Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2015

Friday, August 28th

At Mt. Tremper Tom Whyte was engineer, Ed Winstanley was brakeman, and Walt Otto was conductor. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.

Jeff Otto and Tom Whyte worked at the body shop crossing on material delivery.

George Peck, Greg Peck, and Hunter Downie worked at Phoenicia on track.


Saturday, August 29th

At Mt. Tremper, Dave Heick was engineer, Neil Isabelle was conductor, Bill Kaba was brakeman, and Gary Lowe was ticket agent.

Al Johnson worked on flat car 35111/273

George Peck, Greg Peck and Rick Desir worked on track near Phoenicia.

Jeff Otto, Tom Whyte, Russ Hallock and Joe Wolff worked on track at the Body Shop crossing.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=225550" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Gary Lowe, Bob Blake and I worked on Coach 832. Walt Otto and Jim Bruck worked on coach 2949. Ernie Klopping worked on the tamper.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=225549" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In Kingston, John Marino was engineer. John Prestopino was conductor. Al schoessow was brakeman. Tony Bocchino and Karl Wick were flaggers. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent. Dave Hilliard and George Bain assisted.


Sunday, August 30th

at Mt. Tremper, Dave Heick was engineer, George Peck conductor, Hunter Downie was brakeman trainee, and Greg Peck was car attendant. Gary Lowe was ticket agent.

In Kingston, Jeff Otto, Martin Elbrecht and Joe Wolff continued work at the body shop crossing.


Monday, August 31st

George Peck, Greg Peck and Hunter Downie worked on track in Phoenicia.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

I saw few pics of #407 on Facebook this weekend- the S1 looks really sharp!

^Yes! A pic of the "new" #407 is here:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=545426" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To all:

Justice has finally been served in Kingston by the voters. Mayor Shayne Gallo, who parked a dump truck on the CMRR tracks in Kingston in April 2013, and has led a crusade to get the CMRR to leave its Cornell Street yard through the abuse of zoning laws, has lost the democratic primary. He is out of the running on the November ballot, and the other contenders are much more railroad-friendly.

A great win for the CMRR!!!

EH



KINGSTON >> Steve Noble has defeated Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo in the primary for the Democratic line on the November ballot, according to unofficial results from the Ulster County Board of Elections.

With all 11 precincts in the city reporting in Thursday’s race, Noble had 880 votes to Gallo’s 668.

In the Democratic primary for city alderman-at-large, Noble’s uncle, James Noble, the incumbent, defeated Ulster County Legislator Jeanette Provenzano. The tally in the race was 829-685, according to the board.

The Nobles campaigned as a team, as did Gallo and Provenzano.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-new ... n-kingston" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Legislators Request Expression of Interest for County Owned Railroad Operations


Posted: September 10, 2015

http://ulstercountyny.gov/news/legislat ... operations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


2016 is the scheduled end of the current Ulster County railroad operator’s contract but it may not be the end of railroad operations on county owned railroads.

Ulster County Legislators serving on the Railroad Advisory Committee, expressed concerned with missed opportunities and lost potential concerning the maintenance of the U&D Corridor for the future when they voted unanimously at their September 8th meeting to distribute a Request for Expression of Interest from railroad operators.

The Expression of Interest enables the Railroad Advisory Committee to scope out potential opportunities that may continue in a future bidding process.

“The point is, so far we have not asked any railroad operators if there is any interest in continuing railroad operations in Ulster County after this lease agreement expires,” stated Railroad Advisory Committee Chairman David Donaldson.

“I look forward to learning what interest there may be,” stated Railroad Advisory Committee member Manna Jo Greene. "This is not a formal request for a proposal. It's only a request for expression of interest, which may provide some interesting options that we're not yet aware of. Exploring options for future use of the Ulster & Delaware Corridor can help the Legislature to make more informed decisions moving forward.”

This Request for Expression of Interest seeks to determine interest in operating any one, or a combination of the scenarios of short segments, long segments, and full segment as well as other reasonable and serious proposals.

“Future opportunities for the county owned railroad is an economic engine that we can not ignore,” concluded Railroad Advisory Committee Chairman Donaldson.

The request for expression of interest and the history of the railroad operations in Ulster County document will be posted, until the submission due date of November 2, 2015, at the Ulster County Legislature’s website:

http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/legislature" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Documents:

Railroad Advisory Requests Expression of Interest

http://ulstercountyny.gov/sites/default ... erests.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

EOI:

http://ulstercountyny.gov/sites/default ... ment_0.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well this is all great news! It appears that change is in the air. I am curious in regards to your rebuilding west out of Kingston. How far away are you guys from the next "main point" which appears to be Stony Hollow? (Based on the map on your website) And might you guys reach Stony Hollow this year?

Saturday September 12th

In Kingston, John Marino was engineer, Neil Remsen was conductor. Al Schoessow was brakeman. Hunter Downie and Karl Wick were flaggers. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent. The CMRR ran a special charter in the evening - Al Schoessow was engineer and Tony Bocchino brakeman.

Walt Otto and Jim Bruck continued work on coach 2949.

George Bain, Greg Vaughn and I worked on coach 832.

Earl Pardini and Jeff Otto inserted ties at the Body Shop crossing.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=225798" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Al Johnson worked on Coach 703.

In Mt. Tremper, Tom Whyte was engineer, Ray Farrell conductor, and Russ Hallock was ticket agent.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=225796" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Sunday, September 13th

Engineer was Walt Otto, conductor was Neil Remsen, Tony Bocchino was brakeman. Jessica Ryder and Nicole Frawley were ticket agents.

Dave Hilliard, Al Schoessow and Neil Remsen emptied the side dump into a Kingston city dump truck for disposal.

George Peck worked in the Phoenicia yard with Greg Peck.

Jeff Otto, Martin Elbrecht and Tom Whyte spiked ties near the body shop crossing.


Monday, September 14th

George Peck, Greg Peck and Hunter Downie replaced ties near MP 25.8.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/opinion/201 ... no-brainer" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

LETTER: Supporting the operation of Catskill Mountain Railroad is a ‘no-brainer’
POSTED: 09/20/15, 9:55 PM EDT

Dear Editor,

There is an Ulster County plan to tear up the Ulster & Delaware railroad tracks on which the Catskill Mountain Railroad tourist trains operate and create a trail-only system to be used by hikers and bikers. These types of trails have become a dime a dozen, available in many municipalities. No big tourist draw there. In all likelihood it will be used pirmarily by local people who can go out for the day and simply return home after hiking or biking, not spending any money at our local businesses. Not only is that a financial loss to the area, but there will be an added cost. Once created, the cost of maintaining this trail will be borne by the taxpayers of Ulster County....

Saturday September 19th

In Kingston, Al Schoessow was engineer, John Prestopino was conductor. John Marino was brakeman. Dave Hilliard and Harrison Balduf were flaggers. Jim Bruck was ticket agent. This was the last regular Kingston City limited for 2015.

Walt Otto and Jim Bruck continued work on coach 2949.

George Bain and I worked on coach 832.

Jeff Otto, Bob Blake and newcomer Bryan Wade spiked ties near the Body Shop crossing. Tom Whyte came later in the day.

In Mt. Tremper, Tom Whyte was engineer, Ray Farrell conductor, and Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.



Sunday, September 20th

Engineer was Dave Heick, conductor was Tony Bocchino, Tyler Carelli was brakeman. Bob McDonald car attendant. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.

George Peck worked in the Phoenicia yard with Greg Peck and Hunter Downie.

Jeff Otto, Tom Whyte, George Balduf, John Marino and Joe Wolff spiked ties near the body shop crossing.


Monday, September 21st

George Peck and Greg Peck replaced ties near MP 25.8.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

This is what happens when the CMRR gets nothing but positive letters!!

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/opinion/201 ... the-editor" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A note to readers regarding letters to the editor

POSTED: 09/24/15, 8:23 AM EDT | UPDATED: 5 HRS AGO 14 COMMENTS

With the exception of one letter that closely repeated the previously published arguments of the same writer, we have published every local letter we have received over the past two years about the Catskill Mountain Railroad and the disposition of the Ulster & Delaware right of way owned by Ulster County. In just the past 19 months, that’s been more than 100 letters, which have reflected a vigorous and passionate debate over this public issue.

However, we temporarily are suspending the publication of letters on this matter in the absence of new developments regarding the Catskill Mountain Railroad and the Ulster & Delaware right of way.

It is hoped that this hiatus will open space for letters on other topics until there are new developments.

Tony Adamis

Managing Editor

Two old switch keys: I have been asked to sell two old switch keys, one marked D&N, the other marked U&DRR. Not sure I can post this here. If so, good. If not, I understand and apologize. The owner is deceased. Hugh T. Guillaume posted this.

thebigham wrote:This is what happens when the CMRR gets nothing but positive letters

More excellence in "journalism" from this "newspaper".

Friday, September 25th

in Mt. Tremper, Tom Whyte was engineer, Russ Hallock was car attendant, and Walt Otto was conductor. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent. This was the first leaf train of the season.

Joe Michaels and Earl Pardini worked on Engine 401 and Coach 832.



Saturday September 26th

Jim Bruck continued work on coach 2949.

Al Schoessow and Dave Hilliard worked on engine 42. Ernie Klopping worked on the backhoe.

George Bain and I worked on coach 832 along with Neil Remsen.

George Peck, Art Vogel and Greg Peck worked on the tamper.

Al Johnson worked on the roof of the 703 and Bill Kaba painted one of the trucks on the 35111.

Jeff Otto, Earl Pardini, Bob Blake, John Marino, Joe Wolff and Bob Blake inserted ties in the cut at the body shop, marked ties and pulled OTM.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=226086" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


In Mt. Tremper, Tom Whyte was engineer, Ray Farrell conductor, and Russ Hallock was ticket agent.



Sunday, September 27th

In Mt. Tremper, Engineer was Tom Whyte, conductor was Tony Bocchino. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.

George Peck worked in the Phoenicia yard with Greg Peck.

Jeff Otto, Martin Elbrecht and Russ Hallock pulled all the OTM for the extension to MP 6.5.

Dave Hilliard, Al Schoessow and Neil Remsen removed broken windows from the 832.




Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Is OTM an abbreviation for other track materials?

The above suspension of letters supporting the Catskill Mountain Railroad just show why the daily freeman is bought mostly as a bird cage liner or some other use other than journalism since that doesn't exist there. On another note are you running the "Great Pumpkin" trains this fall, my grand kids loved this train last year.