Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2013

With local politicians like these, why would any business locate there?

Friday, April 26th

On Friday, the CMRR ran two special trains for the NY Central Historical society, one in Kingston and one in Phoenicia. Crew included Earl Pardini, Al Schoessow and Dan Howard.


Saturday, April 27th

In Mt. Tremper, George Peck, Dave Heick, Art Vogel and Jarrett May inserted 11 new ties at Rock Cut.

In Kingston on Saturday, crews at Cornell St. did a general yard cleanup separating disposables from scrap metal near the south gate. Work continued on the tamper at Cornell St. restoring it to partial service, a fuel leak on the JD backhoe was repaired. At the 209 crossing, loose litter and metal diaphraghm frames from the LG and around the area where the cars rested were secured and removed by truck for disposal/storage. West of Chandler Dr., track crews inserted and gauge spiked 12 ties, brush clearing and finish grading on the north side of the same track section was also undertaken. Today's crews included; Earl Pardini, Ernie Klopping, Steve Gollow, Al Schoessow, Alex Sorenson, Frank Libihoul, Russell Nelson, Bob Blake, Ron Epstein, Dick Wilhelm and Mark Glaser.

Also in Kingston, Al Johnson did an inspection of the Lion Gardiner and the 703/4322.


Sunday, April 28th

On Sunday, crews returned to the tangent west of Chandler Dr. and moved west toward Westbrook Lane Station. 13 ties were inserted and 25 were hard spiked. Extensive drainage work and regrading with heavy equipment was done just west of Albany Ave. and under Chandler Dr. At Cornell St., the new west switch stand was adjusted and placed in service. Today's crews included; Earl Pardini, John Prestopino, Ron Epstein, Russell Nelson, Alex Sorenson, Al Schoessow, John Patane, Steve Gollow and Mark Glaser.

Also on Sunday, George Peck spiked up the 11 ties inserted Saturday at Rock Cut.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

The CMRR issued a press release on Monday 4/29/13.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/138529755/Cat ... ing-Felony

The City of Kingston late Monday removed the dump truck placed on the tracks.

http://www.watershedpost.com/2013/train ... road-track

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/20 ... 056205.txt

EH

Reading through the comments on the Daily Freeman website, I was struck by the negative comments of Greg Swanzey
I was surprised to say the least to learn he is the Director of Economic Development & Strategic Partnerships with the City of Kingston,
AND, Board member and Chair of the Rail Trail Committee at the Kingston Land Trust.

The questions keep coming on this relationship. Why is a man in charge of economic development, trying to
shut down a small business which attracts spending in his city? One would think that someone in his position should be
asking the CMRR what he can do to help them succeed. How ethical is it for a city employee to try
and steer funds in the millions to an organization in which he is not only a board member, but the Chair of
the project he's trying to steer money towards? Is it legal for him to hold both positions?

Can anybody figure out why the trail community is'nt clamoring for the completion of the O&W and Wallkill
Valley trails? Here are two incomplete trails, both with flatter gradients. The grade of the U&D is something that I haven't
heard mentioned by anyone yet. How would that effect trail use? I see far greater value in completing the two incomplete trails first.
I would guess that more tourists and residents would be served by the Wallkill trail connecting Kingston with Rosendale and New Paltz,
than a trail on the U&D. Maybe as CMRR supporters we should try to steer the conversation towards the completion of the other trails.

Which bring up yet another question. How successful are the two current trails. Do we have any idea how many people use them per year?
Any numbers on yearly maintenance costs? It would be wise for CMRR to have a comparison of trail user numbers, to rail rider numbers,
and some estimate on the spending spending and demographics of both groups. How that would be done, I don't know.

I don't live in the area. Why do they think I would drive to their town to walk on a path? I can do that in my own backyard. I will drive to the scenic rr and maybe spend the night and eat at a restaurant. My wife does not like walking so much so the train ride can suit us both. I justdon't get how they think all these peopmle are going to come for a trail. You are competing with every other town that has a trail. Not every town has a tourist rr. If the trail people get their wish you can count on the fact that me and my family will not be visiting Kingston.

jakirk wrote:Can anybody figure out why the trail community is'nt clamoring for the completion of the O&W and Wallkill
Valley trails? Here are two incomplete trails, both with flatter gradients. The grade of the U&D is something that I haven't
heard mentioned by anyone yet. How would that effect trail use?

I have cycled on trails here in my area. I can tell you one thing. I would definitely NOT bike UP the Hurley Mountain grade. That is quite a steep climb. It is not a good location at all for a biking path.

jakirk wrote:Reading through the comments on the Daily Freeman website, I was struck by the negative comments of Greg Swanzey
I was surprised to say the least to learn he is the Director of Economic Development & Strategic Partnerships with the City of Kingston,
AND, Board member and Chair of the Rail Trail Committee at the Kingston Land Trust.

The questions keep coming on this relationship. Why is a man in charge of economic development, trying to
shut down a small business which attracts spending in his city? One would think that someone in his position should be
asking the CMRR what he can do to help them succeed. How ethical is it for a city employee to try
and steer funds in the millions to an organization in which he is not only a board member, but the Chair of
the project he's trying to steer money towards? Is it legal for him to hold both positions?

