Official Valley Railroad Thread (VALE)

tj48 wrote:Did the boat yard just decide to 'expand' itself?

While they did 'expand' over the rails itself, they do own land parcels on both sides of the tracks.

Yes, and they are co-operating with VRR to restore access. Both sides are keeping up the "good Neighbor Policy."

130 plus more ties have arrived at the marina, and more and more equipment is getting staged there for track work. There is now new ties getting installed on both sides. With this early of a start the Valley is posed to get a lot on new track open this year.

VIDEO: First Train in 48 Years!

Valley Railroad has extended rebuilt operable track to the south end of Midway Marina this week.
Extension farther north will continue this summer. Here's a clip of the first train to operate this far north since Spring, 1968:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9fbuNQ6K6M

Enjoy,
Lee

Will there be hi rail rides on the north end of the RR this year? If so how can I go about going on one?

Saturdays, mid-September to mid-October, if past practice is to continue.
The website should have 2016 information updates soon.

Lee

The FVRR along withe the VRR have made great progress this year with the track expansion. The track up to the marina has been completed and while waiting on crossing permits, an additional 1/4 mile has been rebuilt to the north. The work is still steaming full speed ahead and will most likely exceed expectations this year. At the rate we are going there could be over an additional 1/2 mile of track rebuilt this year. In the shop the FVRR is finishing up a restoration of a NYC box car that will be done in full paint and lettering in the next month or so. Come on down and check out all that is new going on here.

About what milepost are you working at now and will the special being advertised by Mass Bay RRE be using the new track?

We are working towards MP 14. the Mass bay train will use all that we can run on.

Looks like the Midway Marina obstruction is finally disappearing:

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More:

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Brendan wrote:In the shop the FVRR is finishing up a restoration of a NYC box car that will be done in full paint and lettering in the next month or so.

I'd like to see some photos of this. Any progress to report?

-otto-

BIG NEWS TODAY on the VALLEY RAILROAD.
This afternoon, Saturday, Oct. 15, at 1:00 PM, engine 3025, with the Haddam Special trainset, departed north from Eagle Landing State Park, stopped at Goodspeed Station, and proceeded to the very end of the track which was newly rebuilt this week, to the middle of Midway Marina! It is the first time in at least 48 years that a train has operated on this track! The boaters at the marina stood around and watched the train pull up to the end of track, and burst out in rounds of applause. By next summer, it is expected that the trains will operate at least another half to 3/4 mile north of the marina.

Here is a photo of the track work, taken just a week ago, on October 8.
The first train operated there today!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33786891@ ... ed-public/

It is good to hear the boat yard people were applauding! This is proof positive that VRR's "Good Neighbors Policy" is more than just words and that the efforts have paid off.