Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley (CACV) Discussion

[Benjamin Maggi]

Can someone tell me more about the "Milford Park Railway"? Per the picture linked to below, supposedly taken in 2007, there looks to be a 15" gauge or perhaps 24" gauge railroad at Milford. I don't recall ever seeing it, or hearing of it on Railroad.net. What is the history of it, and what happened to it?
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2802752" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lvrr325]

2015 photo -

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20150 ... 127314.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can kind of make it out on the Google Maps pictures, too, it makes sort of a bent oval around the overgrown looking area between the shops and the baseball diamond to the west. In fact, you can see the locomotive in the picture in the same spot as the above photo.

From the LRHS's website:

http://www.lrhs.com/?page_id=89" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also in September, 1996 local business man Gene Bettiol, Sr. donated the Lindee Park Railway, built by the late Donnell Sullivan of Otego, to the LRHS. Mr. Bettiol had purchased the train at an estate auction to make sure that it didn’t leave the area. Mr. Sullivan had spent 30 years building this foot and a half gauge railroad which used to run around his property. After working on the engine and the two coaches the repainted and renamed Milford Park Railway made its debut at the June 7, 1997 Second Annual Milford Railroad Days. Running on temporary track next to the Milford Depot the Milford Park Railway carried 543 paying passengers throughout the day. A permanent right-of-way around the wetlands behind the Milford Auction Barn was constructed in 1997, and the train has been operated for visitors throughout the summer months ever since.

So there you have it.

[brockwaythemusician]

To answer the question on rolling stock, I went down to the CACV railfan days last year and took a picture of every piece of equiptment on the property. From my photos I count four coaches and one locomotive lettered for CACV. The rest is in D&H, CP, PC., but mostly D&H. I could have missed some. If anyone wants to see the pictures I can post them somewhere and share them.

As part of the railfan days, people attending roamed all over the property, behind the shops, etc. the Milford Park locomotive was sitting outside like it was on the link posted above but the track around it and in front of it made it appear that it is not currently operational. The tracks next to the shop were visible. In front of the shop it rounds a corner and disappears into the weeds. The same behind the shops.

[Benjamin Maggi]

Thanks both for your help. I don't think I understand though... is it currently used? I was there in 2014 for a train ride and I don't recall seeing the small train operational.

[switcher3051]

The Milford Park train doesn't run. The engine needs work and the ties need to be replaced. A couple years ago some volunteers began to replace the ties but stopped after a few hundred feet.

[Benjamin Maggi]

Thanks.

[lvrr325]

What exactly is the locomotive? Home made, kit built? Gas engine?

[thebigham]

Pics posted to the D&H Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/DandHRa ... f=NEWSFEED" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

D&H RPO Move from Cooperstown NY to Milford NY

Pics here while it was in use in Cooperstown:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rspict ... ?id=353935" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebigham]

From Kevin Burkholder:

"The Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad has successfully acquired both of the former Delaware & Hudson Alco S-4s from Genesee & Wyoming. The pair of Alcos, the 102 located currently in Claremont Jct., NH and the 104 in West Lebanon, NH, are being prepared for movement to Cooperstown, NY.

The units will reportedly be moved via Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern.

CCRR 102 - built as D&H 3050; to GMRC 305; CCRR 102
CCRR 104 - built as D&H 3036; to GMRC 303; Quincy Bay 104; CCRR 104"

[thebigham]

^The CCRR Alcos left Claremont yesterday for the CACV.

[thebigham]

Reports today indicate that the CACV is moving the GG1s to Milford!

[Otto Vondrak]

Reports today indicate that the CACV is moving the GG1s to Milford!

Reports from who? And why would they move them to Milford?

-otto-

[lvrr325]

Could they be in the way?

[switcher3051]

I haven't heard anything about them being moved to Milford.

[thebigham]

It was a Facebook post that I saw. It has since been removed. UGH

The Alcos were on the NYS&W yesterday in Binghamton.