Ulster County resolution 155 of 2015 created the U&D Corridor Advisory Committee:

http://ulstercountyny.gov/sites/default ... 5-15_7.pdf

The Committee has just issued an RFP for a consultant to assist them in determining what is the highest and best use of the corridor:

http://www.newyorkbids.net/bid-opportun ... ltant.html

Interested bidders need to respond by September 3rd.

EH

Thursday, August 13th.

Jim Bruck and John Prestopino weed-wacked Cornell Street yard.


Friday, August 14th

Dave Hilliard was engineer, Bob McDonald was conductor, Peter Fluchere was ticket agent. Tom Whyte was engineer trainee.

George Peck did trackwork in Phoenicia. After the 11am train, all further trains went to PA. We are now fully back in service to Phoenicia.


Saturday August 15th

In Kingston, Al Schoessow was engineer, Neil Remsen was conductor. John Marino was brakeman. Dave Hilliard and Jordan Torregrosa were flaggers. John Prestopino was trainman. Pat Smalley did the Teddy Bear entertainment. Thom Johnson as ticket agent.

Walt Otto and Jim Bruck continued work on coach 2949.

Jeff Otto and John Patane begain clearing out the cut near the body shop:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=225345

I weed-wacked in the body shop area.

George Peck did trackwork in Phoenicia.

Al Johnson, TW and Bill Kaba continued work on flat car 35111/273.

In Mt. Tremper, Tom Whyte was engineer, Ray Farrell conductor, and Peter Fluchere was ticket agent for both the regular runs and the Twilight limited. We were treated to a new band on the railroad the "Gandy Dancers" consisting of Thom Johnson on Drums, Jim Donnelly on Guitar, Wild Bill Drucker on Banjo, our very own Harry Jameson on the on the Washtub Bass.


Sunday, August 16th

Engineer was Tom Whyte, conductor was Neil Remsen, Tony Bocchino was brakeman. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.

Jeff Otto, Martin Elbrecht and John Marino worked on track in Kingston.

George Peck worked in the Phoenicia yard.



Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Friday, August 21st

Tom Whyte was engineer, John Prestopino was conductor, Ed Winstanley was brakeman. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.

George Peck did trackwork in Phoenicia.


Saturday August 22nd

In Kingston, Al Schoessow was engineer, Neil Remsen was conductor. Tony Bocchino was brakeman. Hunter Downie and Karl Wick were flaggers. Russ Hallock as ticket agent. The CMRR ran its first Rock N Rail special with the band "In the Kitchen".

Walt Otto and Jim Bruck continued work on coach 2949.

Jeff Otto, John Patane, Hunter Downie, Russ Hallock and I began clearing out the cut near the body shop and inserting ties.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=225425

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=225426

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=225427

George Peck did trackwork in Phoenicia with Greg Peck, Art Vogel and Ed Ryder.

Al Johnson, Terry Wiegert and Bill Kaba continued work on flat car 35111/273.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=225424

In Mt. Tremper, Tom Whyte was engineer, Ray Farrell conductor, Tyler Carelli was brakeman, and Jessica Ryder and Nicole Frawley were ticket agents. Trains began the new schedule of 11, 1, and 3pm with a 20 minute stop at Phoenicia.


Sunday, August 23rd

Engineer was Walt Otto, conductor was Neil Remsen, Dan Howard was brakeman. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.

George Peck worked in the Phoenicia yard.

Ernie Klopping, Al Schoessow, and Jeff Otto worked on MOW equipment at Cornell St and HMR.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

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

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

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

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

Related story about the election by the Kingston Times.

Naturally, I've been following this too, and in my opinion, based on other stories that have appeared in the news media, the railroad fight was only a symptom of many other problems experienced by the City of Kingston in this administration (one of them is a sinkhole of considerable size in a city street that hasn't been repaired for years). The mayor apparently was and is quite a tyrant, given to explosive and profane outbursts against all sorts of people, including vendors at a parade as well as various city employees. His quotations in the Kingston Times article linked below are almost unbelievable, but given his past actions, he's apparently serious about what a commentor said would be "scorched earth" actions in his remaining four months in office.


It's sad that the people of Kingston had to live with this for the last four years, even if some might argue that the mayor was elected and they got what they deserved.

http://www.kingstonx.com/2015/09/10/bot ... /#comments

Legislators Request Expression of Interest for County Owned Railroad Operations


Posted: September 10, 2015

http://ulstercountyny.gov/news/legislat ... operations


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


Documents:

Railroad Advisory Requests Expression of Interest

http://ulstercountyny.gov/sites/default ... erests.pdf

EOI:

http://ulstercountyny.gov/sites/default ... ment_0.pdf

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

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



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

Wow, what a muddy mess in that cut at the Body Shop crossing! Great progress! Keep on pushing west to the reservoir!

Rob Gardner

The interest thing is a great positive outlook for this line, they've got the right idea for this line to search for its economic outlook, give the Catskill guys a big pat on the back for their efforts.

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

Wow. The City used to park dump trucks on the tracks as a punitive measure, now they're helping to haul away debris and trash? Sounds like quite a (good) turn-around.

Howard P.

Just got to thinking a little bit...
While it's some ways off and I'm making a few assumptions here, if restoration to operation (paid for by insurance or the NYS&W RR?) becomes a possibility, perhaps a deal could be struck between the CMRR and the the owners of the recently damaged NYC 6721 to where it could operate on the CMRR for a period of time. Perhaps out of Kingston?

Anyone closer to either group have any related thoughts on the idea?
Worth looking into or just hot air?

Adam

Screw the Spandex set; they are a narrow-minded, narrowly focused, bunch of spoiled tightwads who want their free play-ways paid for by the rest of us.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/opinion/201 ... no-brainer

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.

The plan calls for the railroad to operate for two miles, from Kingston Plaza to Hurley Mountain Road, but, to date, nothing has been done to facilitate this. This two-mile ride might be exciting for a toddler, but I don’t think any adult would find it so. Furthermore, this does not provide a place for Catskill Mountain Railroad to protect or repair their equipment and they can never expand.

If business owners who are impacted by this roll over and accept it, they deserve all the loss of revenue this plan will create.

On the other hand, a rail/trail combination will be financially beneficial to our county as shown by the recent “Polar Express” and “Thomas the Train” rides which brought in excess of $2 million to our area. Seventy-eight percent of this money came from people residiing outside of Ulster County. Not exactly chump change.

Also, I believe that maintenance costs will be covered by the railroad.

End result: Money coming in at no cost to Ulster County taxpayers. No-brainer.

County residents should make their voices heard to the county executive and county legislators.

Sonia M. Scherry

West Hurley, N.Y.

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