Friday, May 1st

On Friday, George and Greg Peck reinstalled joint bars at Longyear siding putting it back in service.


Saturday, May 2nd

Walt Otto and Jim Bruck continued work on Coach 2949.

Joe Michaels and Tyler Carelli worked on engine 407.

Al Johnson, Bill Kaba, new volunteer John Braker and Gary Lowe painted engine 407.

During “Operation Clean Sweep” in Kingston, our crews cleaned from O’Neil St to C9 and picked up and filled about 20 bags of garbage, several wood pallets and 3 sections of a cut up telephone pole. The crew was Tom Whyte, John Marino, Al Schoessow, Alex Sorenson, Hunter Downie, John Prestopino, Jeff Otto and Dave Hilliard. Jeff Otto also inspected track in Kingston.


Sunday, May 3rd

Walt Otto continued work on Coach 2949.

Paul Sternitzke and I sickle bar cut west of Shokan.

George Bain and Hunter Downie did paint work on the crane in Shokan.

Jeff Otto, John Patane, Al Schoessow, Gary Lowe and Neil Remsen inserted ties near Hurley Mountain Road.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Glad to hear work has resumed!

Friday, May 8th

Jim Bruck worked on coach 2949.


Saturday, May 9th

Walt Otto continued work on Coach 2949.

Joe Michaels, Art Vogel, Dave Heick Harrison Balduf and Tyler Carelli worked on engine 407.

Al Schoessow worked on the Route 28 crossing signal.

Al Johnson continued painting engine 407.

Ryan Lennox, Hunter Downie and Russ Hallock replaced 5 ties west of Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, Martin Elbrocht, Jeff Otto, Dave Hillard and John Marino laid out 28 ties for replacement in Kingston and worked near Hurley Mountain Road. Russell Hallock joined them late in the day.

Neil Remsen worked on the 12 person cart at the yard.

George Bain worked at Shokan painting the crane.

Tom Whyte and Matt Gillis did a line inspection from Hurley Mountain Road to Shokan in the Northwestern.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=223735




Sunday, May 10th

Walt Otto continued work on Coach 2949.

Ernie Klopping worked on the tamper.

Jeff Otto, John Patane, Al Schoessow, Tom Whyte and John Prestopino inserted ties between C9 and Hurley Mountain Road.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-new ... ing-rushed

Some Ulster County legislators say Ashokan Reservoir trail plan being rushed

By Patricia Doxsey, Daily Freeman

Posted: 05/11/15

KINGSTON >> A memorandum of understanding between Ulster County and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection that would open reservoir property to pedestrians for the first time in more than 100 years will go to the county Legislature later this month.

But the agreement has raised the concerns of some lawmakers, who say the county executive is pushing the proposal through without giving lawmakers time thoroughly consider it.

The memorandum of understanding formalizes a deal struck between the city and county in 2013 to create a pedestrian trail along the Ashokan Reservoir.

As part of the deal, the Department of Environmental Protection will give the county $2.5 million for the planning and construction of the pedestrian trail through the reservoir property and to construct and operate trail heads and support facilities. The department then will market the trail to its New York City water customers.
Advertisement

But the agreement also gives the agency the ability to cancel the deal with 120 days notice, potentially closing the 11.5-mile stretch of trail along the reservoir’s northern shore to public access. And it gives the county executive the authority to make any amendments to the deal without legislative input.

“We received this eight days before the [Legislature’s] Economic Development Committee was supposed to meet to send it to the floor,” said Minority Leader Kenneth Ronk.

According to legislative staff, County Executive Michael Hein sent the resolution to the legislative offices on April 29. It was disseminated to legislators on May 1. Four days later, on May 5, the resolution passed the Economic Development Committee.

“I feel as if we’re being forced to act on this resolution in a hurry when we’re not giving it the full consideration it deserves,” said Ronk, R-Wallkill. “We should hold off for a month and give the contract its due consideration.”

Hein said delaying approval of the agreement could jeopardize the funding because it’s been allocated in the agency’s current operating budget, and its fiscal year ends June 30.

Additionally, he said, a delay could result in the potential loss of the construction season in an area sorely in need of economic development.

Hein said his administration has committed to “provide any and all resources to answer all relevant questions; we’ve worked with the committee chairs to do precisely that.”

“The county attorney has been working with and is ready, willing and able to assist any legislator on any questions they may have,” Hein said.

Ronk said the Economic Development Committee and its newly formed U&D Corridor Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss the resolution.

“I would say they’re talking about it again,” Ronk said. “We’re going to entertain questions and answers and possibly small changes.”

The measure also must go before the Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee, which meets at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-new ... -york-city

Ulster County lawmakers delay action on Ashokan Reservoir trail pact with New York City
By Patricia Doxsey, Daily Freeman

Posted: 05/13/15, 10:35 PM EDT

KINGSTON >> Members of the Ulster County Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday delayed action on a controversial resolution approving a memorandum of understanding between Ulster County and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection for public access to the Ashokan Reservoir via a rail trail.

The measure passed in the Economic Development Committee last week, but concerns over the deal prompted lawmakers to schedule a special meeting of the Economic Development Committee and the Ulster & Delaware Corridor Committee, where the proposal will be vetted further.

The memorandum of understanding formalizes a deal struck between New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Ulster County in 2013 to create a pedestrian trail along an 11.5 mile stretch along the north shore of the reservoir.

As part of the deal, the Department of Environmental Protection will give the county $2.5 million for the planning and construction of the pedestrian trail through the reservoir property and will construct and operate trail heads and support facilities. The department would market the trail to its New York City water customers, under the agreement.
Advertisement

But a number of lawmakers have questions and concerns about the agreement, which they say is being rushed through the Legislature.

“This whole contract raises a lot of red flags for me,” said Legislator Richard Parete, D-Accord. Parete said he is concerned about a provision that seems to allow the Department of Environmental Protection to unilaterally close off access to the trail and as well as a requirement that the trail surface not be paved.

“I feel like we’re ceding our sovereignty away,” said Legislature Chairman John Parete, D-Boiceville.

“I don’t understand why people are acting like this is such a big surprise,” said Legislator Jeanette Provenzano.

Provenzano, D-Kingston, said the resolution is in keeping with a policy adopted by the county Legislature in August which calls for the conversion of the former Ulster and Delaware rail corridor into a pedestrian trail.

“I understand there are some problems with the agreement, but personally, I’m confident they’ll be able to get them straightened out,” Provenzano said.

The joint Economic Development/U&D Corridor Committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. today at the Ulster County Office Building, 244 Fair St., Kingston.

County Attorney Bea Havranek and county Planner Chris White are scheduled to attend the meeting to answer legislators’ questions.

From the two posts above, it looks like the Ulster County legislature is getting nervous about this trail deal, and justifiably so. It seems the NYDEP may well be verifying what the rail supporters have been warning about for months now--loss of the railroad could mean loss of the easements, including this critical one along the reservoir. Lose those, and no railroad and no trail, either!

Of course, at least in my opinion, the county executive in Ulster County and the mayor of Kingston blew all this by being too aggressive. They could have waited for the lease to expire and not renew; there's not that much time left on it. Heck, they could have even come out as heroes by helping the railroad relocate the equipment, which likely would have cost a lot less than the alleged $100,000 or more they have supposedly spent on legal fees.

But someone got in a hurry for some reason, and they wound up getting the railroad people excited, and got them stirred up enough to fight.

Someone should have kept their mouths shut and waited a while.

Friday, May 15th

Al Johnson and Bill Kaba finished painting engine 407.


Saturday, May 16th

Walt Otto and Jim Bruck continued work on Coach 2949.

Art Vogel, Dave Heick, Greg Peck, Harrison Balduf and Tyler Carelli worked on engine 407. George Peck stopped by.

Ryan Lennox, replaced 1 tie east of Mt. Tremper.

In Kingston, Jeff Otto, John Marino, Al Schoessow, Tom Whyte, Jim Bruck, Neil Remsen, Russ Hallock, and John Prestopino inserted ties and tamped and plated ties near Hurley Mountain Road.

Neil Remsen also worked on the 12 person cart at the yard.

Peter Fluchere and George Bain worked at Mt. Tremper getting the station ready for opening day.



Sunday, May 17th

Jeff Otto, Tom Whyte, John Patane, Bob Blake, Joe Wolff, Jim Bruck, Al Schoessow and Tom Whyte completed inserting ties in Kingston and getting them tamped and plated.

Dave Heick, Ryan Lennox and Tyler Carelli inserted three ties east of Mt. Tremper and did a track inspection using the Duck.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Having not heard anything after the Tuesday vote I went looking and this is what I found. This is incredibly disappointing. The CMRR has been my favorite thing about this board for years now and I have been trying to get there to patronize their operation. I hope this isn't the end for Kingston operations, if not more. I can't begin to say how bad I feel for the CMRR crew.

By 17-6 vote, Ulster County lawmakers accept NYC grant for Ashokan Reservoir trail

By: Patricia Doxsey (pdoxsey@freemanonline.com)

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 - 6:43 p.m.


The railroad tracks on the Ulster & Delaware right of way cross Route 28A near the Ashokan Reservoir. (Photo by Tony Adamis)

KINGSTON >> Ulster County will accept a $2.5 million grant from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to begin planning a pedestrian trail along the northern rim of the Ashokan Reservoir.

County lawmakers on Tuesday voted 17-6 to authorize the county executive to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the city agency for public access to the city-owned reservoir via a rail trail. The memorandum formalizes a deal struck between the Department of Environmental Protection and the county in 2013 to create a pedestrian trail along an 11.5-mile stretch on the north shore of the reservoir.

As part of the deal, the Department of Environmental Protection will give the county $2.5 million to plan and construct a pedestrian trail through the reservoir property and will construct and operate trail heads and support facilities. The department also will market the trail to its New York City water customers.

Several county legislators - including some who voted in favor of the proposal - decried the timing of the measure, saying it had been rushed through the Legislature with a false sense of urgency.

"This timeline has been very truncated, and that's made me uncomfortable," said Tracey Bartels, a non-enrolled lawmaker from Gardiner who caucuses with the Democrats. Even so, she said, she views the agreement as a starting point to begin the planning process.

Legislators said they received the proposed memorandum of agreement just 19 days before the Legislature's meeting. Officials in County Executive Michael Hein's administration have said the resolution needed to be passed before the city's fiscal year ends on June 30 or the county would risk losing the funding.

Legislator David Donaldson, D-Kingston, likened the process to the county's bungled jail construction project, which, due to poor legislative oversight, ran millions of dollars over budget and three years late.

Legislator Craig Lopez said he was "insulted" by the Department of Environmental Protection's funding offer, saying he would rather the city give the money to the people of Wawarsing, who have suffered for years as a result of leaking New York City water transmission lines that have ruined wells and property.

"I'm insulted that the DEP values trails more than the people in my district," said Lopez, R-Wawarsing.

The Legislature's vote followed an hourlong public comment period during which nearly a dozen trail enthusiasts urged legislators to approve the deal. Dozens more said they supported the trail but didn't speak to the resolution.

Among those speaking in favor of the proposal was former Kingston Alderwoman Andi Turco-Levin, who is president of the Ulster County Board of Realtors.

"This 11.5-mile corridor plays an extremely vital role," said Turco-Levin, predicting it will be a catalyst to attract new residents and businesses to the area.

By contrast, only a handful of residents called on lawmakers to delay action on the resolution. Among them was George Bain, a member of the Catskill Mountain Railroad, which operates a tourist train on the county-owned former Ulster & Delaware Railroad right-of-way.

"It's just a bad deal," Bain said. "I don't think it's been studied enough, and I don't think the public's been engaged enough."

The Catskill Mountain Railroad would like to expand its operation to the Glenford Dike on the Ashokan Reservoir. The Department of Environmental Protection, however, has said it won't allow a pedestrian trail on the property if a train also operates in the rail corridor.

The Catskill Mountain Railroad holds a lease to the entire 38-mile rail right-of-way in Ulster County through May 2016. It currently operates a tourist train on a small section of track from the city of Kingston of Hurley, and another limited stretch west of the Ashokan Reservoir.

Voting against the resolution were Republicans Lopez, Carl Belfiglio of Esopus and Mary Wawro of Saugerties; and Democrats Donaldson, Manna Jo Greene of Rosendale and Legislature Chairman John Parete of Boiceville.

• • •

Related content

Kingston operations are not at risk - only the Ashokan easement that starts at MP 10. We are confident that when this is all over, we will be able to go as far as the Glenford Dike at MP 11 with the train as the ROW is wide enough to easily accommodate rail and trail through that point.

After that is of course up in the air. But as many legislators are beginning to realize, the next 8 miles of the ROW is a tree tunnel and the trail should really hug the shores of the reservoir in this area. Also the reliance on railbanking to force the DEP to open up the reservoir for a trail, for a property that has been out of the federal system for almost 40 years, is questionable at best.

The good thing is that many legislators are spending the time to actually look at the corridor in person. It is all a step in the direction of an ultimate compromise that should be agreed to by the end of the year that will include some form of tourist train operation on the Kingston end of the RR.

EH

Here is the MOA:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/265392825/Ash ... -Contractf

And the County's response to legislator questions:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/265390056/Res ... ure-on-MOA

Saturday, May 23rd

Walt Otto continued work on Coach 2949.

Neil Remsen worked on the 12 person cart at the yard.

At Mt. Tremper, Art Vogel, George Peck and Joe Michaels worked on engine 407 and the Duck.

In Kingston, John Patane was engineer, John Prestopino was Conductor, Point Protection was John Marino, flaggers were Dave Hilliard, Al Schoessow, Karl Wick and Tom Whyte, car attendant was Linda Marino, and Pat Smalley was ticket agent. At 5pm we had a special train for two fallen soldiers and their families that was set up by George Bain and Matt Gillis.

At Mt. Tremper, Dave Heick was engineer, Ray Farrell Conductor, Dan Howard Brakeman and Bill Kaba and Tyler Carelli were Car attendants. Russ Hallock was ticket agent.



Sunday, May 24th

Jeff Otto, Al Schoessow and Martin Elbrecht spiked and plated ties in Kingston.

At Mt. Tremper, Earl Pardini was engineer. Walt Otto was conductor. Bruce Devorkin was ticket agent.


Monday, May 25th

At Mt. Tremper, Dave Heick was engineer, Tyler Carelli was brakeman, and Walt Otto was conductor. Bruce Devorkin was ticket agent.

Neil Remsen and Harrison Balduf worked on the 12 man cart at Cornell Street.




Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

We just completed a video of the RR from the end of our current passenger operations (MP 6.3) to the Glenford Dike at MP 11.3:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7yl7OUV768

You can now see why reaching the Glenford Dike is so important to our expansion plans:

http://www.catskillmtrailroad.com/cmrr_ ... ngston.pdf

EH

Interesting video of the ride to the Dam.
It appears that the CMR uses a variation of the Rock Island (CRI&P) "gauge grass" to hold the track structure.

Ira Schreiber
Co-owner:
The Kansas Belle Dinner Train

Lots of ties, lots of ditching, major brush cutting......

For a line that's been moribound for the last 25 or so years, I'd say they've done a great job of clearing the right of way. Of course there's much, much more to do. If the CMR folks had a tie crane, they should log out the nearer trees and sell them for firewood.

Problem is that the County seems hell bent on not renewing the lease, and nobody is running against Mr. Hein for top spot. Once re-elected, it'll be a tough political push to renew the lease and run trains over the line.

Best of luck and keep up the good work. Wish I was closer and could help.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Wednesday May 27th

There was a charter at Mt. Tremper. Engineer was Dave Heick, Conductor was Dave Hilliard, Point Protection was Tyler Carelli, and Thom Johnson was car attendant.


Friday May 29th

Joe Michaels and Greg Peck picked up parts for the 407 in Connecticut.


Saturday, May 30th

Walt Otto and Jim Bruck continued work on Coach 2949.

At Phoenicia, George Peck, Art Vogel, Tyler Carelli and Hunter Downie worked on track.

In Kingston, John Patane and Jeff Otto worked on track. Ernie Klopping and Al Schoessow worked on the tamper.

In Kingston, Earl Pardini was engineer, Neil Remsen was Conductor, Point Protection was John Marino, flaggers were Harold Anderson and Karl Wick, and Thom Johnson and Pat Smalley were ticket agents.

At Mt. Tremper, Dave Heick was engineer, Ray Farrell Conductor, Neil Isabelle Brakeman. Bruce Devorkin was ticket agent.



Sunday, May 31st

Jeff Otto, Al Schoessow and John Prestopino spiked and plated ties in Kingston.

At Mt. Tremper, Earl Pardini was engineer. Walt Otto was conductor. Tyler Carelli was point protection. Bruce Devorkin was ticket agent.





Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR