Catskill Mountain Railroad News - 2010

A new thread for a new year! This thread is for the discussion of news and activities related to the Catskill Mountain Railroad in Kingston, NewYork and Phoenicia, New York. To get some background on the story, please see also: http://railroad.net/articles/railfanning/cmrr/

Official Web Site: http://catskillmtrailroad.com/

Photo Archive: http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?order= ... ntain%20RR

The 2009 thread can be found here: http://railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=128&t=58184

Are there any plans to extend the Kingston runs eastward? It appears that it would take minimal effort to reopen additional trackage between the current operating section and the former CSX connection.

David

I went through all of 2009's postings from Ernie, and I list these accomplishments:

• Coach 702 restoration continued: woodwork, seats, brakes, cabinet doors, and luggage racks.

• Phoenecia: tracks cleared and restored to the Boiceville Trestle

• Kingston: tracks cleared and restored to MP5 and Bridge C9. Fair Street crossing rebuilt.

• Cornell Street yard: lots of cleanup. Tamper fixed.

• Shokan: future crane siding cleared out.

Track Extension Eastward

David, we generally run only minimally east of Albany Avenue because we try to minimize our running in front of the residents at Downs Street. We will run on that trackage for a charter however, if the customer desires.


EH

ddk375 wrote:Are there any plans to extend the Kingston runs eastward? It appears that it would take minimal effort to reopen additional trackage between the current operating section and the former CSX connection.

Our current end of operating track is our yard in between ONeill Street and Cornell Street. I don't know if we have tried to cross Cornell Street in recent memory... the tracks are embedded in asphalt and I think they stop just short of Railroad Avenue and 50 feet short of the CSX River Line. Switch was removed in 1996. Operating on this track is a low priority, but I'm sure could be "reactivated" if the need arose.

Don't let Google maps fool you, there is currently no rail connection between CMRR and CSX. MAP LINK

-otto-

The last movement east of Cornell Street was in 2003, when the Trolley Museum borrowed one of our side dumps for their work on the track to Kingston point:



The track is still clear to that point, and we may use this area for storing the ballast hopper and gondola when they come back from 209. There is now a gate just beyond the building, though the rails are exposed all the way to CSX. There are a couple more gates across the tracks near the post office, but no permanent fencing.

The tracks near the CSX connection were last photographed by Steve Kijak in 2006:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=69960

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=69959

Since then a couple more gates have been added.

EH

Saturday, January 9th

On Saturday, January 2nd, George Peck will lead a crew meeting at Phoenicia between 8:30am to 9am. Plans are to do boltwork somewhere east of the Route 28 crossing in Mt. Pleasant with the work train.

The 702 crew plan to start at 10am. Plans are to work on brakes and installing one of the end doors.

There will be no work scheduled for Kingston on Saturday.


Sunday, January 10th

No crews are scheduled.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

A nice picture of the Boiceville bridge on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhonan/42 ... 46606@N20/

Saturday January 2nd

On Saturday, January 2nd, George Peck, Greg Peck, Jason DiTolla and Michael Adsit. They moved the train from Mt. Pleasant to Phoenicia, and spent the rest of the day in the yard reorganizing equipment for the winter months.



Saturday, January 9th

On Saturday, January 9th, George Peck led a crew consisting of Dave Mason, Brian Mason, and Michael Adsit. They replaced bolts on 18 joints near rock cut, beginning this winter's bolt replacement program.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, January 16th

On Saturday, January 16th, George Peck will lead a crew meeting at Phoenicia between 8:30am to 9am. Plans are to do boltwork somewhere east of the Route 28 crossing in Mt. Pleasant with the work train.

There will be no work scheduled for Kingston on Saturday.


Sunday, January 17th

No crews are scheduled.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, January 16th

On Saturday, the 702 crew worked on brake installation, installing the main brake valve and links. The crew consisted of George Liucci, Ernie Gehrer, Dick Wilhelm and Al Johnson.

Also on Saturday, George Peck led a crew at MP 24.2 that installed bolts in about 34 joints. The crew consisted of George Peck, Greg Peck, Dave Mason, Mike LaLonde, John Watson, Mike Adsit and two newcomers.

Some photos:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=160898

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=160899

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=160900

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=160901

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=160902

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

CMRR and DURR featured on Railfan & Railroad Magzine's new web site:

http://railfan.com/extraboard/

Conrail was barely six months old when the last freight train off the Catskill Mountain Branch tied up in Kingston, New York on October 3, 1976. The connection to the mainline was spiked shut, and it seemed that the Delaware & Ulster was headed for its own deep sleep.

Saturday, January 23rd

On Saturday, January 16th, George Peck will lead a crew meeting at Phoenicia between 8:30am to 9am. Plans are to do boltwork somewhere east of the Route 28 crossing in Mt. Pleasant with the work train. George says the bigger the crew the more he can get done. They will have their very warm caboose handy on the worktrain!

The 702 crew will begin in Phoenicia about 10am.

There will be no work scheduled for Kingston on Saturday.


Sunday, January 24th

No crews are scheduled.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Photos of Kingston Operations on December 27, 2009, including newly opened track from Washington Avenue to Bridge C9:

Crossing Washington Avenue:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/4304048801

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/4304793220

Approaching the Thruway overpass:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/4304793390/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/4304048657

Emerging from under the Thruway overpass:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/4304048551/

Arriving back at Kingston Plaza:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/4304048755

Enjoy!

-otto-

Saturday, January 23rd

On Saturday, January 23rd, George Peck led a crew consisting of Greg Peck, John Watson, PJ Hintz, Paul Sternitzke, Michael Adsit, Dave Mason, Derek Stapleton, Jason DiTolla, and newcomer Earl.

Because of torch problems, only one joint was done. However, the crew reset five rails on the north side of the track to improve bolt and rail joint alignment.

EH