Adirondack Railroad 2024 Season

One question about the video was what the average speed was. On my trip, there were several straightaways where we went 40-45 mph, but had to slow down for the curves. (Am I correct that the rehab didn't bank them?). Anyway, the overall speed is fine for what is essentially a tourist run, but the fact that the video can be made at many locations by someone driving between each location means this isn't exactly high speed rail - not that I expected on my earlier ride.

Depending on what ridership counts are over the next couple of years and if there’s any desire to make the Adirondack RR a feeder service connecting to/from Amtrak I could see the tracks being spiffed up to 60mph standards similar to the Middleborough-Buzzards Bay section of the CapeFLYER route. Would likely require CWR so it would not be an inexpensive investment, but with Tupper Lake being the new northern terminus of passenger train operations it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

CWR? Upgrade Adirondack to 60 mph? Using WHAT for money? It's a nice dream, but not realistic. Hell, this state can't even afford Welcome Centers on most of the Interstates, and we're one of the very few places who number their exits sequentially rather than by milepost. No connection whatever between those examples and the railroad, but my point is there are far better uses for our tax dollars.

We're talking about a scenic tourist route, why on earth would there be a remotely realistic need for 60mph speeds, let alone CWR?

The state already deemed the line wasn't worth keeping all the way to Lake Placid, the idea of them investing in either of these things is a non-starter.

Overbuilding means it'll be that much longer before major maintenance is needed again. Generally speaking, trains run in the 40-45 MPH range, with a max of 50 MPH. You're right - the operation does not need 60 MPH.

Kind of why they pave your street instead of leaving it gravel...

This video features a look at Remsen's station grounds together with a southbound view of the Oct 29 joint GVT/ADK Directors' Special, a Utica-Thendara-Utica run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnXoWa4WOPw

NHV 669 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:43 pm The state already deemed the line wasn't worth keeping all the way to Lake Placid, the idea of them investing in either of these things is a non-starter.

It wasn't the state that decided to take out the rails, it was a few rich people that don't want the railroad in their woods. If those people had their way the rails would be gone all the way to Remsen.

Meanwhile, most of the Tupper Lake trains this fall were sold out...

Yes, I've followed this saga from a distance for years, it's a shame it was allowed to happen with an active operator. All that for a combo of seasonal users (whose season is ever shrinking), and the aforementioned people you named above who would boot those guys too if they could.