Sorry guys I will "give up" so as not to create any more problems. My desire was not to offend anyone, the issue affects me personally as I own properties in Ulster County, and properties at the other end where it is "trail" in Delaware county. I can say that my Delaware county neighbors wish they could have the rail back.

Mike as far as perverting anything, I do drive a van, can you help me load this couch? :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z29nAyq3JcI

J3a That would be an interesting thread to start as per your suggestion!

Talking specifically about the bridge; I can understand the County's position in removing it at this time. If the area gets another storm like last year's it is very possible that the structure will fail and be swept into the river (like the other one was). By removing it the steel spans, if not damaged, can be saved for re-use with a new sub-structure. If the CMRR did get the money to repair this bridge, the spans would have been removed anyway and the track removed to gain access to same as a crane needs to be brought in to lift the spans out and other equipment to replace the substructure.

As to the cost of a trail bridge in comparison to a rail bridge; I again will assume that a bridge built for a trail would be large enough to carry a road vehicle over it for emergency access and maintenance so realistically you are building a one lane vehicular bridge. The substructure would be somewhat the same; the new abutments would need to be of the type to support the load for a trail which would be lighter than a rail type loading. The old steel could be re-used if not damaged or a new lighter weight structure could be used. The grade for a trail bridge could also be changed if the flood elevation is higher than the existing bridge as you don't have the grade issue you have with rail use.

I can’t speak as to the exact cost other than to say a trail bridge would be less than a rail bridge. You can have a light, simple structure which is cost effective and will work or you can get into much higher costs if aesthetic elements are added. So costs vary greatly.

Now to play devil's advocate I ran some costs. For track replacement a recent project I worked on which replaced 5 miles of track cost approximately $150 per track foot for new rail, ties and ballast. So for 38 miles that comes out to $30,096,000. For a trail lets say 8’ wide there would be minimal grading, some type of sub base applied (6” thick dense graded aggregate) and a top course of asphalt say 2” thick. The cost of the trail based on recent prices in NJ would be $14.00 per foot or a total cost of $2,808,960. I am not including bridge replacements or areas in which the entire right of way is washed out and needs replacement.

I think its safe to say a rebuilt rail with trail would be in the $35 million range with the additional grading needed adjacent to the rail. Thats a lot of clams for a small county to shell out.

Saturday, September 14th

On Saturday we will be running in Mt. Tremper.

In Mt. Tremper, George Peck plans to continue track work at Campground Curve. Meet at 9:30am at Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, Mark Glaser plans to lead a crew inserting and spiking ties near 209. Meet at Cornell Street at 9am.


Sunday, September 15th

Trains will be running in Mt. Tremper.

In Mt. Tremper, George Peck plans to continue track work at Campground Curve. Meet at 9:30am at Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, Cornell Street yard will be closed.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Thursday, September 12th

John Patane inserted 19 ties near 209 in Kingston.


Saturday, September 14th

In Mt. Tremper, Al Schoessow was Engineer, Dan Howard was Conductor, Brakeman was Neil Isabelle, and Bruce Devorkin was ticket agent.

George Peck, Art Vogel, Dave Heick and Russ Hallock continued work at Campground Curve. Art Johnson continued work on repainting the Duck.

In Kingston track crews continued to work towards the Rte.209 crossing from the east. Sixteen ties were plated, tamped and fully spiked on the north rail-south rail spikes set to hold gauge. Backhoe cleared vegetation and graded near the highway shoulder, ten additional ties were marked for changeout. Participating were: John Patane, Jim Bruck, George Bain, and Mark Glaser.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211011

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211013


Sunday, September 15th

At Mt. Tremper, Walt Otto was engineer, Bob McDonald was Conductor, John Prestopino was trainman and Neil Remsen was brakeman. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.

On Sunday, George Peck continued work on Campground Curve:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211014

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211015



Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

I have a question about the two passenger cars on the other side of Rt. 209. What happens when you folks reach the cars? As far as I am aware of, the city has not allowed you to move them and building a bypass around the cars would take some time. Until you can move them, they block any progress further then Rt. 209. Please people, I really dont want this turning into a second bridge discussion, CMRR has kept this thread for some time now.
As always, you folks do great work on the CMRR!

The cars can be moved as long as they do not go into Kingston. We can work around them quite easily as they are fully operational. EH

Can you move them as far as the NYO&W switch? Or is that in Kingston? If you can get that far, you could lengthen the siding & park them there while you lengthen the line.

Saturday, September 21st

On Saturday we will be running in Mt. Tremper.

In Mt. Tremper, George Peck plans to continue track work at Campground Curve. Meet at 9:30am at Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, John Patane plans to lead a crew inserting and spiking ties near 209. Meet at Route 209 at 8:30am.


Sunday, September 22nd

Trains will be running in Mt. Tremper.

In Mt. Tremper, George Peck plans to continue track work at Campground Curve. Meet at 9:30am at Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, Mark Glaser plans to lead a crew inserting and spiking ties near 209. Meet at Route 209 at 9:30am.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Friday, September 20th

On Friday, a crew of John Prestopino, Jim Bruck and Al Shoessow worked at the O & W switch area in Kingston weed wacking and brush cutting.


