Delaware & Ulster Railroad (DURR) Discussion

[thebigham]

http://www.watershedpost.com/2015/weeke ... r-railroad" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This weekend: Fundraiser for repairs to the Delaware & Ulster railroad
By Julia Reischel
12/9/15 - 2:34 pm

The Delaware & Ulster Railroad, a tourism railroad that runs from the hamlet of Arkville to the town of Roxbury in the Delaware County, was forced to end its season early this year after mechanical troubles derailed three of its engines in September. Now a group of locals is banding together to raise funds to help the railroad back on its feet.

This Sunday, Dec. 13, local musician and railroad fan Ben Rounds is throwing a free "Locamotive Benefit Concert" in Fleischmanns to raise money for the D&U. You can stop by La Cabana Restaurant to listen to some tunes and contribute between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. While you're there, consider joining the Ulster & Delaware Railroad Historical Society, which oversees many projects related to the D&U. (Watershed Post contributor Rebecca Andre is one of the event's organizers.)

Rounds is a longtime fan of the D&U. A song about the last time the railroad survived a challenge to its infrastructure appeared on one of his albums:

In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene damaged a section of its track and put the railroad out of commission for the rest of its 2011 season. The railroad reopened in May 2012, according to Wikipedia.

Currently, the D&U is planning to reopen for its 2016 season. It's also hoping to raise $25,000 to help keep its operations going.

Locomotive Benefit Concert. Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., La Cabana Mexican Bar and Restaurant. Fleischmanns.

[BR&P]

Any updates on their situation?

[Otto Vondrak]

A quick check of their web site at http://www.durr.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; reveals their season will begin in July, not the traditional May. If I had to guess, this will probably give crews more time to make repairs and get ready.

OPENING DAY: Saturday, July 2, 2016. Trains Depart 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, July 2, 2016 – October 30, 2016.

The web site also reveals a $25,000 matching grant challenge.

CRC has been awarded a challenge grant that will match every donation made to our 501(c)3 Not For Profit organization. These donations will help us acquire equipment, and maintain and improve the railroad and the 26-mile long rail trail.

No deadline is given for the fundraising efforts, so I don't know if it's an open-ended challenge?

If you click over to the Volunteer's section of the web site, there's actually some really cool photos of recent progress, though they appear to be from 2013

http://how2help.durr.org/?page_id=90" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

-otto-

[BR&P]

I would not call 2013 "recent progress".

I heard from someone saying the power is sitting outside but there are no obvious signs of work being done.

[New Haven 1]

I know that the latter part of this discussion was about the mechanical issues the D&U has, or, hopefully now HAD. I was wondering about an earlier topic regarding a successful light engine move to Belleayre in late 2013 for the premise of running up there again. Logically one would think that this isn't possible with all hands attending to the power issues, but, how far did progress in returning to Belleayre get before these unfortunate events unfolded? The last year or so has been horrible for railroads in the Catskills.

[rhallock]

I visited Arkville today and the friendly D&U people filled me in on their plans. They were in the process of reassembling the rear truck of 5017. It needed new bearings and other refurbishing. 5106 had a journal fire last year and they have a new axle for it. Both these engines had their rear ends supported by cribbing for the present. NYO&W 116 needs a new or rebuilt radiator. A fund-raiser is being held in Roxbury tomorrow to help restore 116. Ulster & Delaware RR Historical Society is assisting in these efforts which will be aided by a matching grant program.
At least they seems to have a friendly county government behind them.
http://durr.org/?page_id=642" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://how2help.durr.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebigham]

This railroad is in trouble!

http://www.watershedpost.com/2016/delaw ... breakdowns" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Delaware & Ulster Railroad still sidetracked by breakdowns

By Rebecca Andre
8/2/16 - 9:27 am

Above: A tour bus picked up stranded Delaware & Ulster Railroad passengers in Halcottsville on Friday, July 29. Photo by Rebecca Andre.

A locomotive pulling a private charter for the Delaware & Ulster Railroad broke down around 2:30 p.m. on Friday, July 29, stranding its passengers in the Delaware County hamlet of Halcottsville.

The incident was the latest in a string of mechanical failures that have sidetracked DURR’s 2015 and 2016 seasons.

DURR had to end its 2015 season early due to breakdowns. This year, a mechanical failure on the Fourth of July weekend delayed the beginning of the 2016 season for three weeks, according to a representative of the Catskills Revitalization Council, the nonprofit organization that runs the railroad.

Now, the railroad’s operation is delayed again. According to an outgoing message on DURR’s answering machine, the regular service of the railroad will happen “in early August.”...

[BR&P]

What is the problem? Junk equipment, or a lack of people who know what they are doing? Dedication and good intentions will only go so far. At some point, knowledge and experience are the difference between success and failure.

[lvrr325]

I still don't see why they can't borrow a CMR locomotive to get them some trips in. If they can't maintain it then insist some CMR guys do the inspections on it.

[pumpers]

How would they get it there?

[BR&P]

Lowboy

[airman00]

Not to say anything bad but that article was a tiny bit misleading. The engine didn't breakdown it was in danger of possibly having a breakdown, and as a safety precaution they decided to halt the run while the engine was still fully operational. And the article also said that one of the other engines will be repaired soon as a rebuilt radiator for it is on the way. So if you look carefully things maybe aren't so bad. Yes it appears money is really tight, but the DURR is making a go of it.

[BR&P]

No, they are NOT making a go of it. They ended last season early, started this year late, and have had further problems since then. And there is a big difference between a radiator being on the way, and having an operating locomotive.

It has to be extremely frustrating for the group - you can't fix equipment without money, and you can't get money without running the equipment. Each cancelled trip is money flying away. Let's hope they can find a way to keep the operation alive.

[BandA]

Well, the CMRR supposedly won't be running at Mt Tremper next year, (unless they run when the railcar concession isn't using the track?). So they may have idle equipment available for lease and volunteers with less to do?

It also might make sense for CMRR to reach out and help DURR stabilize, or DURR to reach out.

[Otto Vondrak]

According to the DURR web site, date was pushed ahead a month from July 2 opening to August 13 opening.

-otto-