Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2016

RFP is not due until May 20th. EH

Seems somewhat illogial to expect to hand over something that's been idle as opposed to a turnkey business, a new operator could at least rent or purchase some of the existing equipment and save the need to move what's there, out and bring in something else, they could go to a turnkey operation with minimal fuss and CMRR could make a few bucks leasing out their equipment or selling some of it off.

Any prospective bidder, who did some research on Hein and his crowd, would be unlikely to follow through with a bid.
And, when it came time to sign the contract, Hein will undoubtedly have many "over the top" provisions in it.

Is CMRR in fact submitting a proposal?

YOU would think one way or other removing equipment would hinge on the outcome of the RFP. BUt it seems pretty clear that the core concerns are the trail option and "protecting the people of Ulster county" from the "evils"-we're never actually told what those "evils" are, sort of like the boogieman- of anyone who would operate the railroad. I'm not sure that the COunty actually even wants an operator, or if putting out the RFP is just part of CYA to stay within some semblance of a legal defense moving forward.

oibu wrote:I'm not sure that the COunty actually even wants an operator, or if putting out the RFP is just part of CYA to stay within some semblance of a legal defense moving forward.

This is the way I see it - that the county still doesn't want the railroad. Period.

I imagine that the thinking was that when they tried to evict CMRR, that the railroad would simply dry up and blow away. I bet they were astonished that the CMRR not only didn't go away, but sued the county. Because of that and the ensuing tremendous efforts by CMRR, the county's hand was forced into keeping the railroad on the Kingston end.

That doesn't mean they're happy about it. Hein & Co. are probably more pissed than ever. And these latest stunts with the new lease seem to indicate that they'd still rather have the CMRR just quit.

O/T to the recent discussion, however relevant to the U&D.

This video contains scenes from around 1900 filmed by Thomas edison including areas on the CMRR sections of the former U&D.

Nice views from the old west shore in Kingston and up the U&D line.

enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQzXCoQRbas#t=300" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The CMRR's Phoenicia "boss" passed away Friday. George Peck did everything in Phoenicia! It's a major loss for the CMRR:

George's obituary is here:

http://www.gjmoylanfuneralhome.com/fh/o ... h_id=13795" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here are a few pictures of Viscose 6 as it left Kingston today for its noon run:

thebigham wrote:The CMRR's Phoenicia "boss" passed away Friday. George Peck did everything in Phoenicia! It's a major loss for the CMRR:

George's obituary is here:

http://www.gjmoylanfuneralhome.com/fh/o ... h_id=13795" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As if this weekend wasn't sad enough for the CMRR. Sorry for your loss, guys.

Ashokan Inspection Train Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoWM6PKhU4k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hundreds take steam train rides in Kingston

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/lifestyle/2 ... n-kingston" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kingston - Jim Ford said he could almost hear the Viscose No. 6 steam locomotive calling out “I think I can, I think I can,” as it chugged along the Ulster & Delware railroad tracks Saturday.

Leaning over the rail of one of the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s open air cars, the Albany resident, who described himself as an old-timer with a love affair for trains, said, almost wistfully, “the sound of that whistle, that little girl chugging along ...”

Ford was one of hundreds of visitors from near and far to flock to the Kingston Plaza for the chance to ride the rails aboard the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s Kingston City Limited, which for the weekend will be pulled by the vintage 0-4-0 steam engine built in 1924.

It was the first time for many to ride the rails on a steam engine. According to the Catskill Mountain Railroad, the last time a steam engine departed from Kingston was 67 years ago, in 1949.

Mike Conners traveled from Coeymans so he and his 3-year-old grandson, Ryan George Forgea, could ride the rails.

“I have a long history with the railroad,” he said. “I wanted to come down and see a part of history and to experience this.”

thebigham wrote:The CMRR's Phoenicia "boss" passed away Friday. George Peck did everything in Phoenicia! It's a major loss for the CMRR:

George's obituary is here:

http://www.gjmoylanfuneralhome.com/fh/o ... h_id=13795" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh man. I'm really sorry to hear this. Thank you for sharing bigham.

"Pecker" lived and breathed the CMRR. This is sad. He was too young to go.

Wednesday, April 27th

Earl Pardini, Tom Whyte, Vince Guido and Dave Hilliard started final cleanout work at Cornell Street yard. Walt Otto worked on CMRR 400.


Thursday, April 28th

Earl Pardini, Tom Whyte, Jeff Otto, Jim Bruck, Vince Guido and John Marino and continued final cleanout work at Cornell Street yard. Walt Otto and Joe Wolff worked on CMRR 400.


Friday, April 29th

Earl Pardini, Tom Whyte, Peter Fluchere, Jeff Otto, Alex Sorenson, Vince Guido, Matt Gillis and continued final cleanout work at Cornell Street yard. Walt Otto and Ed Winstanley continued work on CMRR 400.


Saturday, April 30th

Earl Pardini, Tom Whyte, Jeff Otto, Peter Fluchere, Jim Bruck, Vince Guido, Ken Darmstadt, Pat Smalley, Ernie Klopping, John Marino and Jeff Otto and continued final cleanout work at Cornell Street yard. Walt Otto completed work on CMRR 400.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=230003" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In Phoenicia, Art Vogel, Dave Heick and the ESRM crew continued work on the 2nd track for the ESRM carbarn there.

Ryan Lennox and Hunter Downie did ROW cleanup.



Sunday, May 1st

Final work was done to clear out Cornell Street yard.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=230055" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=230056" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Here is a video of the last train out of the yard:

https://youtu.be/zNDJ7WsQghw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Many thanks to all the crew who worked all week to make this happen. This was the most critical obligation we had to meet in the settlement agreement with the County.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday 5/7 and Sunday 5/8


The CMRR had an enormously successful weekend last weekend hosting Viscose No. 6 in Kingston. 1548 passengers were carried over the weekend.

Many thanks to all who helped out including:

Engineer, Earl Pardini. Conductor, Dave Hilliard. Brakeman: John Marino. Flaggers were Joe Wolf, Ernie Klopping, Russ Hallock, Karl Wick and Harrison Balduf. Car attendants were Ed Winstanley , Pat Smalley, Linda Marino and Jan Harrison. Ticket agents were George Bain, Gary Lowe and Peter Fluchere. Also assisting were Tom Whyte, Joe Michaels, Hunter Downie, Al Schoessow, Tom Whyte, Jordan Torregrosa, Jim Bruck, Vince Guido, Matt Gillis, Tyler Carelli and many others.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=230225" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Many thanks to all for making this special event happen. See this article in the Daily Freeman:

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/lifestyle/2 ... n-kingston" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;




Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-new ... qus_thread" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ulster County lawmakers approve trail design for Ashokan Reservoir

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Ulster County lawmakers Tuesday authorized a $395,000 contract for design of an 11.5-mile recreational trail along the Ashokan Reservoir, advancing the county’s plan for a segmented tourist train and recreational trail along the former Ulster & Delaware train corridor. The approval came after legislators listened for nearly two hours to the opinions of rail supporters and trail enthusiasts. Prior to the Legislature’s evening meeting, more than three dozen people, mostly members of the pro-train group Save The Rails, picketed outside the County Office Building, where the Legislature meets.