I am still not clear on what happened to the equipment stored at the Cornell Street yard in Kingston. The posts say the yard was "evacuated", but to where? There is talk of the equipment being stored in Phoenicia, but as I understand it, there is no complete rail link from Kingston to Phoenicia, there is no bridge across Esopus Creek above Ashokan Reservoir. So where was the Cornell Street equipment moved to? Appears to me that any equipment move to Phoenicia will require cranes, trucks, etc. What's the plan?

It is my understanding that all of the CMRR's equipment is currently being stored on the mainline (in one long consist) outside of the Cornell Street Yard. The equipment is currently unprotected from vandalism, parts thieves, etc...

http://photos.greatrails.net/photos-ori ... 487770.jpg

http://imagestorage.greatrails.net/phot ... 097203.jpg

Best,
-Andrew

So here's another good question... What happens to the equipment? Does it actually get moved, or end up in dumpsters like the Pemberton roster?

If the CMRR wins the county's RFP for a new rail operator, then CMRR will resume operations with the same equipment, albeit on two segments of the ROW with the section between them converted to a trail.

A segmented railroad is still better than no railroad at all.

On a semi-related question - does the county/state still have the unreleased FEMA funds, that was supposed to repair the line? If so, would they release it to the CMRR if that group wins the new contract? I can't imagine, after all that has gone on, that if CMRR wins the contract, that all of a sudden, those funds would be released. Would it be better, then, (playing devil's advocate here) if another group wins the contract - and gets the funds released at that point to the new group?

Either way, it's a messed up situation - but what's the best that can happen at this point? And don't say that the entire rail line stays intact, because we know that won't happen, regardless of how much wishful thinking you may have.

The funds are to repair one washed out bridge, not the entire line. The railroad had for a very long time operated the segment near Phonecia with the Kingston segment only being operated for revenue runs the last five or so years. Traditionally all equipment, including locomotives have been trucked by road between the operating segments.

I wish them all the best, but.......I think they better start lining up cranes and low-boys.

At this point it couldn't be worth the try taking the county to court again on the count of historical negligence. And when I say court I mean a Supreme Court case this time around. This conflict has grown in my perspective to the point where the federal gov should be involved not as an additional nuisance but as a safeguard to prevent future similar incidents from occurring. It's time to make both Hein and Cuomo accountable for their actions not just on a preservation basis but on grounds of corruption. You have a mayor who is on charges of a felony (parking a truck on active tracks) and an executive who is wasting thousands of taxpayer cash fighting the CMRR on legal means and potentially a paved trail solicited by a bunch of "environmental" lunatics. This is NY State for you gentlemen and I'd ask to please take note of our lovely legislators who know nothing but extortion and a crisp hate for railroading.

Cameron

Cameron,
Would you please give me the specific citations for the allegations I've highlited.
GME

I don't remember whether it's the Adirondack Scenic or CMRR that has the remarkable clause in the RFP that says no one associated with the previous operator shall be allowed to participate in a bid. But judging by the poisoned language I've seen in the Ulster documentation so far, I'd have to wonder if the Ulster RFP would not have such provision. And what that implies both for any succeeding operator and that operator's use of qualified volunteers...

Why would any court, especially the Supreme Court have any interest in this? I understand that emotionally the loss of more streaks of rust stinks. However I think everyone has gotten so far beyond what really has occurred here;

A tenant has not lived up to the conditions of a 25 year lease. They were able to live out the lease term. The land owner feels there is a higher and better use for the property. The lease has ended and the owner wants to move in a different direction. It may not be the direction us rail fans want but we don't control / own the property, the County does. It is really that simple.

My hope is that a new lease will be executed allowing continued use of portions of the corridor. But time will tell.

Cameron,
Would you please give me the specific citations for the allegations I've highlited.
GME[/quote]
Sure thing,

https://www.facebook.com/notes/catskill ... 646476682/

The first part you mention goes with the point being that the county has repeatedly denied federal government funds specifically allotted to the CMRR in their haste to quicken the lease. While the county has no provision itself to preserve historical sites such as the U&D corridor it should be known that the County Exec is technically under misconduct for improper usage of public funds on a project that has ALREADY shown it will not be beneficial to the people of Kingston. Despite media contradiction Kingston does has a separate rail trail on the row of the old NYO&W and from feedback I've heard I'd be quick to tell you it's greatly under used and developed. There are many public works projects in Kingston that would better suit the funds e.g. Hein's own program to stop Youth Trafficking (yes, that is actually happening) along with his own pet peeve; the Patriot Project, a plan designed to provide housing for our veterans returning from war. Hein says it will cost over 300k via fundraising yet he surely has the money somehow to provide for a trail sponsored by a bunch of avid hipsters. It blows my mind Trainlawyer how such a respected politician would go out of his way to prefer harassing accomplished volunteers over helping military vets and supposedly children who are in actual danger of criminals. What a great place Kingston must be to live in under this guy,

http://ulstercountyny.gov/news/executiv ... ject-plans

http://ulstercountyny.gov/news/executiv ... fe-harbour

Cameron

Perhaps this is relevant:

http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/respond ... ion-slapps

and:

http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/anti-slapp-law-new-york

Howard P.

I'm no lawyer by any stretch, but isn't this *exactly* what Ulster County did/is doing to the CMRR?

Then again, they got away with blocking the rails with their utility truck, so what's to say they're not simply getting away with this, too?

I think CMRR has a case, I tend to think the Kingston Mayor acted improperly, it feels like something underhanded was going on. Perhaps other show signs of anti-railroad/CMRR whatever causing the present angst. CMRR has proven they can do it and do the train runs and are willing to to do them. Who else as an operator is out there anyways? and as far as the equipment goes, if something starts calling in the scrappers I would send in the marines and stop them.