2012 Annual Progress Report - Catskill Mountain Railroad

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN RAILROAD 

2012 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 

• PHOENICIA 

• MT. TREMPER 

• COLD BROOK 

• ASHOKAN 

• KINGSTON 

DAVID SILVER PHOTO

C A T S K I L L M O U N T A I N R A I L R O A D • 2 0 1 2 A N N U A L P R O G R E S S R E P O R T 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Map of Leased and Operated Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

State of the Railroad in 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Phoenicia Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Kingston Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

Upgrades and Expansions to Ulster County Railroad Properties . . . . . 13 

Equipment Restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

Obstacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Giving Back to the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Education Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Volunteers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 

2013 Project Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Appendix A - Man-hours Contributed to Ulster County . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Appendix B - Our 2012 Brochure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

Appendix C - Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

AND CORPORATE OFFICERS 

Harry G. Jameson, III 

Director and Chairman of the Board 

Ernest E. Hunt IV 

Director and President 

George H. Peck 

Director and Vice President 

Earl Pardini 

Director and Railroad Superintendent 

Peter A. Fluchere 

Treasurer 

Gladys A. Gilbert 

Director and Secretary 

Raymond T. Farrell 

Director 

Mark K. Glaser 

Director 

George V. Liucci 

Director 

Joseph M. Michaels, P.E. 

Director 

Gregory B. Vaughn 

Director 

Appendix D - Various press coverage samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN RAILROAD CO. 

P.O. Box 1415 

Kingston, NY 12401 

www.catskillmtrailroad.com 

info@catskillmtrailroad.com 

The Catskill Mountain Railroad Company is an all-volunteer 

community-based organization chartered in 1982 to lease, restore, and 

operate 38 miles of Ulster County-owned railroad between Kingston 

and Highmount. ©2013 Catskill Mountain Railroad Co. 

CONTENTS - PAGE 2


For the first time in over 58 years, a regularly 

scheduled passenger train crossed over the C9 

Bridge just west of Milepost 5 in Kingston, New 

York. On March 31, 1954 it was New York Central 

train #528. On December 8, 2012 it was Catskill 

Mountain Railroad Winter Holiday Train. At the 

controls of the locomotive was Earl Pardini, longtime 

President of the railroad and also brakeman 

on the last westbound Conrail freight train across 

the bridge in 1976. Photo by Dan Howard 

INTRODUCTION 

2012 was a year of recovery, shock and achievement for the CMRR. 

The year began with a meeting on January 30, 2012 with Ulster County 

Executive Mike Hein. Hein pledged his support of repairing the damage 

from Hurricane Irene and our vision of running from Kingston to 

Phoenicia. The railroad continued to operate out of Mt. Tremper on a 

shortened run due to damage from Hurricane Irene on August 28, 2011. 

However, the ride was increased from a four mile round trip to a five 

mile trip after repairs at MP 25.5 were completed on August 5, 2012. 

Work on our new switch and work train storage siding at MP 24.75 

progressed throughout early 2012, with the switch being placed in service 

on May 25, 2012. The interior of Coach 701 was fully repainted, as 

was the interior of Mt. Tremper Station. 

On October 4, 2012, Ulster County Executive Michael P. Hein announced 

that Ulster County planned to convert 32 miles of the Ulster 

& Delaware Corridor to a recreational trail, leaving only Phoenicia to 

Cold Brook for the CMRR. He also stated that the County planned to 

raise $650,000 from scrapping of rail from the U&D Corridor. This was 

announced publicly without prior consultation with the CMRR. 

In November, 2012, Ulster County informed the CMRR that all seven 

INTRODUCTION - PAGE 3

C A T S K I L L M O U N T A I N R A I L R O A D • 2 0 1 2 A N N U A L R E P O R T 

FEMA projects to repair damage from Hurricane Irene were approved 

for a total of $2.3 million. Ulster County's share was picked up by New 

York State. 

Finally, work on Bridge C9 continued throughout the year, with the 

bridge being opened for service on December 8, 2012. By year-end, 

work began on track renovation towards Route 209 outside of Kingston. 

Our all-volunteer railroad looks forward to building upon this year’s 

accomplishments, and continue our program of repair, restoration, and 

expansion of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad Corridor. 

INTRODUCTION - PAGE 4

DURR to Arkville 

and Roxbury 

Highmount 

Pine Hill 

Delaware & Ulster Railroad 

has proposed a plan 

to extend to Big Indian 

Big Indian 

Shandaken 

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN RAILROAD CO. 

LEASED AND OPERATED LINES - 2013 

©2013 Otto M. Vondrak/Catskill Mountain Railroad. Not an official map. Not all routes and stations shown. 

Damaged by Hurricane Irene 

PHOENICIA 

Mt. Tremper 

Damaged by Hurricane Irene 

Cold Brook 

FUTURE EXPANSION 

TO ASHOKAN, PHOENICIA 

Bridge C30 - Boiceville 

washed away after 

Hurricane Irene in 2011 

Butternut Cove 

Ashokan 

Ashokan 

Reservoir 

0 2 

4 6 

miles 

West Hurley 

Stony Hollow 

CSX 

to Albany 

Hurley Mountain Rd. 

(FUTURE STOP) 

ROUTE 209 

Esopus 

Creek 

Hurley Mountain Rd. 

Bridge C90 

Washington Ave. 

Cornell Street 

KINGSTON 

SEE INSET 

MAP 

Bridge C9 to Route 209 

segment reactivated in 2012 

BRIDGE C-9 

repaired 2012 

I-87 THRUWAY 

Washington Ave. to Bridge C9 

segment reactivated in 2009 

Holiday Inn 

(FUTURE STOP) 

KINGSTON SHUTTLE SERVICE 

PRESENT AND FUTURE EXPANSION 

Washington Ave. 

Cornell St. to Washington Ave. 

segment reactivated in 2008 

0 1/4 

miles 

Westbrook Lane 

I-587 

ALBANY AVE. 

to New Jersey 

ONEIL STREET 

Boice’s Dairy 

(FUTURE STOP) 

Cornell St. 

CORNELL ST. 

CSX 

to Albany 

to New Jersey


All aboard at Mt. Tremper! Did you know when you 

ride our trains, you’re reducing the impact of automobile 

traffic on Catskill Park? We allow thousands 

of visitors to get out of their cars and enjoy 

the scenic beauty of the Catskills each year. 

Photo by Mark Glaser 

STATE OF THE RAILROAD IN 2012 

While waiting on word as to FEMA funding for damage from 

Hurricane Irene in 2011, the CMRR continued to add to its infrastructure 

between Phoenicia and Cold Brook, installing a new storage siding 

at MP 24.75 that was put in service on May 25, 2012, and lengthened 

though the summer. Washout damage from Hurricane Irene at MP 25.5 

was repaired and on August 5, 2012, our Mt. Tremper train added 

another 1 mile round trip west of the station. Work progressed 

throughout the year on the renovation of Bridge C9 in Kingston. 

Then on October 4, a political hurrricane struck the CMRR, far worse 

than any natural event. The public announcement by the Ulster County 

Executive Michael P. Hein that the county planned to convert almost 

the entire U&D railroad corridor to a recreational trail while raising 

$650,000 by scrapping rail to fill gaps in the Ulster County 2013 

budget. This was announced without prior discussion or consultation 

with the CMRR. The announcement was especially shocking because 

the railroad met with Mr. Hein in January, 2012, where he stated that 

he would help the railroad recover from Hurricane Irene and implement 

its plan to operate trains connecting Kingston to Phoenicia. 

On October 15, 2012, the CMRR met with Dennis Doyle and Chris 

White of the Ulster County Planning Department. The CMRR was 

asked to review the ALTA report of 2006 to see if “Rail with Trail” 

STATE OF THE RAILROAD - PAGE 6


could be implemented from MP 3 to MP 11. If not, the railroad would 

have to go. No discussion of an extension of our lease would be allowed, 

presumably until we had accepted these terms. 

Despite the discouraging news from the County, the CMRR kept working 

on bridge C9 and the CMRR’s Planning Committee started work 

on researching a “Rail with Trail” plan from MP 3 to MP 11. The 

CMRR also decided to go on the offensive, asking its volunteers and 

supporters to write, call and email Ulster County politicians and ask 

them to support the railroad. 

On December 4, at a public meeting prior to the adoption of the 2013 

Ulster County budget, many from the railroad attended and 10 spoke 

to the County Legislature. Although the budget passed with the 

$650,000 in revenue from scrapping the rails still intact, the County 

Legislature expressed significant support for the CMRR and for a trail 

alongside but not in place of the railroad. 

On December 7, Bridge C9 was certified by our bridge engineer for 

service, and our Winter Holiday trains began crossing the bridge on 

December 8. This was a significant achievement that also helped restore 

an important part of Ulster County’s transportation infrastructure. 

CMRR locomotive 401 safely crosses Washington 

Avenue in Kingston with another loaded Halloween 

Special. The seasonal themed trains have become 

a popular attraction, growing each year. With the 

completion of repairs to Bridge C9, the ride will 

continue to expand westward towards Hurley. 

Photo by Mike Foley 

STATE OF THE RAILROAD - PAGE 7


SUCCESS DESPITE DEVASTATION 

In 2012, the Catskill Mountain Railroad had its second-highest ridership 

ever. Our revenue for the 2012 season amounted to $109,361, an increase 

of 14% from 2011’s $96,238, but still less than our all-time high 

of $130,218 in 2010. 11,528 passengers rode the CMRR in 2012 (8,463 

Phoenicia, 3,065, Kingston), 24% above the 9,302 passengers in 2011 

(6,684 Phoenicia, 2,618 Kingston), but still a decrease of 6% from our 

pre-Irene high of approximately 12,255 (10,211 Phoenicia, 2,044 

Kingston) customers who rode the CMRR in 2010. 

Some light repairs were made to allow the Esopus 

Scenic Train to travel a half-mile west of Mt. Tremper 

while we await the release of FEMA funds to 

complete repairs to allow us to return to Phoenicia 

once again. 

Photo by Ernest Hunt 

All the revenue we earned in 2012 was used for operating expenses of the 

railroad. Some of our largest expenses are insurance, which was 17% of 

revenues, fuel which was 15% of revenues and equipment repairs and 

maintenance which were 10%. 

SUCCESS DESPITE DEVASTATION - PAGE 8


Mt. Tremper station is our railroad’s base of operations 

for the Esopus Scenic Train. 

Photo by Mike Foley 

PHOENICIA OPERATIONS 

Esopus Scenic Train: The CMRR’s Esopus Scenic Train began operations 

on May 26 and provided tourist passenger service initially on a 

shortened 4-mile roundtrip between Mt. Tremper and MP 23.3 near 

Boiceville, New York. Our discounted fare was continued in 2012. The 

ride was lengthened by another mile west of Mt. Tremper with the 

completion of repairs at MP 25.5 on August 5, 2012. (Before Hurricane 

Irene, our riders enjoyed a 1.5-hour ride along the Esopus Creek with 

views of the Catskills, and a stop at the Phoenicia station, home of the 

Empire State Railway Museum.) In 2012, Scenic Train ridership was 

8,463, over 25% more than the 6,684 for 2011, but still below our pre- 

Hurricane Irene high of 10,211 in 2010. 

Twilight Limited Trains: On July 21st and August 18th, the CMRR 

ran special Twilight Limited trains departing Mt. Tremper in the 

evening after sunset. The train featured refreshments and live music by 

Earl Pardini and the Slide Mountain String Band, and are generally 

amongst our most popular special promotions. 

Fall Foliage Trains: A significant percentage of our ridership is realized 

during our fall season. Despite our shortened ride, people travel to 

Mt. Tremper to take a trip on our Fall Foliage Specials to view the spectacular 

colors of the Catskills. October ridership was 4,217 in 2012, 

over 50% from 2,669 from 2011, but still down from the pre-Hurricane 

Irene total of 4,481 in 2010. 

OPERATIONS - PAGE 9


Our annual Christmas Train is a joint event held 

with the Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenicia, 

and is offered as a free event to those who live 

in the area. 

Photo by Tom Healy 

Christmas Trains: Our operations for the season were concluded by 

our annual Christmas Train ride. This has been a longstanding tradition 

and a joint endeavor between the CMRR and the Empire State 

Railway Museum to welcome the community in the spirit of the holiday 

season. Several trains were run on December 16 out of Mt. Tremper, 

and were offered free and open to the community as a gesture of good 

will at Christmas time. With Santa on every train, and candy canes for 

all, live musicians led Christmas carols and songs about the railroad for 

everyone aboard. At the ESRM station in Phoenicia, hot cider and treats 

were provided and enjoyed by everyone. Over 75 people rode the Christmas 

Train in 2012, despite poor weather. 

OPERATIONS - PAGE 10


Passengers enjoy the open-air car on our weekend 

Kingston trains. 

KINGSTON OPERATIONS 

The CMRR began its Kingston operations on June 30, 2012, with our 

Kingston shuttle operating on Saturdays in Kingston through Labor 

Day. This year, every train run in Kingston was a “themed train.” The 

CMRR also participated in Kingston on Friday, July 8th for Kingston’s 

Children’s Day events. 

The “themed” trains included: June 30 Stars and Stripes Special; July 

7 Catskill Mountain “Circus Train”; July 14 Scouting Day; July 21 Lollipop 

Express; July 28 Teddy Bear Train Rides; August 4 Parents’ Day; 

August 11 Ulster County SPCA Day; August 18 Teddy Bear Train 

Rides; August 25 Baseball Day; September 1 Labor Day Trains. 

Our total passengers for the summer “themed” trains were 939 in 2012, 

up 31% from 715 in 2011. 

Halloween Trains: On October 20 and 21, as well as 27 and 28, the 

CMRR ran its Halloween train in Kingston, with a harvest and Halloween 

theme. Ridership was 760, up 56% from 485 in 2011. 

Winter Holiday Trains: The CMRR ran its Winter Holiday Trains on 

the weekends throughout December. The Holiday Train once again 

proved very popular, with 1,366 carried in December, an increase of 

10% over the 1,243 carried in December in 2011. 1,038 passengers were 

carried on the Winter Holiday Trains in 2010, 952 in 2009 and 884 in 

2008. 

Ridership in Kingston was 3,065 in 2012, as compared to 2,618 in 

2011 (a 17% increase), 2,044 in 2010 and 1546 in 2009. 



IN CONCLUSION 

In conclusion, the 2012 represented a partial recovery for our operations 

in Mt. Tremper, but another all-time high for Kingston. Once repairs 

are made with the approved FEMA funding so we can again reach 

Phoenicia and Cold Brook, we expect to exceed this in 2013. 

We estimate that over 1,724 hours of volunteer labor were expended in 

the operations of our trains (an increase from 1,430 in 2011). Our engineers, 

conductors, brakemen, and car attendants did a great job not only 

running our trains, but also offering the tourist public our hospitality, 

showcasing the natural beauty of the Catskills, and the history of the 

Ulster & Delaware Railroad. 



UPGRADES AND EXPANSIONS TO 

ULSTER COUNTY RAILROAD PROPERTIES 

In calendar year 2012, over 2,900 hours of volunteer labor was expended 

to improve and upgrade the 38.6-mile former Ulster & Delaware 

Railroad property owed by Ulster County and leased by the CMRR. Of 

these 2,900 hours, over 600 were used to operate heavy machinery and 

equipment in work to restore the line, and over 800 were spent working 

on the decking of Bridge C9. 

Since late 2006 we have fully rehabilitated 1.8 miles of track in 

Kingston, and another .6 miles in Cold Brook, totaling 2.4 miles. We 

have also added another .8 miles of track from Cold Brook to the 

Boiceville Trestle for work train service, increasing our operating track 

further. This represents a 60% increase in train-operable track since 

2006, from 5.4 miles to 8.6 miles. In late 2012, by opening bridge C9 and 

some track west of the bridge, we extended our operable track another 

1/10th mile for a total of 8.7 miles. People from all walks of life (some 

from hundreds of miles away) have come to help restore rail service in 

the Catskills. 

Despite the setbacks of Hurricane Irene, where 4 miles of track were 

taken out of service due to the storm, our work to expand the railroad 

continued in 2012. In addition to normal upgrades and maintenance, 

work was completed on two major projects by year-end. First, a new 

switch, the first in several years at the railroad, was completed at MP 

24.75 for equipment storage and was lengthened over the summer. Second, 

installation of a new deck for Bridge C9 continued through the 

year, with the bridge being placed in service on December 7, 2012. Additionally, 

washout repairs at MP 25.5 were completed on August 5, 

2012, allowing the Scenic Train to run a half-mile west of Mt. Tremper 

towards Phoenicia. 

UPGRADES AND EXPANSION - PAGE 13


Art Vogel is cutting the rail connecting the new 

frog at MP 24.75 under George Peck's careful supervision. 

March 24, 2012. 


January, February, and March 2012 

Our west end crew worked on the new 

switch at MP 24.75 in the first quarter. 

All the switch timbers were laid 

out, and the switch parts were set in 

place. 

Construction of our new storage siding continues. 

March 24, 2012. 


In February, between Shokan and MP 

13.8, the Pettibone Crane was used to 

remove many trees that fell near the 

right of way due to Hurricane Irene. 

It was later moved to Kingston for the 

Bridge C9 renovation project. 

On the east end of the railroad, 4 ties 

were installed east of O’Neil Street, on 

March 17th replaced 6 ties were replaced 

west of Elmendorf Street, and 

on March 24th, 6 ties were replaced in 

the “O&W Switch” at MP 4.26. 

The CMRR track inspection crew (l-r, Mark Glaser, 

George Peck, John Patane) near bridge C9 in 

Kingston. They are working with the hi-rail truck 

to mark ties in Kingston for our spring track blitz 

there.. March 10, 2012. 


Timber replacement on Bridge C9 continued 

through the spring. March 10, 2012. 


The C9 crew applied sealant to the 

last of the bridge timbers for C9, and 

began the transport of bridge timbers 

to the worksite at MP 5. The second 

bay of the truss received new bridge 

timbers on March 25, 2012. 



April, May, June 2012 

On the West end, our crews completed 

the new switch at MP 24.75 on May 

25, 2012, and then began lengthening 

of the siding. 

Bending the Stock Rail at New Switch at MP 24.75. 

One of the last items to be done before putting the 

main line part of the switch back in service. 


On the east end, 4 more switch timbers 

were installed in the O&W switch on 

April 14th, In June, 58 ties were inserted, 

plated and spiked between the 

Trailways Crossing and Washington 

Avenue. 

First use of New Longyear Siding at MP 24.75 on 

May 19, 2012. This siding will be used primarily for 

storing maintenance equipment and work trains. 


During this quarter, 250 bridge timbers 

and rail were installed throughout 

the entire truss span of bridge C9 

and the first girder bridge. Both girder 

bridges were placed on temporary 

blocking and jacked into alignment. 

About six inches of steel was cut off 

the truss stringers to allow for better 

expansion. 

CMRR Track Crew Replacing ties in Kingston on 

June 16, 2012. 


Also in the spring, our brush crews 

worked at many points on the line 

widening the ROW so that trees do not 

hit the train in regular service, and so 

that we can still access all of our Out 

of Service track for basic maintenance. 

Bridge C9 deck got a coat of sealing paint before 

the new timbers were installed on May 5, 2012. 


Spiking down rails on Bridge C9 on June 23, 2012. 




July, August, September 2012 

In the summer on the west end, the 

major project was lengthening the 

new Longyear siding from its initial 

90 feet to 300 feet. 

On September 30, 2012, George Peck continued 

work on extending the Longyear siding. It is now 

300 feet long, with 210 feet of clear space for 

storage of equipment and trains. 


Other work performed in the summer 

included mechanical mowing and cutting 

of the right-of-way in Kingston. 

Work continued on Bridge C9, new 

support pedestals being installed between 

the two girder bridge approaches. 

Our sickle bar cutting crew helps keep areas of 

the railroad free from brush and other encroachments 

throughout the year. 

Photo by John Prestopino 

Tie work on the east end included 2 

ties inserted west of the 587 overpass 

and 3 near the Holiday Inn on July 

8th; 3 ties east of MP 4 on July 15th; 

11 ties between MP 3.63 and 3.81 on 

August 8th. 

Dumping Fill at MP 25.5 to repair the minor 

washout there on July 14, 2012. 


The washout at MP 25.5 was repaired 

on August 5, 2012, after dumping 15 

dump trucks full of stone. The Scenic 

Train was extended west to the next 

washout at MP 25.8. 

CMRR Volunteer Art Vogel Clearing Trees near 

MP 14, on July 24, 2012. 

Photo by Karin Vogel 

Our brush crews spent lots of time 

clearing clusters of fallen trees off the 

out-of-service track from Cold Brook 

to just west of Kingston. 



October, November, December 2012 

In Kingston, 5 ties were inserted and 

spiked west of the Albany Avenue 

bridge on October 7. On November 3, 

25 ties were inserted between Milepost 

3.62 and 4.26. 

Our volunteer track crew replacing ties in 

Kingston on November 3, 2012. 


Additional ties were inserted in the 

new Longyear Siding to get a full tie 

count for the siding. 

The final round of ties was installed in Longyear 

Siding on October 20, 2012. 


Work on Bridge C9 continued 

throughout the quarter, with the last 

50 bridge timbers installed in October 

and November. New concrete 

pedestals were poured for the west end 

of the bridge. On December 7th, the 

bridge was inspected and placed into 

service. 

Our Bridge C9 Repair Crew mixed concrete for the 

girder pedestals on November 24, 2012. 


After the bridge was completed, track 

crews rebuilt 150 feet of track west of 

the bridge inserting 46 ties in this section 

of track. 

After pouring the second west end girder 

pedestal, the Bridge C9 crew works to get the next 

section of rail spiked before setting in the last few 

bridge timbers on November 25, 2012. 


CMRR Track Crew working west of Bridge C9 on 

December 8, 2012. 

Photo by Greg Vaughn 



CMRR volunteers Bill Kaba, Thom Johnson and Al 

Johnson finished work painting the floor on Coach 

701 on May 12, 2012. 

Photo by Ray Farrell 

EQUIPMENT RESTORATION 

The main equipment restoration project in 2012 was the continued renovation 

of passenger car 701 after the addition to service of passenger 

car 702 in 2010. The 701’s floor was completely repainted and its window 

mechanisms repaired. CMRR passenger flats 271 and 272 had repairs 

made during the summer. The inside of Mt Tremper station was 

completely repainted and the space was reorganized to serve as an office 

for the CMRR. Finally, the CMRR completed renovations of its second 

Fairmont 110B tamper, which it purchased three years ago, and placed 

it into service in Kingston. 

Our second-hand tamper has been repaired and 

was placed in service on September 2, 2012. 

Photo by John Prestopino 

EQUIPMENT RESTORATION - PAGE 18


The remains of Bridge C30 at Boiceville after the 

effects of Hurricane Irene on September 3, 2011. 

Photo by Paul Sternitzke 

OBSTACLES 

Our obstacle list has finally grown shorter this year, with the completion 

of repairs to Bridge C9 on December 7, 2012, and the completion 

of Hurricane Irene damage at MP 25.5 on August 5, 2012. 

Butternut Cove Culvert Repair 

Although not as extensive a repair as the two bridges over the Esopus 

Creek, the concrete culvert at Butternut Cove (MP 18.57) needs to have 

the wing wall replaced. The washed out roadbed will have to be replaced 

and tracks repaired. Currently, only our light maintenance equipment 

can traverse this partially washed-out area. This is another major impediment 

to returning through rail service from Kingston to Phoenicia. 

Bridge C30 - Boiceville 

On May 17, 2008, the Catskill Mountain Railroad ran its work train to 

the Boiceville Bridge, Milepost 21.3, after some minor repairs to the 

tracks east of Cold Brook Station. With the tracks now restored up to 

the Boiceville Bridge, this crossing presented the last major obstacle 

for the CMRR in lengthening its ride and accessing the spectacular scenic 

views of the Ashokan Reservoir. The bridge was completely destroyed 

by Hurricane Irene in 2011. 

CMRR volunteers stabilize the the track above 

Butternut Cove so that our light maintenance 

equipment can operate through this area to help 

with restoration and repair of this significant 

drainage culvert along the railroad. 


OBSTACLES - PAGE 19


Scouring at MP 22.6 

The right-of-way was heavily scoured from about MP 22.6 to MP 22.7. 

Nearly all ballast was washed away, including some ties, subgrade, and 

protective rip-wrap. We await the release of funds to make repairs so 

we can return to Cold Brook Station. 

Collapse at MP 23.3 

Collapse of the right-of-way at MP 23.3 also hampers our return to 

Cold Brook Station. This section of track was repaired by a contractor 

in the 2004 expansion towards Cold Brook, but has required annual repair 

ever since. Hurricane Irene completely removed the protective riprap 

for this area, which has been steadily falling into the creak ever since 

the storm. We await the release of funds to make repairs. 

OBSTACLES - PAGE 20


Scouring at MP 25.8 

We are unable to run west of Mt. Tremper because of scoured track at 

MP 25.8. At MP 25.8, heavy rip-rap is needed to keep the track from 

falling once again into the creek. Until 25.8 repaired, we will not be able 

to head west towards Phoenicia. We await the release of funds to make 

repairs to this section. 

Campground Curve 

The most visible casualty of Hurricane Irene was the track at Campground 

Curve, several hundred feet of which washed into the Esopus. 

In order to protect Route 28, NYSDOT repaired the ROW in October, 

2012. We await the release of funds for track materials washed away by 

the flood in order to restore this section of the line. 

OBSTACLES - PAGE 21


Phoenicia Scouring – MP 27 to 27.9. 

All throughout the Phoenicia yard, the right-of-way was heavily 

scoured by Hurricane Irene, and in many cases ties and subgrade were 

also washed away. We await the release of funds so we can make repairs 

and return to serving Phoenicia. 

MP 28 Washout 

Although not directly part of our operations, our leased right-of-way 

from MP 27.9 to 28, which was completely washed out by Hurricane 

Irene, needs replacement in order to protect Bridge Street and Phoenicia 

Yard from future flooding. 

West of Phoenicia 

Although not part of our operating section of the line, Hurricane Irene 

washed out track at MP 29.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.7 to 32, 32.7 to 33, and 33.8. 

The bridge at Big Indian, MP 36.7, also nearly washed out. These obstacles, 

plus the MP 28.8 bridge washed out and removed in 1997, will 

someday need to be repaired to restore train service west of Phoenicia. 

OBSTACLES - PAGE 22


LEASE RENEWAL 

The CMRR’s lease with Ulster County expires on May 31, 2016. The 

most difficult obstacle for us in obtaining funding to repair the above 

obstacles is the short term of our lease. We are actively working with 

Ulster County to extend our lease far enough in the future so that we 

can apply for state and federal funding, through which many funding 

programs exist, to repair the obstacles listed above. Many of these 

programs do not require matching funds from the County. 

The Catskill Mountain Railroad provides all-season 

and all-weather transportation services. 

LEASE RENEWAL - PAGE 23


GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY 

In July, the CMRR participated in Kingston’s annual Children’s Day 

parade, and offered rides to the public after the parade was over. 

In August, we hosted a special day for the Ulster County SPCA in 

Kingston. Half the proceeds from that day were donated to UCSPCA. 

In December, the CMRR gave free rides to the public in Mt. Tremper 

for its annual Santa Train last December 11. 

EDUCATION PROGRAMS 

Catskill Mountain Railroad’s Education Committee has written and developed 

two programs which we make available to school children. 

1) “Safety First”, which explains to Kindergarten and Pre-First, the importance 

of safe, appropriate behavior to be observed around trains 

and railroad tracks. 

2) Our fourth grade lesson addresses transportation and New York 

State history. 

In December 2012, the railroad hosted the Funshine Nursery School 

of Rheinbeck. This is their sixth annual children’s Christmas party celebrated 

with us. 

COMMUNITY - PAGE 24


VOLUNTEERS 

Though a privately held corporation, the CMRR has no paid employees 

and is entirely dependent on its volunteers for operating trains and all 

other work on the line. The volunteer base is very “hands on” with volunteers 

actively working to help the railroad with whichever skills they 

are possessed of and whatever tasks they are interested in. Nevertheless, 

safety is of primary importance to the railroad, and all volunteers are 

taught to make it their primary concern as well. 

Catskill Mountain Railroad volunteers 2010 at our 

annual meeting (not all shown). 

Photo by Thom Johnson 

The railroad requires all new volunteers to go through a “provisional” 

status until they reach a minimum of 40 hours of work towards boardsanctioned 

projects. Upon reaching 40 or more hours, a volunteer must 

be approved by the Board of Directors before becoming a full Volunteer. 

All full volunteers are eligible to become project foreman, and also to become 

CMRR stockholders. 

VOLUNTEERS - PAGE 25


CMRR volunteers who enter train service are subject to the same types 

of rules and safety regulations as other railroads. Qualification classes 

are held every winter and our volunteer employees are tested on both 

written rules and operating practices appropriate for their responsibilities. 

Any member of the public over 16 may become a volunteer with the 

railroad. Positions include: 

• Train Crew (Engineer, Conductor, Brakeman, Car Attendant) 

• Dispatcher, Ticket Agent and Station Maintainer 

• Track Repair and Restoration Crew Member 

• Equipment Repair Restoration Crew Member 

• Painting Crew Member 

• Brush Cutting Crew Member 

• Marketing, Sales and Publicity 

Whatever your capabilities there is a role for you at the CMRR. You 

don’t need to have railroad experience, but you will learn fast. The 

training you receive can help you at your existing job, and potentially 

qualify you for working on a non-volunteer railroad. 

For those who want a break from their regular profession, volunteering 

at the CMRR is a healthy way to get exercise and have a sense of accomplishment. 

The ultimate reward comes from the “thank yous” we 

get from our riders who come from all over the United States. 

VOLUNTEERS - PAGE 26


2013 PROJECT GOALS 

CORPORATE AND OPERATING 

The Catskill Mountain Railroad’s Board of Directors have 

approved the following project goals for 2012: 

Strategic Goals 

1. Restore service from Phoenicia to Cold Brook using approved 

FEMA funding for repairs. 

2. Increase passenger train, charter and group tour ridership and 

revenue by 20% 

3. Extend our Lease with Ulster County 

4. Continue to increase our Volunteer base 

PROJECTS AND GOALS - PAGE 27


2013 PROJECT GOALS 

RIGHT OF WAY AND EQUIPMENT 

Capital and Maintenance Projects 

1) Track Projects 

a) Phoenicia to Cold Brook – Restore track damaged by Hurricane 

Irene and resume operation to Cold Brook 

b) Cornell Street to Bridge C9 – Annual rehabilitation and maintenance 

of operation section 

c) Bridge C9 to Route 209 – Restore to Class 2 

d) Route 209 to Hurley Mountain Road – Restore to Class 1 

2) Passenger Capacity 

a) Complete 702 “punchlist” 

b) Move stored coaches to Cornell Street 

c) Stabilize all coaches and begin Coach 703 Rehab for Kingston. 

d) Convert flatcar 35111 to passenger flat 273 to help expand 

Phoenicia capacity. 

3) Equipment Restoration and Repair 

a) Broom and Ballast Regulator Repair 

b) Continue repairs to locomotive 400 

4) Facilities and Infrastructure 

a) Complete 2nd Station in Kingston 

b) Begin design work for 2-stall Engine/Car Repair shop 

c) Assist Empire State Railway Museum with the design and construction 

of its new restoration facility in Phoenicia. 

PROJECTS AND GOALS - PAGE 28

C A T S K I L L M O U N T A I N R A I L R O A D • 2 0 1 A N N U A L P R O G R E S S R E P O R T 

APPENDIX A 

This report represents the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s 2012 

Man-hours Contribution to Ulster County. A “man-hour” is the amount 

of work performed by an average worker in one hour, not accounting for 

breaks or rest. 

2012 Man-hours Contribution to Ulster County 

Catskill Mountain Railroad 2012 Manhours Contribution to Ulster County 

12/31/2012 

Ulster County Hours 

Milepost 

Total 

Total 

2012 Jan-Mar. Apr.-June July-Sept. Oct.-Dec. Jan-May June-Dec. 2012 

Volunteer Labor 

Phoenicia Track Crew 

Track Repair 27.9 to 21.3 

23.3 Repair 23.3 

Switch Construction 

Total Phoenicia Track Crew 

96.00 0.00 22.00 62.00 12.00 14.00 82.00 96.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

662.00 175.00 295.00 103.00 89.00 470.00 192.00 662.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

758.00 175.00 317.00 165.00 101.00 484.00 274.00 758.00 

Brush Cutting Crew 

West End 28.8 to 41.4 

Phoenicia 28.8 to 26 

Mt. Tremper 26 to 24 

Cold Brook 24 to 21.3 

Reservoir 21.3 to 16.3 

Ashokan 16.3 to 16.2 

W. Hurley 16.2 to 5.95 

Hurley MR 5.95 to 5.53 

Route 209 5.53 to 5.42 

Kingston 5.42 to 3.2 

Total Brush Crew 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

6.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 0.00 0.00 6.00 6.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

102.00 45.00 42.00 6.00 9.00 87.00 15.00 102.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

116.00 0.00 26.00 43.00 47.00 0.00 116.00 116.00 

224.00 45.00 68.00 55.00 56.00 87.00 137.00 224.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Kingston Crew 

Track Repair 

209 Extension 

Bridge C9 

T 

Total Volunteer Labor 

Machine Hours 

Backhoe 

Work Train 

MOW Equipment 

Track Cars 

Kalamazoo 

Other 

Total Machine Hours 

Bridge Deck Worker 

640.00 105.00 173.00 150.00 212.00 120.00 520.00 640.00 

144.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 144.00 0.00 144.00 144.00 

1,139.00 167.00 553.00 81.00 338.00 652.00 487.00 1,139.00 

1,923.00 272.00 726.00 231.00 694.00 772.00 1,151.00 1,923.00 

2,905.00 492.00 1,111.00 451.00 851.00 1,343.00 1,562.00 2,905.00 

102.00 22.00 17.00 26.00 37.00 22.00 80.00 102.00 

26.00 0.00 13.00 13.00 0.00 0.00 26.00 26.00 

29.00 0.00 13.00 0.00 16.00 3.00 26.00 29.00 

424.00 78.00 155.00 64.00 127.00 209.00 215.00 424.00 

43.00 0.00 36.00 0.00 7.00 36.00 7.00 43.00 

8.00 5.00 0.00 3.00 0.00 5.00 3.00 8.00 

2.00 0.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 0.00 2.00 2.00 

634.00 105.00 234.00 108.00 187.00 275.00 359.00 634.00 

832.00 54.00 457.00 69.00 252.00 450.00 382.00 832.00 

APPENDIX - PAGE 29


APPENDIX B 

A sample of our 2012 brochure. 

See the Historic City of Kingston! 


A unique view of historic Kingston! 

The Ulster & Delaware Railroad started construction in 

1866 from the Hudson River at Kingston Point. By 1900, 

the line was complete through to Oneonta, providing a 

vital link for freight and passengers through the Catskills. 

Acquired by the New York Central Railroad in 1932, the 

last passenger train ran in 1954. In later years, Penn 

Central offered freight service, but after decades of 

declining revenues, the last train rode on the old U&D 

tracks in 1976. Ulster County purchased the railroad in 

1979 to preserve the corridor for future rail use. In 1982, 

the Catskill Mountain Railroad was chartered to run 

tourist passenger trains as well as freight service. The 

new scenic train you’re riding today is just one part of a 

long-term plan to re-open the length of the railroad from 

Kingston to Phoenicia and beyond. In 2008, we 

extended our scenic ride to 

Cold Brook and reintroduced 

service to the historic city of 

Kingston. Our volunteers are 

working hard to expand our 

ride year after year. Enjoy a fun 

train ride in our rebuilt caboose 

or enjoy the fresh air of our 

open flatcar. Your support helps 

make it all possible! 

KINGSTON CITY SHUTTLE 

Enjoy a fun 45-minute round trip through the historic city of 

Kingston. All trains depart from Westbrook Lane, minutes 

from the I-87 Thruway. Seating is first come, first served. 

2012 TRAIN SCHEDULE 

D E PA R T U R E S All trains round trip to Westbrook Lane 

Kingston . . . . . . . . . . 

(Westbrook Lane) 

1:00PM, 2:00PM, 3:00PM, 4:00PM 

JUNE 30 THRU SEPTEMBER 1 

TRAINS OPERATE SATURDAYS ONLY 

Visit our website for full event details! 

June 30 – Stars and Stripes Special 

July 7 – Catskill Mountain “Circus Train” 

July 14 – Scouting Day 

July 21 – Lollipop Express 

July 28 – Teddy Bear Train Rides 

August 4 – Parents’ Day 

August 11 – Ulster County SPCA Day 

August 18 – Teddy Bear Train Rides 

August 25 – Baseball Day 

September 1 – Labor Day Trains 

OCT. 20-21 AND OCT. 27-28 

Fun and Friendly Halloween Trains! 

TRAINS OPERATE SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS 

Our train will be fully decorated to put you into the Halloween 

spirit! Our train crew will be in full costume, so 

come out in your best Halloween gear! Fun for all ages! A 

perfect Halloween activity that’s not too scary for younger 

children and adults. Trick or treat! 

DECEMBER 1 THRU 30 

Festive Winter Holiday Trains 

TRAINS OPERATE SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS 

Get caught up in the magic of the season and enjoy our 

decorated train as we make our way through the historic city 

of Kingston. Warm up next to our caboose's wood stove, or 

enjoy the festive atmosphere of our open-air flatcar. 

KINGSTON TRAIN FARES 

Adult — $6.00 Children (ages 2-11) — $4.00 

Ride the Scenic Esopus Creek Route 

Children under 2 ride free with paid adult fare 


Scenic train rides along the Esopus! 

Board your train at Mt. Tremper station and step back to 

a time when train travel was the only practical way to 

access the Catskills. Relax in our restored 1920s coaches 

or enjoy fresh air and wide open views from our open 

gondola car. Listen for the engine’s whistle and be on the 

lookout for wildlife. See the scenic Esopus Creek and the 

Catskills in a way you just can’t appreciate from your car. 

You’ll enjoy the same scenic beauty rail travelers have 

been enjoying since the 1860s. All aboard! 

Take a ride through history! 

to Oneonta 

HOW TO FIND US 

PHOENICIA 

MT. TREMPER 

28 

28 

28A 

212 

Ashokan 

N E W Y O R K 

Woodstock 

375 

209 

212 

West Hurley 

28 

87 

to Albany 

Saugerties 

87 

9W 

9W 

209 

KINGSTON 

587 

to New York City 

EASY TO FIND FROM THE THRUWAY! 

Take the New York State Thruway (I-87) to Kingston, 

Exit 19. For Kingston City Shuttle trains, take I-587 to 

the end, make a right onto Albany Ave., a right onto 

Clinton Ave., and a right onto Westbook Lane. For 

the Esopus Scenic Train and Fall Foliage specials, 

take Route 28 west to Mount Tremper. 

CMRR Mount Tremper Station 

5408 Route 28, Mt. Tremper, NY 12457 

CMRR Kingston Westbrook Lane Station 

149 Aaron Court, Kingston, NY 12401 

ALL ABOARD! 

Ride the Scenic Esopus Creek Route 


P.O. BOX 1415 • KINGSTON, NY 12401 

(845) 688-7400 

Or email us at info@catskillmtrailroad.com 

HUDSON RIVER 

Don’t miss our 

Fall Foliage Trains 

throughout October! 

® 

SCENIC TRAIN RIDES 

CATSKILL 

MOUNTAIN 

RAILROAD 

ESOPUS SCENIC TRAINS 

IMPORTANT NOTE: We are still recovering from the 

effects of 2011’s Hurricane Irene, where the railroad 

suffered major damage at both Phoenicia and Cold 

Brook which prevent us from operating the entire 

length of our excursion. As we rebuild, we offer a 

shorter five mile round trip that departs from our 

Mt. Tremper station on Route 28. On behalf of our 

volunteers, thank you for your continued support! 


MAY 26 THRU JUNE 24 

DEPARTS 

Mt. Tremper. . . . . . 11:00AM, 12:00PM, 1:00PM, 2:00PM 

Saturdays, Sundays, and May 28 (Memorial Day) 

JUNE 29 THRU SEPTEMBER 3 

YEAR-ROUND FAMILY FUN! 

Fun and exciting round-trip excursions 

through the heart of the Catskills 

along the scenic Esopus Creek departing... 

• MOUNT TREMPER • 

DEPARTS 

Mt. Tremper . . . 11:00AM, 12:00PM, 1:00PM, 2:00PM, 3:00PM 

Introducing special event service 

through the historic Hudson Valley city of... 

Fridays, Saturday, Sundays, and Sept. 3 (Labor Day) 

• KINGSTON • 

★★ 

TWILIGHT LIMITED 

JULY 21 AND AUGUST 18 

Join us once again for the Twilight Limited! Ticket 

office opens at 7:30pm and the evening’s events begin 

at 8:00. You will enjoy light refreshments and live 

musical entertainment by Earl Pardini and the Slide 

Mountain String Band on your journey. Our train will 

bring you out on the line to view the beautifully clear 

night sky before returning to Mt. Tremper. 

TWILIGHT LIMITED FARE 

Adult — $14.00 Children Under 12 — $8.00 


★★ 

Find us on Facebook! . 

(845) 688-7400 

CATSKILLMTRAILROAD.COM 


SEPT. 28 THRU OCT. 28 

DEPARTS 

SEPTEMBER 8 THRU 23 

DEPARTS 

Mt. Tremper. . . . . . 11:00AM, 12:00PM, 1:00PM, 2:00PM 

Saturdays and Sundays 

FALL FOLIAGE TRAINS 

Experience the spectacular colors of autumn in the 

Catskills! See sights you just can't get from your car, 

and without the hassle of driving, everyone gets to 

enjoy the views. All trains depart from Mt. Tremper. 

Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and October 3 (Columbus Day) 

10:00AM, 11:00AM, 12:00PM, 

Mt. Tremper . . . . 

1:00PM, 2:00PM, 3:00PM 

SCENIC TRAIN/FALL FOLIAGE FARES 

Adult — $12.00 Children (ages 4-11) — $7.00 


The restored Phoenicia Station is home to the 

Empire State Railway Museum. PHOTO BY DANIEL CASE 

No ride on the Catskill Mountain Railroad is complete without a visit! 

Separate admission fee applies. The museum is open on weekends 

and holidays from Memorial Day through Columbus Day from 

11:00am to 4:00pm. Please visit esrm.com or call (845) 688-7501. 

GROUPS AND CHARTERS 

Everyone loves a train ride! Charter the train for your 

next birthday party, family reunion, senior group, 

Scout troop, or other special event. Our friendly 

all-volunteer staff will make sure your event is an 

enjoyable one. A variety of vintage railroad equipment 

is available, depending on location. To book 

your group travel or for more information, please call 

Pat Smalley at (845) 889-4242 or please send an email 

to charters@catskillmtrailroad.com. Tour operators 

and tour buses welcome! 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Schedules are adhered to as closely 

as possible, but the railroad reserves the right to alter 

schedules and substitute equipment as operating conditions 

demand. The railroad is not responsible for lack of 

sufficient capacity. There are no bathrooms on board trains. 

APPENDIX - PAGE 30


APPENDIX C 

A note of support from the Ulster County SPCA, thanking us for helping 

to raise donations to support their activities. 

APPENDIX - PAGE 31


APPENDIX D 

Catskill Mountain Railroad in the press. 

The Little Railroad That Could 

BY JAY BLOTCHER 

The crews of the Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) have been 

working on the railroad all the live-long day. But not simply to 

pass the time away. CMRR is a group of volunteers dedicated to 

rebuilding the tracks of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad. It once 

ran elegant passenger trains between Ulster and Delaware counties, 

from Kingston to Oneonta. 

Harry Jameson, chair of the CMRR, is unapologetically obsessed 

with his noble task. So is the legion of 130 volunteers 

who venture out in all types of Valley weather to work to bring 

the group steps closer to a fully functioning 38-mile railroad as 

it once ran in the 19th to 20th centuries. Throughout the hours, 

days, months and years of toil the CMRR is now nearly three 

decades old. 

“Our goal is to make Ulster County’s Tourist Railroad the polished 

gem it has the potential to be,” Jameson said. Jameson 

was not train-crazy as a child. “I was not really a railroad buff,” 

he said. “I had a Lionel train set as a kid. But I originally got involved 

as a matter of business.” 

The business was Jameson’s Town Tinker Tube enterprise, 

which he started in 1980 in Phoenicia. The first year, he rented 

1,000 inner tubes to thrill-seekers who wanted to bob along on 

the currents of the Esopus Creek. That figure jumped the next 

year to 4,000. But there was one hitch to the experience. 

“I was putting people in the river, but I had no means of getting 

them back afterward,” Jameson noted. That is to say, people 

would float downstream, but then have to hoof it back to the 

origin point or plan their trip with two vehicles. 

However, that all changed in 1982 when a Shokan realtor 

named Kent Reeves came along. He received a lease from Ulster 

County to build a little train—“amusement park ride size,” 

Jameson said—to bring tubers back upstream from Mt. Tremper. 

The new service was billed as “Tube Down, Train Up.” 

At the end of a successful first season, Reeves decided to form 

a corporation. He asked Jameson and others to be stockholders. 

The savvy businessman did not hesitate. Within the year, CMRR 

was founded with a mission to bring the dormant railroad back 

to roaring life. By year two, Jameson became a director. 

Jameson credits Earl Pardini, currently CMRR president, as 

“the person who has carried the torch” to invigorate this venture. 

Pardini, who worked for Conrail on the final train that ran on the 

Catskill Branch Line, was a major force in building CMRR. He 

sat on a committee that saw the potential for starting a tourist 

railroad on tracks last operated by Penn Central, which had allowed 

the infrastructure to fall into disrepair. 