Can anybody figure out why the trail community is'nt clamoring for the completion of the O&W and Wallkill
Valley trails? Here are two incomplete trails, both with flatter gradients. The grade of the U&D is something that I haven't
heard mentioned by anyone yet. How would that effect trail use? I see far greater value in completing the two incomplete trails first.
I would guess that more tourists and residents would be served by the Wallkill trail connecting Kingston with Rosendale and New Paltz,
than a trail on the U&D. Maybe as CMRR supporters we should try to steer the conversation towards the completion of the other trails.

Which bring up yet another question. How successful are the two current trails. Do we have any idea how many people use them per year?
Any numbers on yearly maintenance costs? It would be wise for CMRR to have a comparison of trail user numbers, to rail rider numbers,
and some estimate on the spending spending and demographics of both groups. How that would be done, I don't know.

Can somebody say "conflict of interest"?

jakirk wrote: Can anybody figure out why the trail community is'nt clamoring for the completion of the O&W and Wallkill
Valley trails? Here are two incomplete trails, both with flatter gradients. The grade of the U&D is something that I haven't
heard mentioned by anyone yet. How would that effect trail use? I see far greater value in completing the two incomplete trails first.
I would guess that more tourists and residents would be served by the Wallkill trail connecting Kingston with Rosendale and New Paltz,
than a trail on the U&D. Maybe as CMRR supporters we should try to steer the conversation towards the completion of the other trails.

Which bring up yet another question. How successful are the two current trails. Do we have any idea how many people use them per year?
Any numbers on yearly maintenance costs? It would be wise for CMRR to have a comparison of trail user numbers, to rail rider numbers,
and some estimate on the spending spending and demographics of both groups. How that would be done, I don't know.

The key with these trail advocates, like those in the Adirondacks, seems to be a desire to remove rails. They don't even want rail with trail. They just seem to want the tracks up.

They don't like to discuss other trails and the use (or lack thereof) of said trails. Most anecdotal evidence on such trails seems to indicate that they are lightly used. They certainly don't want to discuss the cost of completion or maintenance of existing trails as it would blow their inflated "economic justifications" out of the water.

I suspect that if the tracks were lifted, most of these "trail advocates" would fade into the woodwork, and the proposed trails will become an overgrown strip of land that nobody wants. In fact, there are those who suspect that the goal of the Adirondack trail advocates is exactly that.

RussNelson wrote:The CMRR has a lawyer already. There *will* be a response very soon... (speculation on my part).

What KIND of lawyer?

Lawyers specialize in many things. I mentioned a commerce attorney for a very specific reason.

A dump truck full of bull this idea that a rail trail is some kind of "economic engine". That term is thrown around like candy at Christmas in good ole NYS. The Indian Tribes use

it to sell their monopoly casino's. County IDA's ( crony clubs) use it as well along with about any public entity that wants to "invest in the future". What crap!! I live upstate near

what is arguably the most famous trail (outside of a state park) in NY. The Erie Canal trail that runs from Dewitt (near Syr) to Rome. A nice safe trail yes used largely by locals

but an economic engine? No way. I dare anyone traveling the NYS ThruWay between Little Falls and Auriesville along the West Shore Trail to count on more that both hands

the number of people walking along it on a weekend day. I've driven it, I know of what I speak. The Rahill Trail runs ,in part ,right in front of my house and uses in part the

West Shore bed here in Whitestown to form a loop. It is well used that is true. BY THE LOCALS. The Catskill Trail advocates tout the tourism that the Walkway Over The Hudson

draws. That is true but that 212 ft high 6700+ foot linear park offers views that cannot be replicated in Ulster Co. The "Walkway Over the Esopus" (C9) will leave those trekking

6700 ft from Kingston a tad disappointed. The trail folks are in a panic given this dump truck stunt. They don't want to wait out the lease and then tell the Ulster public just why

it "needs" to have it's fine scenic railroad removed. That pig won't fly. Keep the heat on people. Here, the Freeman, letters to papers,pols , radio shows et al.

Dealing with politics in this state will get you dirtier than a day of slugging in ties on the railroad. Westward Ho!!!!!

O-6-O wrote:The "Walkway Over the Esopus" (C9)

HAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!

This situation with the county and the city is also what is known as "The good ol' boy network"

airman00 wrote:This situation with the county and the city is also what is known as "The good ol' boy network"

That sir, is the "game of politics" in a nut-shell.........

Charlie

I wonder if Mike Hein is committing tortious interference in the CMRR's business? He is insisting that the lease will not be renewed because the terms of the current lease (not yet lapsed) have not been met. Much of the labor needed to meet those terms is coming from volunteers. If volunteers get discouraged and don't show up, Hein's statements amount to interference with the contract. A good lawyer will suggest that this is actionable. A carefully crafted demand letter should shut him up.

RussNelson wrote:I wonder if Mike Hein is committing tortious interference in the CMRR's business? He is insisting that the lease will not be renewed because the terms of the current lease (not yet lapsed) have not been met. Much of the labor needed to meet those terms is coming from volunteers. If volunteers get discouraged and don't show up, Hein's statements amount to interference with the contract. A good lawyer will suggest that this is actionable. A carefully crafted demand letter should shut him up.

Also, holding up the FEMA money necessary to make repairs to the line and the complaining that CMRR isn't doing enough to make repairs to the line to operate between Kingston and Ashokan is bullshit.