Noel Weaver wrote:If this entire line for the most part were to be restored to a point where passenger trains could travel over most of it at
speeds of 40-45 MPH, I think it would be adequate. In 1942 the New York Central could run from Utica to Lake Clear Junction
in roughly 4 hours, one Friday evening train accomplished it in 3 hours and 45 minutes. The top speed on this line at that
time was 45 MPH.
In the spring 1958 timetable the day train made it from Utica to Lake Clear in 3 hours and 45 minutes most likely with a
Budd Car, track speed at this time was 40 or 45 MPH.
The 1963 and 1964 timetables show a 5 hour and 10 minute running time between Utica and Lake Placid. Needless to say, track conditions had probably deteriorated long before the cessation of passenger service in the Spring of 1965.
Noel Weaver wrote:Looking at the Adirondack Railway schedule of 1980 I see that they made it from Utica to Lake Clear Junction in from 4 hours
and 25 to 4 hours and 32 minutes.
Well, Lake Clear Junction is the middle of nowhere today. It used to where the track diverged to Malone and Montreal.
Thanks to Otto posting a scan of the timetable, I can state that the failed 1980 operation claimed a 5:15 to 5:25 running time, which on paper looks similar to the old New York Central timetable.
Noel Weaver wrote:If the Adirondack Scenic were able to run the full length of this wonderful line I think they could probably come close to the
average times above.
I think it would be far more interesting to see how long it takes to make the fall and spring equipment moves, under current track conditions. Anecdotes and observation would be more than welcom.
The real question in the long run is how much money would it take to restore the line between Thendera and Saranac Lake to a minimum standard, by which I would suggest that Class II, or a speed limit of 25 MPH for passenger trains, is the absolute minimum.
Noel, your talking about Class III track, which obviously is possible, even with jointed rail.
Noel Weaver wrote: Their riders would probably be a combination of people traveling to Saranac Lake and Lake Placid
for vacations or one day trippers in to the mountains. I think 40 - 45 MPH would be adequate for this trip, people riding it
would probably not be in a huge hurry anyway.
I think this has a potential for success if it is done right and I think the Adirondack Scenic would do it right.
Noel Weaver
Keep in mind that the New York Central was serving a far different market. Many of the people who rode the night train up from New York had "camps" with year-around caretakers who'd meet them at the station. I suspect that the reason why the service lasted so long is that there were a handful of wealthy and influential people who used the sleeper until the bitter end.
Today, I think there is a market for Utica to Lake Placid service, but it would be limited. However, the region is currently underdeveloped due to the inflexible Adirondack Park Agency. There aren't all that many destination, full service resorts in the Adirondacks of the type that you'd expect to see in a mountain region. Because of the APA, many New Yorkers are driving straight to Vermont, New Hampshire and even Maine to vacation.
Conceivably, with the right funding, it might be possible to run a successful seasonal, excursion type service between Utica and Lake Placid. However, a running time of 6 hours would be far more obtainable from the standpoint of a tourist operation. I actually think that a 6 hour running time might even be a little ambitious, even if the track was up to Class II standards all the way.
