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Today I logged in to find a fellow coven member has deleted their account. I am kind of saddened because she and I were inducted into our coven at the same time. I kind of considered her to be a classmate if you will. Now she is gone and I can only wonder why.

COMMENTS

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WeepingAngel
13:05 May 22 2016

If she's like most people on here she's probably got another profile, so just find that one and ask her :D

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Dakotah
20:49 May 23 2016

I hate when that happens too. People just... vanish. No good byes. But I suppose if they really were a friend and wanted to stay in touch they would have asked.

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Made another trek up to the Catskill Mountain Railroad to document the operation before it is gone.





CMRR 401 awaits its next call to duty at Kingston Plaza at Kingston, NY 5/14/2016





While I waited for the 4 PM Rock and Rails train, I ventured over to CSX for a bit....CSX 7848 is on K-144 at Kingston, NY 5/14/2016





CMRR 42 brings the "Rock and Rails" train into Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 5/14/2016





CMRR 401 heads east into Kingston Plaza with the "Rock and Rails Train at Kingston, NY 5/14/2016





CMRR is on the 4pm "Rock and Rails" train at Kingston, NY 5/14/2016





CMRR 401 pulls the "Rock and Rails" train under the NY Thruway on the outskirts of Kingston, NY 5/14/2016



I had wanted to find more spots to take pictures, but unfortunately the Ulster and Delaware Branch is pretty isolated on this segment. I went up to Hurley Mountain Road, but it was WAY too tight for a photo. I decided to head back over to CSX to try and catch more action.





CSX 5454 is on Q-439 at Mount Marion, NY 5/14/2016





Last train of the day. CSX 3182 is on K-138 at Mount Marion, NY 5/14/2016 with my good friend Douglas Del Deo at the throttle.



Thats it for today. I do want to get back up to the CMRR one more time on BOTH segments before the end on May 30.

Just wishing all the moms out there a Happy Mothers Day! Here is a photo of my mother in better times.

It has already begun. This past Sunday the Catskill Mountain Railroad was forced to vacate their Cornell Street Yard as the county wants to start ripping up this section immediately. This section, even in all the compromised rail with trail plans is designated "trail only". This is another short sighted and boneheaded move. This would isolate any further rail operation from that national rail network and ensure that no tourist operator could ever really turn a profit as anything and everything from new equipment to ties and ballast would have to be trucked in at high expense. This also leaves any rail operator without a secure facility where they can store, restore and repair equipment. I don't know where the Catskill Mountain Railroad is storing their equipment now, but I guarantee that its not secured leaving their equipment vulnerable to vandals and copper thieves. Copper thieves can do so much damage to a locomotive by cutting the cables to the traction motors as to render it more expensive to scrap rather than repair the locomotive. Here is the sad scene recored and shared by a videographer on You Tube.



https://youtu.be/zNDJ7WsQghw

On May 30, the Catskill Mountain Railroad will cease operations of the former New York Central / Penn Central / Conrail Ulster and Delaware Branch. The CMRR has been operating on the branch since 1982 with the goal of reopening the entire line from Kingston, NY to Phoenicia. Currently there are two segments. The Kingston segment that runs from Kingston to Hurley Flats and the Mount Tremper section that runs from Mount Tremper to Phoenicia. Sadly; Ulster County, who owns the railroad has been opposing the CMRR at every turn for a number of years. The reason: The current county executive covets the railroad for use as a trail only. My gist is he is on the take from some prominent residents around the Ashokan Reservior who don't want trains in their back yard as the county already has several "rail trails" that see little to no use. I also believe the county executive wants to pocket the money that would be made from selling the rails and other steel components by scrapping the railroad. This is a very short sighted move as the CMRR has been paying rent to use the railroad. They have been trying to reopen the line using their own funds and volunteers who have been using their own lawn mowers and whatever other resources to keep the weeds and other growth from taking over. Finally, the CMRR is the largest and most popular attraction in the county. That equals a lot of tourists who spend their money in the county. The number of riders has increased every year, especially on the Kingston segment which has generated the most opposition from county politicians. This past year has seen Thomas the Tank Engine and the Polar Express visit the CMRR, both HUGE attractions for kids and their families. Heck the Polar Express Trains were SOLD OUT. They had to actually press a coach that was being restored into service early so they could handle the crowds. The train attracted so many people, the trains all departed 30 minutes late so everyone could board safely. Now the CMRR will be no more. The county will receive no rent for the use of the corridor and all efforts to keep the corridor open will be borne by the taxpayers of Ulster Country. I fear the segment in Kingston once the railroad will be gone will become a haven for the dregs of society, namely drug dealers, criminals and of course people looking for a place to dump their garbage. Its such a shame that the county cannot see the forest for the trees and keep the railroad in addition to having a trail. Its possible to do both both the pig headed county executive and his henchmen do not want it. A bunch of NIMBYS, ECO Nazis, and bike riders who do not want to share the corridor with the railroad have won. Ulster County will pay a terrible price. I only hope that the CMRR can find a safe place for their equipment and a new place to run as they have three once common, now rare locomotives in the form of two ALCO RS1's #401 Ex Green Mountain 401 and #400 Ex SOO Line 2361. Only the 401 is operational at this time working on the Kinston Segment. Then there is ALCO S1 #407 Ex SIRT and LIRR 407 which operates at Mount Tremper. These locomotives should be preserved and made and kept operational as they are fine examples of their classes.



Here are some photos of the CMRR that I took last year. I do hope to make it up there for the final runs later this month.



Starting on the Kingston Segment:



CMRR 401 on the 3pm Kingston City Limited shoves east back to Kingston Plaza at Washington Ave in Kingston, NY 7/11/2015







The flagman has traffic finally stopped, CMRR 401 proceeds west over RT 209 in Kingston, NY 7/11/2015.







CMRR 401 sits at Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 7/11/2015. A CMRR volunteer informed me that the CMRR 401 would be cutting away from the Kingston City Limited train and heading west to pick up an old dining car to bring to RT 209 so that it could be transported by truck to its new home to eventullay be restored. Many thanks to this gentleman for giving me the heads up on this extra move.







The CMRR 401 has cut away and is heading west at Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 7/11/2015







CMRR 401 drags the old dining car at RT 209 in Kingston, NY 7/11/2015







A look at the old dining car that the CMRR crew has brought to RT 209 to be shipped out by truck in Kingston, NY 7/11/2015







The CMRR 401 runs light east back to Kingston Plaza at Washington Ave in Kingston, NY 7/11/2015







Now for the Mount Tremper Segment:



CMRR volunteers have just finished putting the lettering on #407 at Phonecia, NY 9/5/2015







After riding the Catskill Mountain Railroad, I disembarked and walked up to the head end to get a good shot of the #407 at Phonecia, NY 9/5/2015







A roster shot of the CMRR 407...







CMRR 407 shoves its train to Mount Tremper and a bit beyond at Mount Pleasant, NY 9/5/2015







And back to the Kingston Segment for the Polar Express:



CMRR 42 is on the 2pm Polar Express heading back into Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 12/5/2015







CMRR 401 shoves the 2pm Polar Express into Kingston Plaza Station in KIngston, NY 12/5/2015







CMRR 401 pulls the 4pm Polar Express at Kingston, NY 12/5/2015. All of these trips were sold out as a result the 4 and 6pm trains departed a half hour late.







CMRR 42 brings up the rear of the 4pm Polar Express at Kingston, NY 12/5/2015







CMRR 42 brings the 4pm Polar Express back to Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 12/5/2015







CMRR 401 shoves the 4pm Polar Express back into Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 12/5/2015







Satisfied customers cross over the tracks in front of CMRR 401 at Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 12/5/2015







CMRR 401 pulls the 6pm Polar Express out of Kingston Plaza in KIngston, NY 12/5/2015







CMRR 42 once again shoves the Polar express west at Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 12/5/2015







I am glad I had the foresight to go out and document this operation as its likely that it will be no more. I hope you enjoyed the photos as much as I had taking them.

COMMENTS

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BeautifulEnlightenment
15:54 May 05 2016

These photos are amazing, John. You are the same way about trains that my husband is about planes, LOL! You guys would probably get along really well actually. :)



Also.. I just wanted to mention.. I don't know what they did with the steel from the railroad, but I DO know that they DEFINITELY did NOT take it to the scrap yard. It is a federal offense to scrap railroad parts. They would have called the police on them if they tried to do that. :)

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DarkRails
06:45 May 06 2016

Nothing has been ripped up....Yet. Yes its a federal offense to sell scrap steel from the railroad if you have stolen it, but in this case, the county owns the railroad itself. The Catskill Mountain Railroad is a tenant. Not sure if they have to go through the same process of filing for abandonment as a regular railroad does, but since the county owns the railroad, they can legally sell any steel for scrap which includes the rail, tie plates joint bars, spikes, ect ect. They cannot touch the CMRR's locomotives and rolling stock unless they get a court order to do so. Since its the county we are talking about, I would not be a bit surprised if the county tries to seize and scrap the CMRR's equipment if its still on the property after the 60 day grace period beginning on May 30.

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