Ulster & Delaware as a result of the construction of New York City's Ashokan...
. Currently Bridge C-9 at MP 5 is in need of major repairs. Bridge C-30 (the "Boiceville Bridge") at MP 21.32 was washed away by Hurricane Irene on August 28, 2011. These damaged spans separate the two ends of the railroad and prevent conventional trains from operating the length of the line. Funds and assistance are being sought to repair these bridges. However, as of late 2010, the CMRR determined that it could repair bridge C-9 without outside funding, and has obtained enough bridge timbers to renovate the bridge. Other repairs are minor and can be performed by the CMRR. Redecking of the bridge is expected to occur in the summer of 2011. Once the bridge is inspected and ready for service, the Kingston Shuttle will be extended another .4 miles to Route 209.
Washouts at Hurley Flats and Butternut Cove also need to be repaired before the Phoenicia operation can be linked with the Kingston operation. Nearly the entire line from Phoenicia to Kingston is navigable by track cars and light maintenance equipment.
A major washout at Bridge C34 (MP 28.8) west of Phoenicia effective severs the CMRR. A washout and landslide near Shandaken needs to be addressed before more damage occurs to the right of way. Bridge C42 over Lasher Road needs to be restored to its original location, it was removed and set aside after the end of Conrail service to allow for greater vertical clearances. Volunteer crews continue to cut brush and keep the tracks clear all the way to the connection with the DURR at Highmount. The CMRR has been isolated from the national network since Conrail removed their Kingston interchange in 1996.
The Delaware & Ulster Railroad has expressed interest in trucking their stainless steel "Rip Van Winkle Flyer" train set to the CMRR upon the restoration of more track and starting service to Ashokan Reservoir. Both organizations are confident that a dinner train operation would prove popular and provide substantial revenues. The DURR has also expressed interest in resuming service between Arkville and Highmount, and continuing south/east over the CMRR to the horsehoe curves at Pine Hill. With the recent developments in regards in Hurricane Irene, restoration of any track between Phoenicia and Highmount appears to be a remote possibility.
Locomotives
CMRR owns two American Locomotive CompanyAmerican Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
(ALCO) RS-1 locomotives, No. 401 (Ex-Green Mountain Railroad
Green Mountain Railroad
The Green Mountain Railroad is a class III railroad operating in Vermont.GMRC operates on tracks that had been owned by the Rutland Railroad and Boston and Maine Railroad. The railroad operates on a rail line between North Walpole, New Hampshire and Rutland, Vermont. Corporate colors are green...
(GMRC) No. 401, Ex Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio was a Class I railroad in the central United States whose primary routes extended from Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, to St...
(GM&O) No. 1052, Ex Illinois Terminal Railroad
Illinois Terminal Railroad
The Illinois Terminal Railroad, known as the Illinois Traction System until 1937, was a heavy duty interurban electric railroad with extensive passenger and freight business in central and southern Illinois from 1896 to 1982...
No. 1056, née 756); and No. 2361 (former Alter Scrap No. 2361, Ex-Soo Line Railroad
Soo Line Railroad
The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste...
(SOO) 2361). Only 401 is operational at this time. In 2010, 2361 was repainted and evaluated for reactivation; it was given a new number, 400.
In May, 2010, the CMRR acquired its latest locomotive, former Long Island Railroad/Staten Island Railway Alco S-1 407. It arrived May 6, 2010, and was placed into service May 7, 2010 as CMRR 407. This engine is the workhorse for operations out of Mt. Tremper and Phoenicia.
CMRR No. 29, "The Goat" is an Ex-Navy 50 ton H. K. Porter, Inc
H. K. Porter, Inc
H. K. Porter, Inc. manufactured light-duty railroad locomotives in the USA, starting in 1866. The company became the largest producer of industrial locomotives, and built almost eight thousand of them...
locomotive, which is a backup engine and main engine for worktrain service. CMRR No. 1, "The Duck", another worktrain locomotive, is an Ex-Army 38 ton Davenport Locomotive Works
Davenport Locomotive Works
The Davenport Locomotive Works, of Davenport, Iowa, USA built locomotives from 1902 until 1956. The company acquired the locomotive business of H. K...
locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
. Both of these locomotives are operational and located currently in Phoenicia.
Passenger equipment
Phoenicia equipment consists of two Ex-Navy 50 foot flatcars, No. 271 an 272, that have been converted to open-air passenger service with the addition of side walls and benches, and two former Erie Lackawanna RailwayErie Lackawanna Railway
The Erie Lackawanna Railway , known as the Erie–Lackawanna Railroad until 1968, was formed from the 1960 merger of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad...
(EL) Multiple unit
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
(MU) trailers that have been completely renovated: No. 4321 entered service as CMRR 701 in 2004, and No. 4332 entered service on October 2, 2010 as CMRR 702.
Phoenicia equipment also includes a privately owned N5G steel caboose, CMRR 673 (former LV 95041), which was placed in service on May 7, 2010, and will be a concession car. A wooden caboose, CMRR 671 (Ex D&H No. 35952), awaits restoration in Phoenicia after floodwaters damaged the car in 2005.
Kingston equipment consists of a 40-foot flat car, CMRR 278 (Ex-LBR 26), which is fitted with a canopy roof, and an N5B Caboose, CMRR 675 (Ex-PRR 477672, PC 22800, CR 20003).
Also stored west of Kingston at MP 5.5 are several passenger cars, including former EL MU Trailer 4322 and former Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
(CNJ) Coaches 1198 and 1204, awaiting restoration for future tourist train use in the Kingston area.
Two more US Army 50 foot flatcars await conversion to passenger use. One is stored in Shokan, No. 35112 and the other, No. 35111, is stored in Phoencia.
Other equipment
CMRR also rosters several pieces of freight equipment used in work train and storage service.In Kingston, this includes two 50-foot boxcars, former D&H 26076 and NYC 72462, used for storage, and an ex-Army Difco dump car and a 40-foot flat car CMRR 201 (Ex LBR 27) are used for work train service.
In Shokan, there is a self-powered ex-Navy crane, CMRR 991, a 40-foot tender flat CMRR 291 (ex-Army 35305), and a privately owned caboose CMRR 674 (ex Susquehanna 117), all used for work train service.
In Phoenicia, a 40-foot box car (Ex-LV 65100) is used for storage, and a former Army Difco dump car, a 40-foot flatcar, CMRR 202 (Ex-CV 7704) and an N6A transfer caboose, CMRR 697 (Ex NYC/PC/CR 18015) are used for worktrain service.
Additionally, the railroad has in storage west of Kingston a ballast hopper, former NYC 51467 and a gondola, former PRR 518399.
The frame and trucks of former LS&I caboose No. 6, which were bought by a CMRR volunteer in the 1980s, are in storage at Shokan.