Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2017

Isn't that section in Kingston wide enough for rail-with-trail? How many people in that town don't have cars but can walk to the grocery store (i.e. the poor and not the elderly)? Does Kingston have sidewalks?

Crime on these trails is very common.

The Monon Trail in Indianapolis is a crime haven, although it does run along the eastern edge of one of the worst neighborhoods in the city. In another more rural part of Indiana two girls were kidnapped and murdered from a section of a rail trail (I think ex-Milwaukee Road) that you'd never even think would be a place for a crime to occur looking on the maps.

I've seen some similar stories out of North Carolina, too, the Swamp Rabbit trail.

I wonder if it would be worth the effort to gather up a database of all the crimes that occur on these trails and make it known to Kingston residents?

The RR segment from CSX (MP 2.9) to Chandler Drive (MP 3.57) has two overpasses which are chokepoints. The rest of the ROW is wide enough for rail with trail (66 feet). Eventually those two bridges will be replaced and can be widened at that time.

The CMRR has proposed embedding the rails in the asphalt on the chokepoints so that the CMRR can preserve access to CSX for future freight service. It also has proposed a new station at or near the former Kingston station.

The County has not listened to either plan and is moving as fast as possible to remove the rail. It appears the intent is to make sure we lose access to the outside permanently. Embedding the rails partly in the trail does not add much expense to the trail. In fact, the more use of this area the less likely it will be used for criminal purposes.

EH

Thursday December 21st

Train crew: Engineer was Tom Whyte, Conductor was Hunter Downie, Brakeman was KArl Wick, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Bruce Devorkin, Jess Pucchio, Russ Hallock and Ernie Klopping. Pat Smalley, Meg Carey worked in the gift shop.


Friday December 22nd

Train crew: Engineer was Earl Pardini, Conductor was Dave Hilliard, Brakemen was Tony Bicchino, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Ernie Klopping, Bruce Devorkin and Joe Wolff. Vince Guido and Freddie Rasmussen helped out. Pat Smalley, and Meg Carey worked in the gift shop.


Saturday December 23rd

Train crew: Engineer was John Marino, Conductor was Hunter Downie, Brakeman was Tom Whyte. Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Steve Stanton, George Bain, Jess Pucchio, Joe Wolff, and myself. Vince Guido and Jim Bruck helped out. Karin Vogel and Marcia Roosa worked in the gift shop.

The CMRR carried over 3,000 passengers in its sixth weekend of Polar Express.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Tuesday December 26th

Train crew: Engineer was Earl Pardini, Conductor was Dave Hillaird, Brakeman was Tom Whyte, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Bruce Devorkin, George Bain, Russ Hallock, myself and Ernie Klopping. Alex Sorenson, Vince Guido and Jim Bruck helped out. Pat Smalley, Meg Carey worked in the gift shop.

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Wednesday December 27th

Train crew: Engineer was John Marino, Conductor was Tyler Carelli, Brakemen was Tony Bocchino/Tom Whyte, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Ernie Klopping, Bruce Devorkin, Walt Otto, and Harrison Balduf. Freddie Rasmussen helped out. Pat Smalley, and Meg Carey worked in the gift shop.


Thursday December 28th

Train crew: Engineer was Earl Pardini, Conductor was Tony Bocchino, Brakeman was Karl Wick. Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Harrison and George Balduf, Rafael Demiglio, Bryan Wade and Bruce Devorkin. Alex Sorenson and Jim Bruck helped out. Karin Vogel, Pat Smalley, and Marcia Roosa worked in the gift shop.

The CMRR carried over 3,000 passengers in its last three days of Polar Express.

After the last train, the crew emptied out the tent and containers and completed putting everything away for the season.

A great close to a great year!!!


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Check out this video beginning at 1:34 for an old U&D RR scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQzXCoQ ... e=youtu.be

lee

To all:

The CMRR had a very successful year in 2017 - over 36,000 passengers carried and $1.1 million in revenue despite the loss of the west end of the railroad in Phoenicia.

Among the many accomplishments:

Moving our equipment in Phoenicia onto our property there for safe long-term storage.

Painting of most of the rolling stock.

Purchasing a new tamper and hi-rail backhoe.

Upgrades to the P72 heating HEP systems and repairs to the 2949 generator.

Upgrades of seating in the 2911.

Installation of 1100 ties completely renovating the track from Westbrook Lane to Bridge C9.

Carrying over 24,000 people for Polar Express and over 6,000 for our leaf and pumpkin trains.

Hiring our first employee, Rob Gaston as Event Coordinator.

Despite the loss of the trackage to the Glenford Dike, the railroad will be pushing hard to expand its operable trackage in 2018, and establishing a permanent rail yard and station in Kingston.

Many thanks to our volunteers and customers for making this a great year for the CMRR, despite the incredibly short-sighted decision by our Landlord to remove trackage to our intended destination, the Glenford Dike.

On to 2018!

Ernie Hunt
CMRR

Ernie,

To see and hear about the CMRR progress this year is great. Keep up the good work next year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all.

^Congrats to everyone at the CMRR!!

See 2018 thread:

viewtopic.php?f=128&t=166796" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

-otto-