Saturday, September 21st

At Mt. Tremper, Engineer was John Watson, Conductor was Ray Farrell, Bill Kaba was brakeman, and Peter Fluchere and Dave cenova were Ticket Agents.

George Peck and Art Vogel used the worktrain to bring more ties to Campground Curve and installed and spiked more ties.

In Kingston a crew consisting of John Patane, Mark Glaser, Jim Bruck, Tyler Carelli, George Bain and Al Schoessow inserted and spiked the last remaining ties to complete our 209 project. Passenger trains can now run to 209 from Kingston. They also inserted 13 ties west of 209.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211190

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211191

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211192

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211193


Sunday, September 22nd

On Sunday at Mt. Tremper, engineer was Walt Otto. Bob McDonald was conductor, and Neil Remsen and Tony Bocchino were brakemen. Dave Cenova was Ticket Agent.

George Peck continued work extending the tracks on Campground Curve helped by Dave Cenova.

On Sunday, an important milestone for the CMRR was reached when the two CNJ coaches as well as the hopper were pulled east across Rte. 209 from where they had been stored for seven years. Earlier in the day,track crews plated and spiked 12 ties west of the crossing in preparation for the move. Track /crossing crew included: George Bain, Ron Epstein, Edwin Winstanley, Jim Bruck, Tyler Carelli, Tom Whyte, John Patane, and Mark Glaser. The train crew included Earl Pardini and Al Schoessow.

At Cornell St., Ernie Klopping and Al Schoessow continued work on the 110B tamper, later in the day crews cleared a fallen tree at O'Neil St.




Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

It would look like you are nearing 100% tie renewal as you rehab the line. Is that a close estimate. Fine work you are doing and I wish I had money to send you folks for more ties (or whatall). Someday perhaps I can make it out there and ride the entire route.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Tie condition in this area is bad but it improves considerably as the line rises out of the valley. With the repair of a few key areas we should have a work train to West Hurley in 2014. EH

Friday, September 27th

On Friday we will be running in Mt. Tremper.


Saturday, September 28th

On Saturday we will be running in Mt. Tremper.

In Mt. Tremper, George Peck plans to continue track work at Campground Curve. Meet at 9:30am at Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, John Patane and Mark Glaser plan to lead a crew inserting and spiking ties near 209. Meet at Route 209 at 9:30am.


Sunday, September 29th

Trains will be running in Mt. Tremper.

In Mt. Tremper, George Peck plans to continue track work at Campground Curve. Meet at 9:30am at Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, Mark Glaser plans to lead a crew inserting and spiking ties near 209. Meet at Route 209 at 9:30am.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Tuesday, September 24th

John Pickett and Al Johnson repaired windows on the 702 and continued paint work on the Duck.


Friday, September 27th

Conductor was Neil Isabelle, Engineer was John Prestopino, Car Attendant was Kathy Isabelle, and Ticket Agent was Peter Fluchere.


Saturday, September 28th

On Saturday, Conductor was Ray Farrell, Engineer was Walt Otto, Brakeman was Al Schoeesow, and Ticket Agent was Chris Burtt.

Al Johnson repaired windows on the 702 and continued work on the Duck.

George Peck, Art Vogel, and Dave Heick continued work at Campground Curve.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211357

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211358

In Kingston on Saturday, track crews working west of the Rte. 209 crossing inserted 35 ties, tamped 25, and plated 10 as part of our effort to upgrade the track. Participating today were John Patane, Jim Bruck, Ron Epstein, Dave Hilliard, and Mark Glaser.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211351

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211352

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211353

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211354

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211355


Sunday, September 29th

On Sunday, Engineer was Walt Otto, Conductor was John Prestopino,
Brakeman was Tony Bocchino, and Ryan Lennox and Brianna Wittl were Ticket Agents.

George Peck continued work at Campground Curve.

On Sunday in Kingston, crews returned to Route 209 spiking 35 ties inserted on Saturday after plating 25 and tamping 10, extending the operating track to MP 5.47. The gondola was successfully moved east of the crossing .Today's crew included: Al Schoessow, Earl Pardini, John Patane, Tom Whyte, and Mark Glaser.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211404

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211405

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211413

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=211414


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Your work is fantastic! How many miles (or how close to a mile) have you completed this year on the Kingston line?

Friday, October 4th

On Friday we will be running in Mt. Tremper.


Saturday, October 5th

On Saturday we will be running in Mt. Tremper.

In Mt. Tremper, George Peck plans to continue track work at Campground Curve. Meet at 9:30am at Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, John Patane and Mark Glaser plan to lead a crew inserting and spiking ties west of 209. Meet at Route 209 at 9:30am.

Ryan Lennox will be weed-wacking the ROW west of 209 starting at 8am Saturday.



Sunday, October 6th

Trains will be running in Mt. Tremper.

In Mt. Tremper, George Peck plans to continue track work at Campground Curve. Meet at 9:30am at Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, Mark Glaser plans to lead a crew inserting and spiking ties near 209. Meet at Route 209 at 9:30am.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR