Catskill Mountain Railroad News - 2009

The track west of Phoenicia has the following impediments:

Washout at MP 28 (rails not broken)
Washout at MP 28.5 (rails broken)
Missing Bridge at MP 28.8
Landslide at MP 31.3 (rails broken)
Washout at MP 32 (rails not broken)
Landslide at MP 33
Damaged Brige at MP 36.7 (Esopus Bridge)
Removed Bridge at MP 36.9 (Lasher Road)
Plus paved-over crossings at Fox Hollow Road (MP 32.6), and State Route 28 (MP 33.5 and 36.4) and County Route 47 (MP 36.1). Crossing also removed at Station Road in Pine Hill.

Most of this is repairable within reason. However, the bridge at MP 28.8, because it has been completely removed, will probably be the most expensive item to repair, and take the longest lead time. And probably the guy that built his house next to the bridge abutment will be a little upset.

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EH

west* sorry.. Jez thats a rough 15 or so miles.. So with the missing bridge and all, that area of track will probably not be rebuilt.

slrr1 wrote:west* sorry.. Jez thats a rough 5 or so miles.. So with the missing bridge and all, that area of track will probably not be rebuilt.

Never say never until you get to the end of ever.

Only the MP 28 washouts and missing bridge are a high-dollar repair, there's quite a bit of ROW that would have to be completely reconstructed from scratch. Most of the rest of the damage, while in need of work, from what I can see in looking at pictures it appears to be within the bounds of the work the CMR volunteer force should be able to handle, if with the begging, borrowing or stealing of the proper equipment for some of the issues.

Maybe they can get in on the Federal Stimulus money for some of this work -

federal Stimulus money? i wouldn't count on it... No part of rail seems to be getting surplus stimulus money... You are more likely to get the funds by holding a spare change can on the side of the road... But I think you guys can get it done some how, you have amazingly traveled so far with the kingston shuttle.. It is very hard to rebuild a RR operation to be profitable, and you guys are doing it!

The CMRR's focus has always been on the Phoenicia to Kingston segment. At 25 miles, it is larger than many tourist railroads are able to maintain, and more than enough railroad for the CMRR. On the remaining 13 miles from Phoenicia to Highmount, the best the CMRR can do is keep that segment of the line clear of brush and conduct low-level maintenance (such as culvert clearing) with track cars. Right now we regularly maintain only the segment from Pine Hill to Highmout as this is used by track car meets on the D&U. We did open a 2.3 mile stretch from Shandaken to Big Indian earlier this year for track cars, as well as Pine Hill to Giggle Hollow, and a short stretch near Hummingbird Lane west of Phoenicia. However 8 miles of the 13 are still unpassable due to tree growth. We will gradually open this up.

As to restoring this for railroad service on what we call the "west end", the impetus for this will have to come from the Delaware & Ulster Railroad and/or Delaware County, or the state. The DURR has always talked about coming down to Big Indian to get closer to I-87, stating this in the recent Trains article on the corridor. If Delaware County wanted a rail connection to the outside world, it would need to push the issue via the state or Ulster County, but there is no evidence that they see a need for this.

So, for now the main work we try to do on the west end in between other projects on the CMRR is to open more of the west end to track car use. If the station road crossing in Pine Hill is restored someday, we will probably maintain the line for track cars down to the Lasher Road Bridge, 5 miles from Highmount.

But if the DURR ever returns to Highmount, as is expected in 2009 or 2010, there may be a push to start repairing the tracks and operating trains to Pine Hill or Big Indian some day. We will just have to wait and see.

EH

slrr1 wrote:what is the condition of the track north of Phoenicia? every any hope of interchangeable service with the ulster and Delaware?

Read this and all will be answered... http://railroad.net/articles/railfanning/cmrr/

Updated map is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/3251619829/

Saturday, August 8th:

Shokan

On Saturday, the Shokan switch project crew consisted of Steve Gollow, Joe Marsh, Tom Healy, Thom Johnson, Gary Lowe, George Cook and Paul Sternitzke. They chipped up all the trees cut last week east of the DEP crossing:

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Next is stump removal.

Phoenicia

Also on Saturday, on the 702 crew, Al Johnson, Gary Lowe, Ed Palmatier worked on seat parts, and painted 4 more seat frames which Ed Palmatier installed in the coach:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 723189.jpg

There are 5 more left to install.

Ernie Gehrer and George Liucci continued work on the east end vestibule:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 523089.jpg


Also near Phoenicia, George Peck, Dave Mason, Derek Stapleton and Michael Adsit replaced 10 ties at about MP 26.8:

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Sunday, August 9th

On Sunday in Kingston, Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of Joe Klapkowski, Bob Blake, Ernie Klopping, Al Schoessow and Mark Glaser doing trackwork near the Holiday Inn. Earl inserted another 19 ties, and the crew tamped 46.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

As a volunteer on the CMRR (and a proud one at that) I see the restoration of the railroad like this. There is fantacy and reality. Short term and on going is the weekly maintenance and operation of the current in service track along side the continued work of repairing long OOS track mostly going west out of Kingston to reconnect service to Phoenicia. I firmly believe this goal is attainable in the not to distant future because of the work that has been done in the short time I've been down there. It really is amazing. Long term will be connecting the railroad to the D&U and some kind of mutual ops that no one right now can be sure of. However preservation of this portion is a must and so you will find some work (brush cutting and stabilization) being done here. I'll not likely ever ride a train there but.......you never know. The best part of this whole operation is the people, the kind of people who can rub 2 dimes together and hand you a quarter. One spike, one tie, one paint stroke, a little sweat and a lot of fun is getting this done. Life is good here.

Thursday, August 13th

On Thursday, August 13th, Joe Klapkowski and Burr Hubbell plan to work at the Holiday Inn about 10am and will plate, guage and spike the 46 ties tamped there last Sunday. They could use more help if you can join them.


Saturday, August 15th

In Phoenicia, the 702 crew will start about 10am, and continue work on seat frame painting and installation.

Also in Phoenicia, George Peck will be organizing a crew to go insert ties between MP 27 and Campground Curve. They will start at the section house in Phoenicia at about 9am.

In Mt. Pleasant, Steve Gollow will be cutting the grass and cutting back vegetation with his brush hog.

There will be no work in Shokan Saturday.


Sunday, August 16th

On Sunday, George Peck will be at Phoenicia at 9:30am.

Also on Sunday, Earl Pardini will return to the Holiday Inn in Kingston to continue inserting ties towards C9. He will start around 9:30 to 10am. He needs a large crew to tamp, plate and spike the ties he will be inserting, so please come if you are able to.

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Thursday, August 13th

On Thursday, August 13th, Joe Klapkowski led a crew consisting of John Patane and Al Schoessow, plating the 46 ties tamped last Sunday at the Holiday Inn. They fully spiked 8 ties and set spikes for 38. They also tamped and reset spikes for 6 older ties.

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Saturday, August 15th

First crossbuck went up today on Washington Avenue:

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In Phoenicia, the 702 crew consisted of George Liucci, Ernie Gehrer, Al Johnston, Ed Palmatier, TW, Dick Wilhelm, and Thom Johnson.

From Al Johnson:

"Ed, and Terry installed additional seat parts and 1 frame, Dick worked on the steps, George Liucci and Ernie welded on the East end vestibule and Thom [Johnson] and I worked on wire brushing additional seat frames. We then installed both step units on the East end. "

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Sunday, August 16th

On Sunday, Earl Pardini led a crew consisting or Al Schoessow, Mark Glaser, John Patane, Bob Blake, John Conte, Eric, and Thom Johnson. They spiked up the 46 ties previously setup, and another 20 of the 30 ties inserted by Earl Pardini today. The track is now complete to about MP 4.6, near the end of the Holiday Inn parking lot. We plan to start service on this new segment next weekend.

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Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Saturday, August 22nd

In Phoenicia, the 702 crew will start about 10am, and continue work on seat frame painting and installation.

Also in Phoenicia, George Peck will be organizing a crew to go insert ties between MP 27 and Campground Curve. George could use a large crew for trackwork. He will start at the section house in Phoenicia at about 9am.



Sunday, August 23rd

On Sunday, George Peck will be at Phoenicia at 9:30am.

Also on Sunday, Earl Pardini will return to the Holiday Inn in Kingston to continue inserting ties towards C9. He will start around 9:30 to 10am. He needs a large crew to tamp, plate and spike the ties he will be inserting, so please come if you are able to.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

On Saturday, August 22nd, the CMRR ran its first passenger trains across Washington Avenue, extending service in Kingston another .23 miles to MP 4.6. Here are some photos:

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Trackwork will continue west towards the C9 bridge at MP 5 for the remainder of the year. We believe that we will be able to open service to that point by November 1st.

EH

Friday, August 21st

On Friday, August 21st, Earl Pardini and John Patane installed the east crossbuck at Washington Avenue. The west crossbuck was installed the week before.


Saturday, August 22nd

In Phoenicia, George Peck and Greg Peck replaced washers and bolts between Sleepy Hollow and MP 27. Newcomer Shaun Murphy manned the ticket booth at Mt. Pleasant.

Also in Phoenicia, the 702 crew, which consisted of Ed Palmatier, TW and Dick Wilhelm, worked on the last 4 seat frames. 2 are completely painted and up in 702 (not Installed) and 2 need another coat of paint. All should be installed next weekend. Next, they will clean the seat cushions and install them.

In Kingston, the CMRR ran its first trains across Washington Avenue, extending service in Kingston another .23 miles to MP 4.6.


Sunday, August 23rd.


On Sunday, August 23rd, Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of Joe Klapkowski, John Patane, Al Schoessow, Bob Blake and Dave Hilliard, and continued work west towards C9. They inserted another 42 ties just up to the culvert at MP 4.66.

They also went back to Washington Avenue, and tamped up a low joint on the east side and inserted two ties on the west side.

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Saturday, August 29th

In Phoenicia, the 702 crew will start about 10am. They will finish installing the last seat frames on the 702, and continue seat installation.

Also in Phoenicia, George Peck will be organizing a crew to go insert ties between MP 27 and Campground Curve. George could use a large crew for trackwork. He will start at the section house in Phoenicia at about 9am.

In Shokan, Joe Marsh will lead a crew starting about 9:30am continuing site preparation for the new switch at Shokan. Bring chainsaws and brush cutting equipment.



Sunday, August 30th

On Sunday, George Peck will be at Phoenicia at 9:30am.

Also on Sunday, Earl Pardini will return to the west end of the Holiday Inn in Kingston to continue inserting ties towards C9. He will start around 9:30 to 10am. He needs a large crew to tamp, plate and spike the ties inserted last weekend, so please come if you are able to.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR