It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:59 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 37 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3
Author Message
 Post subject: Re: Saratoga-North Creek
PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 11:34 am 

Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2015 9:01 pm
Posts: 32
The Adirondack Council weighed in supporting the state taking the line by adverse abandonment. I don't get where the STB could consider the takeover. The SNC was doing nothing more than many other lines by storing cars to generate revenue. Allowing this to go forward will set a precedent to multiple other NIMBY's around the country.

Pressuring the car owners to remove them from SNC is effectively a "taking" without reimbursement. If the state wants to keep the line open for trespassers to walk the track, they should pay equivalent fees to that lost from storage. The Constitution states there can be no taking without just compensation. Corporate law recognizes the company as a legal entity obligated and beneficiary to the law just as an individual.

Too bad these hearings don't allow for a jury. I'd volunteer to put the smack-down on NY and its Governor.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Saratoga-North Creek
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 8:54 pm 

Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am
Posts: 1010
Some belated news from November 2018:
Quote:
JOHNSBURG — The company that has run a “rail bike” operation on railroad tracks in Johnsburg during the past two years has been told it will not be able to use the rails next year.

Several Warren County officials said Revolution Rail Co.’s founder notified them last week that Iowa Pacific Holdings has terminated the rail bike company’s contract for 2019.

An effort has begun to find a new section of rails where the company could operate locally.
Link to the full November 20, 2018 article in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise:
Iowa Pacific bounces rail bike business from tracks

Also:
Quote:
A rail bike company is suing the owner of an Adirondack rail line claiming that an insurance dispute is being used as a pretext to derail it so the tracks can be sold to a Denver-based freight railroad.

This month, Revolution Rail Co. owner Michael Dupee sued owners of the Saratoga & North Creek rail line to protect a lease that allows Dupee to run tourist rail bikes on the line, according to a lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court in Essex County.
Link to the full article in the December 29, 2018 Albany, NY Times Union newspaper:
Rail bike company sues Adirondack line owner - Claims insurance dispute is pretext so tracks can be sold


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Saratoga-North Creek
PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 8:26 am 

Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am
Posts: 1010
An October 23, 2019 article on the website of television station WCAX:

Quote:
NEWCOMB, N.Y. (AP) A short line railroad company has consented to the abandonment of a 30-mile stretch of rails in the central Adirondacks.

The Glens Falls Post Star reports that the Chicago-based owner of Saratoga and North Creek Railway is negotiating with the state for an "interim trail use" agreement for the rail corridor from North Creek to Newcomb.


Link: Company agrees to abandon 30-mile railroad in Adirondacks


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Saratoga-North Creek
PostPosted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:59 am 

Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am
Posts: 1010
A November 19, 2019 article in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise:
Quote:
Warren County supervisors took the first step toward turning the county rail line into a recreational trail by voting Monday to start an “abandonment” process for the line.

In the wake of the only suitor for a lease on the line backing out of negotiations last month, the county board’s Public Works Committee decided that the county’s best move is to ask the federal government to deem the rail line “abandoned” so that other uses could be explored.

“It gives us freedom to decide to do what we think is best,” said county Administrator Ryan Moore. “I think a trail makes the most sense at this point.”

It would also allow the county to not have to spend as much to maintain the rails going forward.
Link to full article: Warren County officials move toward switching Saratoga-Tahawus railroad to trail


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Saratoga-North Creek
PostPosted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:09 pm 

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2015 11:54 am
Posts: 1773
Location: New Franklin, OH
I hate to say this (as I duck under my desk), but practically speaking, that is a lot of track to maintain and property taxes to pay between Saratoga Springs and North Creek for ski trains and/or a tourist operation with nary a shipper to contribute to the bottom line. Can the ski resort attract enough riders for reasonable fares to cover the costs?

Trail-wise, from Hadley to North Creek, there appears to be little in the way of destinations for bicyclists. From North Creek north, there's absolutely nothing and the line ends in the middle of nowhere. So, who's going to use the trail? I've yet to figure out an acceptable ROI from building a rail trail unless, maybe, it's in a suburban area. From a financial standpoint, it might be best to pull the rails and let it revert back to nature.

Just something to consider. We can't save/operate it all (still hiding under my desk...).

_________________
Eric Schlentner
Turner of Wrenches, Drawer of Things


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Saratoga-North Creek
PostPosted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 1:29 pm 

Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am
Posts: 1010
A January 22, 2022 article in the Albany, NY Times-Union newspaper:
Quote:
NORTH CREEK – The dormant 30-mile stretch of railroad tracks between this resort community and the old mining settlement of Tahawus may soon see freight trains once again, now that the tracks are set to be auctioned in March.

There’s already been one bid for the tracks – from Revolution Rail, which for the past several years has operated a rail-biking attraction in which tourists ride along the tracks in specially built carts with pedals.

Revolution Rail has offered an initial $700,000 bid for the rail line, which was recently approved by a federal bankruptcy court that is handling the liquidation of assets from the now-bankrupt Saratoga and North Creek rail line and its parent company, the former San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad,

To best the $700,000 bid, competitors would have to offer at least $750,000 and Revolution Rail could then offer a higher bid.
also:
Quote:
[Bankruptcy Trustee William Brandt] said there are three additional bidders so far. While he couldn’t name them, he said one is a freight carrier, another is a large local landowner and the other is an environmental organization.
Link to the full article:
Saratoga-North Creek Railroad tracks are going to auction - Interested rail operators and others are stepping forward


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Saratoga-North Creek
PostPosted: Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:52 pm 

Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:36 pm
Posts: 217
Also worth noting that according to the Daily Gazette : The Bankruptcy Court on Jan. 13 approved an amended bankruptcy plan that includes a requirement that the buyer preserve future operation of rail service along the 29.71-mile stretch north of North Creek.

According to the trustee: "Such a purchase would, however, preclude the tracks being torn up and the right of way replaced by a mix-use recreation trail, which is an option Brandt doesn’t support.

“I have spent a lot of time with the local officials,” he said. “Their line to me is, the forest has an abundant amount of hiking trails. There’s no crying need for yet one more.”


https://dailygazette.com/2022/01/24/sar ... DqYDd8uWu4


Offline
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 37 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


 Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Majestic-12 [Bot] and 123 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: