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 Post subject: CMRR Work Report - 11/30 to 12/3
PostPosted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 12:47 am 

Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm
Posts: 1327
Thursday November 30th

John Marino, Earl Pardini and Mark Glaser inserted 4 ties and tamped near MP 6.


Friday December 1st

Train crew: Engineer was Tom Whyte, Conductor was Dave Hilliard, Brakeman was Mark Glaser, Flaggers were Hunter Downie, Peter Fluchere, Russell Hallock and Ernie Klopping. Pat Smalley and Elissa Hilliard worked in the gift shop.


Saturday December 2nd

Train crew: Engineer was Tom Whyte, Conductor was Tyler Carelli, Brakemen was Karl Wick, Flaggers were Joe Wolff, Peter Fluchere, Steve Stanton, Martin Elbrecht, Tony Bocchino and myself. Mark Glaser, Vince Guido, Fred Rasmussen and Alex Sorenson helped out. Pat Smalley, Marcia Roosa and Karin Vogel worked in the gift shop.

Art Vogel and Dave Heick worked on the 407 in Phoenicia.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241280



Sunday December 3rd

Train crew: Engineer was John Marino, Conductor was Tony Bocchino, Brakeman was Art Vogel, Flaggers were Joe Wolff, Bruce Devorkin, Bryan Wade, Todd Syska and Russ Hallock. Vince Guido and Fred Rasmussen helped out. Pat Smalley, Linda Marino and Karin Vogel worked in the gift shop.

The CMRR carried nearly 3,800 passengers in its third weekend of Polar Express.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR


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 Post subject: CMRR Work Report - 12/4 to 12/10
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 12:37 pm 

Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm
Posts: 1327
Monday December 4th

Dave Hilliard installed heat switches in three coaches.



Friday December 8th

Train crew: Engineer was Earl Pardini, Conductor was Dave Hilliard, Brakeman was John Marino, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Russell Hallock, Harrison Balduf and Tony Bocchino. Pat Smalley, Elissa Hilliard and Meg Carey worked in the gift shop. Vince Guido helped out.

Vince Guido unloaded ties at 209.


Saturday December 9th

Train crew: Engineer was Dave Hilliard, Conductor was Hunter Downie, Brakemen was Karl Wick, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Harrison Balduf, George Bain, BRuce Devorkin and Russell Hallock. Jim Bruck, Vince Guido, and Alex Sorenson helped out. Elissa Hilliard and Karin Vogel worked in the gift shop.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241364

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241365

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241366

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241367

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241368

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241369

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241370

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241371

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241372

https://youtu.be/UpH6gd6rk30


Sunday December 10th

Train crew: Engineer was John Marino, Conductor was Hunter Downie, Brakeman was Karl Wick, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Harrison Balduf, Tom Healy, Bryan Wade, and Ernie Klopping. Vince Guido and Fred Rasmussen helped out. Pat Smalley and Linda Marino worked in the gift shop.

The CMRR carried over 3,700 passengers in its fourth weekend of Polar Express.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR


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 Post subject: Re: Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2017
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:49 pm 
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Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:24 am
Posts: 298
Location: H2O-town, CT
I'm thrilled to see the success you're having up there! Also the #42 45 tonner being used on the trains, I was the last one to ride it on the rails here in CT as it was loaded up onto the flatbed.

Out of curiousity, of all the passengers you're carrying have you found out how far some of them have traveled to ride the train? 3700 is a lot of people and they have to be traveling to ride the Polar Express you're offering.


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 Post subject: Re: Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2017
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:19 pm 

Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:38 pm
Posts: 341
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
For the uniformed, what is a heated switch in terms of a coach? I understand the track version, but not the coach version.

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 Post subject: Re: Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2017
PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:23 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:19 am
Posts: 6394
Location: southeastern USA
Stewi, sound as if an electrical switch that controls the interior heating was installed in each coach. I wonder how it was controlled previously.

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“God, the beautiful racket of it all: the sighing and hissing, the rattle and clack of the cars over the rails. These were the sounds that made America the greatest country on earth." Jonathan Evison


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 Post subject: Re: Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2017
PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 11:05 am 

Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm
Posts: 1327
Heat Switch - moved the control from outside the coach to inside in the electrical cabinet. A lot easier to control!

We collect all the stats on the passengers. Last year over 80% came from outside Ulster County. We will publish the 2017 results in February.

EH


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 Post subject: Re: Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2017
PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 5:32 pm 

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2013 3:46 pm
Posts: 261
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/opinion/201 ... unty-shame

LETTER: Removal of rails is an Ulster County shame

Dear Editor,

“Ain’t that a shame. ... My tears fell like rain,” sang the late Fats Domino.