The vision of Pardini and his colleagues was to create a 1900s 

era Tourist Railroad. The Catskill Mountain Railroad Company 

Inc. was chartered as a for-profit railroad with the intention of 

operating a short line freight business out of Kingston to help 

fuel the funding for rebuilding the line. Unfortunately [additional] 

freight customers needing deliveries never materialized. 

By 2002, CMRR streamlined its ambitions and encouraged 

Ulster County to apply for grants to facilitate a more manageable 

enterprise: restoring the railroad line from Kingston to 

Phoenicia. This stretch of track had a noble history; it was the 

connection between wealthy New Yorkers who had come up on 

Dayline steamers to Kingston and the grand hotels like the 

Catskill Mountain House that flourished in the Northern Catskills 

from the 1870s through the early decades of the 20th century, 

peaking in 1917 before decades of steady decline as tourists 

found more exotic holiday locales. 

Grant applications, as well as red tape on the state and federal 

levels had to be navigated to begin the project in earnest. Locals 

met the proposal to lease the tracks enthusiastically, as the revitalized 

railroad was poised to bring tourists and income back 

to an area laid low by IBM’s departure. A 1978 feasibility study 

determined that a refurbished railroad in Kingston could accommodate 

250,000 to 300,000 people annually. 

The promise was to create two-hour round trips in which 

trains, running on Class 1 track, would attain leisurely speeds of 

15 miles per hour. Such a pace, Jameson points out, maximizes 

http://www.visitvortex.com/magazine/summer2012-catskill-mountain-railroad 

APPENDIX - PAGE 32


sightseeing enjoyment of the flora and fauna of the Mid-Hudson 

Valley. “Blue herons in the creek, eagles diving for a trout dinner—that 

is the experience that people come along for,” Jameson 

said. “Catskill Mountain Railroad provides the greatest 

visibility of the Catskills.” 

CMRR strives for optimum historic authenticity in creating a 

railroad experience for adult and children alike. Old trains are 

restored inside and out by volunteers who, cannily self-trained in 

this area, consult old books, etchings, photos and manuals to attain 

near-perfection.“We have an amazing spectrum of talent,” 

Jameson said of CMRR volunteers, “people involved in railroads, 

carpenters, welders, painters and woodworkers.” Some actually 

were railroad workers in their youth, once serving as brakemen, 

conductors, engineers and bridge workers. 

“It’s amazing that the railroad was reclaimed foot by foot from 

the tangle of underbrush by a workforce of men, all volunteers, 

and some of them over 65 and long retired—including two guys 

in their 80s,” said CMRR volunteer John Voelcker, a two-decade 

weekender in West Saugerties. “I always feel like I’ve had a 

complete workout after a day of working with these guys,” Voelcker 

added. “I’m young and these guys are old, and they spend a 

day cutting up downed trees.” But the labor is well worth the reward, 

he said. “You get the physical reward of seeing the results 

of a day’s work. And you’re helping to restore something; you get 

to be a part of history.” 

While the core group lives between Albany to Westchester, 

CMRR volunteers hail from New Jersey, New Hampshire and 

even Virginia, eager to share the singular satisfaction of bringing 

an old train back to life. Dedicated and energetic teams restored 

two 1917 Lackawanna passenger cars that run on the 

tracks. (The first car was refurnished over a period of five years 

at a cost of $18,000 in materials and thousands of hours of donated 

labor.) “You’re talking about a car approximately 80 feet 

long, completely gutted and everything taken apart,” Jameson 

said. “Refurbished seats, handles, window frames.” 

Those who lack particular experience in restoring cars are 

welcome to do the equally crucial work on the railroad infrastructure: 

Replacing railroad ties and cutting brush and fallen 

trees that have engulfed the tracks. “It is hard, gut-wrenching 

work,” Jameson said. Tropical Storm Irene was especially harsh 

on the railroad last August, flooding tracks, washing away track 

beds and destroying overpasses in the western part of Ulster 

County. But as the waters receded, determined volunteers moved 

in to repair the formidable damage. 

“People come in and they see what we do and they want to be 

part of it,” he said. “I’ve had people who have never ever done 

anything with railroads, have become conductors and engineers.” 

Jameson recalls an incident a few years ago, as the CMRR 

track crew was in Kingston, restoring a track by the Elmendorf 

Overpass. A man and his 16-year-old boy watched the process and 

finally asked what the heck was going on. Jameson explained and 

the father and son signed on as volunteers. “This kid is now one 

of our locomotive engineers,” he said. “That’s even a bigger picture 

for us, creating the next generation of Railroaders.” 

Currently, CMRR can boast several train rides. They include 

The Esopus Creek Scenic Train out of Mt. Tremper, which offers, 

at present, a 5-mile roundtrip along the Esopus with the beauty 

of the Catskill Mountains as a backdrop. The Scenic Train also 

schedules two Twilight Limited Train rides, one in July and August, 

offering a nighttime ride under the starlit sky. When the 

leaves turn their brilliant colors Fall Foliage trains provide a 

spectacular autumn experience one cannot receive from a car 

window. Prior to Irene the CMRR Scenic Trains traveled to 

Phoenicia where people would visit the Empire State Railway 

Museum. The ESRM exhibits the history of Catskill Mountain 

Railroading; although temporarily disconnected, it’s still open to 

visitors by car. 

The Kingston City Shuttle began operation in 2008 after two 

years of track restoration. The Shuttle Special Event trains operate 

every Saturday throughout the summer. Decorated Halloween 

Trains provide a non-spooky children’s ride. Every 

Christmas season, the CMRR Winter Holiday Train attracts happy 

children and parents to chug along with Santa. There are rides 

on both ends where musicians serenade passengers. Last year, in 

total, CMRR trains hauled 12,000 passengers. 

“The goal, one day for the CMRR, is [that] people drive up 

the Thruway, park in Kingston, and get on the train to go all the 

way to Phoenicia with stops along the way for hiking and picnics,” 

said John Voelcker. 

The work continues; CMRR just purchased a 1946 S-1 locomotive 

from the Staten Island Railroad for the Scenic Train. A 

future goal is a train that starts from Kingston and travels to the 

Ashokan Reservoir and points west. But clean-ups and repairs 

dominate efforts. A major project is the rehabilitation of the 

400-foot bridge over the Lower Esopus West of Washington Avenue 

in Kingston. Earlier engineering estimates put a price tag 

of $850,000 on the repair. With all of the bridge timbers donated, 

and the CMRR’s time and talent, Earl Pardini’s crew is 

halfway through the task—doing it in-house for approximately 

$30,000. 

“This is the story of the little railroad that could,” Pardini said, 

“because we do.” ■ 

APPENDIX - PAGE 33

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2012 Annual Progress Report - Catskill Mountain Railroad

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