Well, I took my first trip to the A&A this season, today, and I am very happy to report that both trains, despite what the website says, were steam powered: Number 18 had the 'stage' completely to herself. There was not a diesel in sight: not even in the yard. I was delighted to no end to be able to ride the first train under steam, and then to watch and film the second train depart under steam. I was able to get a video of the train crossing Water Street and passing in front of that ranch house next to the Fire Department. I'll post it once I've downloaded it.
The Main Street station has been completely repainted, I notice, and looks wonderful. It's just such a thrill for me to be able to ride the train each year. The Arcade & Attica Railroad is one of those places where things change all the time, and yet nothing changes. It still has entirely the same atmosphere about it as it did when I first rode the train in 1976. And I'm sure somebody who first rode the train in 1936 would say the same thing. When I look at some of those pictures in the Ken Springirth book of those ancient 4-4-0s crossing the Cattaraugus Creek bridge, I'm just astounded by the thought that I could take a nearly identical photograph, today, in the year 2010. Nothing, really, ever changes about that place. It's like a time machine, in a way.
I'm so happy the Arcade & Attica is still there. That the steam locomotive is still there. And I hope that it will be for many, many years to come.