Seems whenever opportunity knocks there are the politicos ready to slam the door shut!

The people have long mourned the loss of our memorialized old post office on central Broadway in Kingston. Shame, shame.

In the past, the steam train tried to locate here to bring the history of steam railroading from 1850 to 1950 along with a park and museum. Opposed! Shame, shame.


Horse Shows in the Sun — most successfully established and located in Saugerties — first desired to locate near Hurley and Kingston. Denied! Shame, shame.

The Catskill Mountain Railroad’s success, with offering a variety of tourist rides that have drawn train aficionados and families from around New York and the surrounding states, has been cause for local merchants to celebrate the monetary benefits due to the increase in business. The future historically could be limitless were it not for the policies of the New York City reservoir and the blind vision of the Ulster County Legislature, who voted to rape the system by removing the rails.

There are many bike and walking trails in the area but none with the possibility of rail and trail. Once these rails are removed, so goes the history of one of the first train systems in this area.

Shame, shame.

And the tears fall like rain. ...

Gene Heitzman

Hurley, N.Y.


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 Post subject: Re: Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2017
PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 5:34 pm 

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2013 3:46 pm
Posts: 261
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/opinion/201 ... is-heinous

LETTER: Anti-rail Ulster County attitude is ‘Heinous’

Dear Editor,

Anyone who thought the Ulster County Legislature’s vote last month to turn 11 miles of the only railroad into the Catskills into a trail would be a turning point in the tale of waste and mismanagement that has characterized Ulster County’s control of the line is sadly mistaken.

The county has yet to announce when demolition will begin, but if preliminary reports are true, the rails are going to be removed as quickly as possible in a way that will make them unfit for reuse elsewhere on the line. It’s hard not to see this as a deliberate policy to cripple redevelopment of the railroad, a calculated strategy of attrition. It’s throwing money away.

There are those who argue that because Catskill Mountain Railroad is selling out holiday trains and serving over 40,000 visitors a year — 80 percent of them visitors from out of the county — this proves they don’t need any more track. This is just nuts. Forty thousand visitors a year is a floor, not a ceiling. Investing in the line can only grow tourism. Instead, Ulster County is setting an arbitrary cap. More wasted opportunity and lost money.

Then there’s the promised rail bike service between Phoenicia and Boiceville. There’s no question this will be popular; the Rail Explorers have been doing very well elsewhere. The problem is, both the CMRR and the Empire State Railway Museum have equipment in Phoenicia they’re not being allowed to use. The Rail Explorers can handle groups about the size of a bus load; they could be trading off with tourists by the trainload, sharing the line as they do elsewhere.

Once more, the county is leaving money on the table.

The anti-rail attitude on the part of Ulster County is hurting everyone. There’s one word that sums up how bad this is.

Heinous.

Peter R. Baker

West Hurley, N.Y.


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 Post subject: Re: Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2017
PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 5:38 pm 

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2013 3:46 pm
Posts: 261
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-new ... nford-dike

LETTER: There is plenty of room for both rail and trail to the Glenford Dike

Dear Editor:

The Ulster County Planning Department is attempting to convince the county Legislature and the public that if 1.1 miles of railroad tracks on Ashokan Reservoir land are left in place, it will break the deal with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection for the Ashokan Trail.

The county is poised to remove 11.5 miles of tracks for trail construction on reservoir land. The Legislature must approve any track removal. They have the power to keep in place the easternmost portion of the tracks between Basin Road and the Glenford Dike.

In order for the Catskill Mountain Railroad to continue to thrive and bring additional tourists and revenue to the county, it’s essential for them to have a scenic destination for adult-themed train events. The Glenford Dike is a logical and beautiful destination.

There’s plenty of room in this area of the Ulster & Delaware corridor for both rail and trail. The existing railroad ties along this stretch can easily be replaced with non-creosote material.

We think the Ulster County Legislature should support the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s reasonable request to keep the tracks in place from Basin Road to the Glenford Dike.

Meg and Tobe Carey

Glenford, N.Y.


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 Post subject: CMRR Work Report - 12/12 to 12/17
PostPosted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:39 am 

Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm
Posts: 1327
Tuesday December 12th

Dave Hilliard installed heat switches in the 2911 and made other repairs.


Friday December 15th

Train crew: Engineer was Tom Whyte, Conductor was Dave Hilliard, Brakeman was John Marino, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Bruce Devorkin, Harrison Balduf, Russ Hallock and Ernie Klopping. Pat Smalley, Meg Carey worked in the gift shop. Vince Guido helped out.

Vince Guido started making preparations to move the section house to Hurley Mountain Road.


