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Its now all over. May 23, 1890 - May 30, 2016. 126 years of service to Ulster and Delaware Counties. Now to become just another bike path that will hardly be used. :-P

Yesterday, 5/29/2016 I headed up to Kingston and beyond to catch the Catskill Mountain Railroad one last time. Today, as I post this, the last trains have left Kingston and Cold Brook and the CMRR is winding down its operations. It now has sixty days to get its equipment off the right of way. This will be an expensive propostion as it all has to be trucked out. Here are my last photos of the CMRR and then a little CSX action afterword.



CMRR 400 waits for a call to duty that will never come at Kingston, NY 5/29/2016.







The only tracks that are safe in Phoenicia is this garden railroad owned by the Empire State Railway museum. The real track in the foreground will be ripped up for a hiking trail







CMRR 407 looks great in its last to next day of service as it pulls the first train of the day into Phoenicia 5/29/2016







Here is a view of CMRR 407 from the other side of the tracks at Phoenicia, NY 5/29/2015







CMRR 407 shoves east at Mt Tremper, NY 5/29/2016. One person observed a mere eight people on a parallel hiking trail that paid nothing versus 75 plus paying passengers on the CMRR. And Ulster County officials think yet another trail is a good idea????







CMRR 42 pulls the Kingston City Limited east back to Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 5/29/2016







CMRR 401 gets dragged back to Kingston Plaza in Kingston, NY 5/29/2016







CMRR 401 pulls the Kingston City Limited at Washington Ave in Kingston, NY 5/29/2015







CMRR 42 is pulled west at Washington Ave in Kingston, NY 5/29/2016







The CMRR advertisement for the last trains in the Catskills at Kingston, NY 5/29/2016







CMRR 401 waits for traffic to stop at RT 209 in Kingston, NY 5/29/2016







Volunteers have stopped traffic on RT 209 so the CMRR 401 can proceed west 5/29/2016. Its volunteers like these that have kept the CMRR running since 1982. Thank you all for your devotion to try and keep trains running in the Catskills.







CMRR 42 passes the modern crossing gates at RT 209 in Kingston, NY The CMRR paid for these with their OWN funds and volunteers installed them to make crossing RT 209 safe.







CMRR 42 drifts into the weeds towards Hurley Mountain Road and the end of active track. Its sad that Ulster County fought the CMRR at every turn, even refusing to allow them to spray the weeds to keep them away from the track making clearing the weeds a difficult and unending task for CMRR volunteers who would cut everything back with lawnmowers and whatever else they could use.







Having covered just about every spot that could be used for photography on the CMRR, It was time to head over to CSX for a bit....



CSX 474 is on Q-434 at Mount Marion, NY 5/29/2016







CSX 3420 is on Q-439 at Mount Marion, NY 5/29/2016







CSX 4070 is on C-712 at Mount Marion, NY 5/29/2016







CSX C-712 shoves into a customer siding at Catskill, NY 5/29/2016







CSX 4070 shoves cars into a customer siding at Catskill, NY 5/29/2016







CSX 4070 shoves cars into a customer siding at Catskill, NY 5/29/2016







After this I had to head home as my car was giving me trouble. It was a harrowing 100 plus miles home :-P

Notice I did not say happy memorial day. Thats because this day is supposed to be a solemn day where we remember those who fought and died for our country and to preserve our freedoms and our way of life. So, before you fire up the grill and gorge yourselves with hamburgers and hot dogs, pause and give a moment of silence to those who died to protect the flag and if you see or know a veteran, thank them for their service to our country.

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xNoxiousx
17:51 May 30 2016

I thank you for this post....I lost my heavily decorated grandfather so your words hit home....Today is not about those who currently serve or about those who are live that did serve today is only about those who have given their life in order to protect the freedom some of us abuse on a daily basis....instead of drinking ourselves into stupid we should be reaching out to those families who have suffered loss and making today a happy day for them...while some celebrate other cry....its just something to think about.

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SimpleMan
19:29 May 30 2016

I have always made it my goal to day observe memorial day as a solemn day. It is not national BBQ day at all. Today I honor the memory of those who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I do thank all the others that served as well.

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Todays road trip started out ok but around 2:30-3PM, the car starts acting up. Getting error messages in the driver information center stating service stabilitrak, service power steering, service brake assist. My gauges start going crazy. It kept getting worse going home. The check engine light comes on and it seems like its only running on half the cylinders when I start moving from a dead stop but then they all come back online once I gain speed. I don't know if this is some limp home mode or what. But with over 90 miles of this crap. I am beat. I was going to do dinner with a friend but now I all I want to do is take a nap. :-P

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Aliens
00:50 May 30 2016

change or at least clean the air filter. check the fuel lines, check the fuel filters. see if they need cleaning. by what you said, it improved when you gained speed. more air was forsed in....... its a passing thought.

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cr8054
21:53 May 30 2016

This is nearly new car. It shouldnt anything like that. I am thinking this is a bad sensor or maybe the computer bit the dust.

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Had a sleepless night. It seemed very humid in my room even though I had the air conditioning on. Just could not get sleep. It could have been the humidity, but I also wonder if it was due to the negative energy thats been going around as well. Oh well, got to hit the shower, get dressed and then its off to upstate New York to catch the Catskill Mountain Railroad one last time before they cease operations tomorrow. Its so sad to see this railroad shut down due to nothing more than politics and crooked politicians. Its sad that the people who have volunteered to keep the tracks clear of brush, to open more and more of the railroad line every year, operated trains to the delightment of many tourists and to see the work that they have done be undone and basically has been done for nothing. These people have put their blood sweat and tears into this railroad line and they have been shown the door by a politician who seeks to create yet another unused bike path. So today, I shall witness the end of 150 years of railroading in the Ashokan Valley. It will be a bittersweet day,

I think Dakotah and I need to break out the firewater again!!

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Dakotah
23:09 May 26 2016

Let's do it brother.

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cr8054
05:08 May 27 2016

Ok! (Hands Dakotah a beer.)

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I hate going to wakes and funerals. Getting dressed up, wearing uncomfortable dress shoes. Blech! And why do people say he or she looked so good?? They look DEAD!!! Oh well, I guess it's time to pay my respects.

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Dakotah
01:05 May 26 2016

I went to a white funeral once. And yes everyone was saying 'She looks so good' I wanted to tell these people 'She is dead...how can you say she looks so good. She has tons of make up on. That funeral dead peoples make-up' And the smell was horrible. The flowers. We just do things different. Have our own way of honoring the dead.

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SimpleMan
01:18 May 26 2016

I have the same question . I have decided to not even bother trying to figure it out. I choose to remember how they looked in life and know that the shell in the casket is exactly that now. The last funeral I attended was for a friends wife who died from cancer. I refused to go to the front. I chose to remember her the way she was in life. I spent my time with my friend and his family at the funeral.

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cr8054
02:18 May 26 2016

Yeah, thats why I don't like going to those things. I wish to remember the way a person looked when they were alive. All thats in that casket is an empty shell. Thats why I don't go to cemeteries. To me, there is nothing there. Its just a headstone with a persons name, date of birth and date of death. The person is long gone.

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WishBone
04:35 May 26 2016

yeah that is strange i guess it matters to some

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cr8054
05:09 May 27 2016

I know. I have a friend who visits his mothers grave several times a year. I don't see the point but I guess it does something for him.

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Sunday was a slow day, thats for sure. Not so great weather with not so great power. But as I have learned, photograph everything always as one day, it will be gone.



CSX 803 is on K-682 an ethanol train, not sure of the destination at Ridgefield Park, NJ 5/22/2016









CSX 3134 is on K-138, more Baaken Crude for Philadelphia at Ridgefield Park, NJ 5/22/2016







CSX 692 is on Y-220 a yard job based in North Bergen dropping cars and locomotives to the NYSW RR at Ridgefield Park, NJ 5/22/2016







CSX 3033 is on Q-409 a manifest train bound for Waycross, GA at Ridgefield Park, NJ 5/22/2016







CSX 852 is on Q-410 a manifest train bound for Albany, NY from Waycross, GA at Ridgefield Park, NJ 5/22/2016







NYSW 3012, one of the railroads newly rebuilt ECO series locomotives is on WS-6 a local freight based out of Ridgefield Park at Ridgefield Park, NJ 5/22/2016







CSX 8751 is on Q-433 a manifest freight bound for Newark, NJ at Ridgefield Park, NJ 5/22/2016







Enjoy!

I know a lot of millennials think they got it rough. Going to college, surfing the net ect. Well when I was 24, I had to work for a living. I was putting in 52 hour work weeks shoving carts and stocking shelves, mostly pushing carts. I did it in all kinds of weather, you name it. The blistering hot summer days, the coldest dark days of winter. Rain or shine and even in the snow. I was on my feet so much I would wear out a pair of sneakers in three to four months. This wasnt for pocket change either. I was giving most of the money I earned to my mother so she could keep the house after my parents divorced. The rest went to keeping my car running and paying the insurance. I certainly didnt have the time or the money to be playing on a site like this, but then again, back when I was in my 20's the internet was in its infancy. If you had the net, it was dial up with an external modem and there wasnt much out there yet. Mostly it was for email. Like I said, I didnt have much free time. I would be totally wiped after work so I would often take a nap and then go out for an hour or two to meet up with a friend for coffee. That was the extent of my leisurely activities. The bottom line is, before people complain about how hard they have it, they step back and be thankful for what they have, myself included as there are others out there who have it a lot harder than we do.

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BeautifulEnlightenment
09:07 May 24 2016

The struggle is real and I am done.

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moonkissed
10:35 May 24 2016

Speaking the truth.

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SimpleMan
14:52 May 24 2016

I remember life before the internet and its infancy. AOL and the sound of the dialing of the modem. Like you I had to work hard and had two jobs and a family. These younger ones have no idea what it was like and need to appreciate some of the modern comforts that they have. They also need to learn to develop a good work ethic and be realistic about life.

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Spent the day on Saturday in Upstate New York doing some rail photography. Here are the results.



CSX 7388 is on Q-254 an auto train bound for Newark, NJ at Newburgh, NY 5/21/2016







BC Rail 4645 is on K-652 an ethanol train bound for Tremley Point in Linden, NJ at Newburgh, NY 5/21/2016. The BC Rail locomotive is a rare catch as its supposed to be used up in British Columbia in Canada.







CSX 4533 is on Q-434 a manifest train bound for Albany, NY at Newburgh, NY 5/21/2016







CSX 19 is on K-141 an empty tank train headed back to the Baaken Oil fields for more crude at West Park, NY 5/21/2016







CSX 416 is on Q-433 a manifest train bound for Newark, NJ at West Park, NY 5/21/2016







Caught CSX 19 is on K-141 again at Kingston, NY 5/21/2016







Finally, CSX 6405 is on C-712 a local freight based out of Kingston at Kingston, NY 5/21/2016







Enjoy!

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xxSEXYxx
07:24 May 22 2016

Looks like you have ONCE AGAIN written another EPIC train journal with your photography in it. I LOVE YOUR WORK. You are an awesome original and I am so PROUD to have you as a part of my family. You are a very talented man and my friend and I love you forever!!! So let's spread some love and positivity!! Tomorrow is a new day! ;)

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cr8054
14:13 May 22 2016

Thank you! I am glad you enjoy my work. You are an awesome person and I am honored to be part of your family! You too are a very talented lady and honored to have you as a friend. Love ya! And yes, lets spread some love and positivity, we need at after the last few days.

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I had been thinking of heading down to Linden all last week to photograph this locomotive as its been down in Virginia and West Virginia coal country for the past year and FINALLY, its in New Jersey as the drill engine for the Phillips 66 refinery in Linden. So after a week of procrastinating; Sunday, I finally went down there. to get some photos. After heading back up to Ridgefield Park, my friend texts me that he would be working on the Reading Heritage locomotive to build his train. So once again, I headed down the NJ Turnpike to photo him and his conductor at work. Here are the results.



Here is NS 1067, the Reading Heritage Locomotive at Linden, NJ 5/15/2016







A GM product and a product designed by GM. A shot of my car and the NS 1067 on the GM Lead at Linden, NJ 5/15/2016







Another shot of the NS 1067, the Reading Heritage locomotive from the conductor's side at Linden, NJ 5/15/2016







Rear view of the NS 1067 at Linden, NJ 5/15/2016







My friend, Marc Samuelson stakes his claim on the NS 1067 at Linden, NJ 5/15/2016







My friend Marc Samuelson and his conductor William Billson, aka "Skittles" on the NS 1067 at Linden, NJ 5/15/2016.







My friend Marc Samuelson waves from the NS 1067 as he pulls the cars that will make up his train at Linden, NJ 5/15/2016







Marc says even though he considers himself to be a CNJ (Central Railroad of New Jersey) guy, he still strives to give customers "Bee Line Service"







His train made up, Marc has the NS 1059 and NS 8020 on 67Z and he is getting under way at Linden, NJ 5/15/2016







My friend Marc waves from the cab of NS 1059 on 67Z 5/15/2016







Enjoy!

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.

Ulster County has refused to extend the Catskill Mountain Railroad's lease on the Ulster and Delaware corridor as they are hell bent on turning it into a rail trail. They are supposed to be looking at other "vendors" to operate the two portions that are "supposed" to remain rail operations but I am convinced that no operator will be able to meet Ulster County's requirements or be able to convince the county executive, Mike Hein that they are worthy of being a designated operator. Its my sincere belief that once the CMRR is gone, rail service on the Ulster and Delaware corridor will be gone for good. Here is a link to the Catskill Mountain Railroads final schedule for 2016. The railroad ceases operations on May 30.



http://catskillmtrailroad.com/schedules.php

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

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SisterShadow
02:10 May 09 2016

^_^ Thanks!

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cr8054
18:12 May 12 2016

You're welcome!

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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.

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Lutris8
07:28 May 19 2016

Hi. Thank you very much for all your work. I love trains too. I really appreciate your dedication to them. Blessings :-) Lutris8

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cr8054
22:35 May 19 2016

Thank you!

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Been raining so I stayed home. Feeling a bit out of it anyway. My stomach is a bit sour, not sure why.