Saturday December 16th

Train crew: Engineer was John Marino, Conductor was Hunter Downie, Brakemen was Karl Wick, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Harrison Balduf, Jess Puccio, Martin Elbrecht, Joe Wolff and myself. Vince Guido and Freddie Rasmussen helped out. Pat Smalley, Marcia Roosa and Karin Vogel worked in the gift shop.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241467

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241466

https://youtu.be/NL6n8JKSMds


Sunday December 17th

Train crew: Engineer was Earl PArdini, Conductor was Tyler Carelli, Brakeman was Tony Bocchino, Harrison Balduf brakeman trainee. Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Bruce Devorkin, Ernie Klopping, Joe Wolff, and Ernie Klopping. Vince Guido helped out. Pat Smalley and Linda Marino worked in the gift shop.

The CMRR carried over 3,700 passengers in its fifth weekend of Polar Express.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR


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 Post subject: Re: Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) Discussion - 2017
PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:22 pm 

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2013 3:46 pm
Posts: 261
This is going to be a great trail. They found a dead body on it in November!

The CMRR maintained these tracks until they were kicked off of them.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-new ... n-kingston

Ulster County Legislature votes unanimously to advance plan for linear park in Kingston
By Patricia R. Doxsey, Daily Freeman

POSTED: 12/19/17, 10:28 PM EST |

The Legislature voted unanimously to bond $165,000 for design and engineering work to convert a stretch of the county-owned railroad corridor between Cornell Street and the Kingston Plaza in the city into a Midtown linear park. Legislator Tracey Bartels, a nonenrolled voter from Gardiner who caucuses with the Democrats, was absent from the meeting.

Supporters said the conversion of the now-unused former Ulster & Delaware tracks into a walkway will create not only a recreational trail, but also provide a safe route for people who don’t have vehicles to reach Kingston’s major supermarket, Hannaford, which is in the plaza.

“The creation of a clean, safe, multiuse path through Kingston for nonmotorized transportation and recreation is an asset a thousand times more desirable than the usused remants in the corridor of a railroad whose time has come and gone,” said Nick Mercurio, a Rosendale resident who used to live in the city.


Andi Turco-Levin said that, as a Realtor, she sees the linear park as a “huge component” for people moving into the city. Turco-Levin, a former Kingston alderwoman, recently moved from Kingston to the town of Ulster.

The section of track is part of the 38-mile former Ulster & Delaware line, now owned by the county, that extends from Kingston to the border of Ulster and Delaware counties.

For 25 years, until May 2016, the Catskill Mountain Railroad held a lease to use the tracks. In late 2015, the Legislature adopted a policy that designated the Midtown section of track between Cornell Street and Kingston Plaza as a recreational trail. That section of the corridor has long been frequented by some of the area’s homeless population.

On Nov. 29, the body of 49-year-old Anthony Garro Jr. of Kingston was found along the tracks under a bridge on Elmendorf Street. Kingston police said Garro was the victim of a brutal beating, and they charged Seth Lyons, 20, of Ulster Park, with second-degree murder later the same day. Police said both Lyons and Garro were homeless.

“I look forward to it getting cleaned up,” said Legislator Peter Loughran, D-Kingston.

“It’s a disgrace that those tracks ended up the way they are,” he said. “This is a great thing for the city.”

Legislator David Donaldson, also a Kingston Democrat, said that while he also supported the creation of the linear park, he didn’t think the city should be required to maintain the park once it’s constructed. As part of an agreement between the city and county that spells out how sales tax revenues will be shared, the city agreed to assume responsibility for maintaining and patrolling the trail.

County Executive Michael Hein said the county expects to install LED lighting and security phones along the trail.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1.8 million. It will be funded with $797,997 in federal aid, $982,912 in state money and $95,000 from county coffers. Construction of the linear park is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.


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 Post subject: CMRR Work Report - 12/21 to 12/23
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:39 pm 

Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm
Posts: 1327
Thursday December 21st

Train crew: Engineer was Tom Whyte, Conductor was Hunter Downie, Brakeman was KArl Wick, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Bruce Devorkin, Jess Pucchio, Russ Hallock and Ernie Klopping. Pat Smalley, Meg Carey worked in the gift shop.


Friday December 22nd

Train crew: Engineer was Earl Pardini, Conductor was Dave Hilliard, Brakemen was Tony Bicchino, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Ernie Klopping, Bruce Devorkin and Joe Wolff. Vince Guido and Freddie Rasmussen helped out. Pat Smalley, and Meg Carey worked in the gift shop.


Saturday December 23rd


Train crew: Engineer was John Marino, Conductor was Hunter Downie, Brakeman was Tom Whyte. Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Steve Stanton, George Bain, Jess Pucchio, Joe Wolff, and myself. Vince Guido and Jim Bruck helped out. Karin Vogel and Marcia Roosa worked in the gift shop.

The CMRR carried over 3,000 passengers in its sixth weekend of Polar Express.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR


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 Post subject: CMRR Work Report - 12/26 to 12/28
PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:42 pm 

Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm
Posts: 1327
Tuesday December 26th

Train crew: Engineer was Earl Pardini, Conductor was Dave Hillaird, Brakeman was Tom Whyte, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Bruce Devorkin, George Bain, Russ Hallock, myself and Ernie Klopping. Alex Sorenson, Vince Guido and Jim Bruck helped out. Pat Smalley, Meg Carey worked in the gift shop.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241637

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241638

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241639

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241640

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241641

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241642

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241643

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241644

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=241645



Wednesday December 27th

Train crew: Engineer was John Marino, Conductor was Tyler Carelli, Brakemen was Tony Bocchino/Tom Whyte, Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Ernie Klopping, Bruce Devorkin, Walt Otto, and Harrison Balduf. Freddie Rasmussen helped out. Pat Smalley, and Meg Carey worked in the gift shop.


Thursday December 28th

Train crew: Engineer was Earl Pardini, Conductor was Tony Bocchino, Brakeman was Karl Wick. Flaggers were Peter Fluchere, Harrison and George Balduf, Rafael Demiglio, Bryan Wade and Bruce Devorkin. Alex Sorenson and Jim Bruck helped out. Karin Vogel, Pat Smalley, and Marcia Roosa worked in the gift shop.

The CMRR carried over 3,000 passengers in its last three days of Polar Express.

After the last train, the crew emptied out the tent and containers and completed putting everything away for the season.

A great close to a great year!!!


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR


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 Post subject: CMRR 2017 Year-end Report
PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 4:30 pm 

Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm
Posts: 1327
To all:

The CMRR had a very successful year in 2017 - over 36,000 passengers carried and $1.1 million in revenue despite the loss of the west end of the railroad in Phoenicia.

Among the many accomplishments:

Moving our equipment in Phoenicia onto our property there for safe long-term storage.

Painting of most of the rolling stock.

Purchasing a new tamper and hi-rail backhoe.

Upgrades to the P72 heating HEP systems and repairs to the 2949 generator.

Upgrades of seating in the 2911.

Installation of 1100 ties completely renovating the track from Westbrook Lane to Bridge C9.

Carrying over 24,000 people for Polar Express and over 6,000 for our leaf and pumpkin trains.

Hiring our first employee, Rob Gaston as Event Coordinator.

Despite the loss of the trackage to the Glenford Dike, the railroad will be pushing hard to expand its operable trackage in 2018, and establishing a permanent rail yard and station in Kingston.

Many thanks to our volunteers and customers for making this a great year for the CMRR, despite the incredibly short-sighted decision by our Landlord to remove trackage to our intended destination, the Glenford Dike.

On to 2018!

Ernie Hunt
CMRR


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 Post subject: Re: CMRR 2017 Year-end Report
PostPosted: Sun Dec 31, 2017 2:29 am 

Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 10:30 pm
Posts: 981
Location: Bucks County, PA
eehiv wrote:
To all:

The CMRR had a very successful year in 2017 - over 36,000 passengers carried and $1.1 million in revenue despite the loss of the west end of the railroad in Phoenicia.

Among the many accomplishments:

Moving our equipment in Phoenicia onto our property there for safe long-term storage.

Painting of most of the rolling stock.

Purchasing a new tamper and hi-rail backhoe.

Upgrades to the P72 heating HEP systems and repairs to the 2949 generator.

Upgrades of seating in the 2911.

Installation of 1100 ties completely renovating the track from Westbrook Lane to Bridge C9.

Carrying over 24,000 people for Polar Express and over 6,000 for our leaf and pumpkin trains.

Hiring our first employee, Rob Gaston as Event Coordinator.

Despite the loss of the trackage to the Glenford Dike, the railroad will be pushing hard to expand its operable trackage in 2018, and establishing a permanent rail yard and station in Kingston.

Many thanks to our volunteers and customers for making this a great year for the CMRR, despite the incredibly short-sighted decision by our Landlord to remove trackage to our intended destination, the Glenford Dike.

On to 2018!

Ernie Hunt
CMRR


So, if my math is correct, 30,000 passengers in the last three or so months, and then 6K for the remainder of the year? So the question becomes, then, what are your plans to try to increase the number of passengers for the remainder of the year?

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Morrisville, PA

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