Friday, November 27th

On Friday, George Peck led a crew consisting of Greg Peck, Dave Mason and Jason DiTolla, and took the 115 to the Boiceville Trestle for a line inspection, finding one tree down on the tracks. They also mapped out culverts we will be applying for permits to reinstall.

Afterwards they went to Shokan and mapped out planned repairs of the line at MP 17 and at the future Shokan switch location.


Saturday, November 28th

In Phoenicia, Ed Palmatier and Dick Wilhelm worked on the cabinet doors. Mike Adsit sanded and primed the walls in the bathroom and then helped Al Johnson with scraping the celestory windows.

In Kingston, Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of Al Schoessow, Peter Fluchere, Ron Epstein, Shaun Murphy, Brian Murphy, Paul Hintz, Bill Hoppe, Bob Blake, and Mark Glaser. In the yard they worked on benches for the 278 and four new sets of crossbucks:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157477

A crew took the 401 and the worktrain to C9 and picked up tie shards between there and Washington Avenue:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157475

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157470

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157471

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157472

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157473

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157474


Sunday, November 29th

On Sunday, Earl Pardini led a crew at Cornell Street consisting of Ernie Klopping, Pat Smalley, Mark Glaser, Walt Otto, Al Schoessow, and Raphael DeMeglio. They finished the crossbucks for the Trailways and Route 209 crossings, and made progress on decorating the Holiday Train. Earl also worked on permanent benches for the Holiday Train.

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Wednesday December 2nd, Thursday December 3rd

On Wednesday and Thursday, Earl Pardini will lead a crew starting at Cornell Street at 9am each day. They will work on finishing the benches for flat 278 and installing crossbucks for the Trailways and 209 crossings, as well as continuing work decorating the train. Any additional help is greatly appreciated to get ready for the grand opening of our Kingston Holiday train on Saturday, December 5th.


Friday, December 4th

Ulster County has asked us on very short notice to move our ticket office and loading ramp to the other side of the tracks from their current location off Westbrook Lane prior to staring our 2009 Kingston Holiday Service. Parking will be moved to the opposite side and be part of the Kingston Plaza parking area near the ballfield.

Due to this short notice from the County, we need as many volunteers as possible to help Earl make the move Friday. Earl will start at Cornell Street at 8am and move to Westbrook Lane around 9am.

Please come and help if you can spare the time. We also need volunteers to help finish decorating the Holiday Train at Cornell Street Yard. Tom Healy will be leading this crew around 10:30am.

Saturday, December 5th

Earl will lead a crew on Saturday at Cornell Street starting at 9am making last minute preprations for the Holiday Train. Service starts at 1pm at Westbrook Lane.

The 702 crew will continue in Phoenicia starting at 10am.

George Peck will lead a crew in Phoenicia starting at 8:30am to finish projects in the yard and on the mainline.


Sunday, December 6th

Earl will lead a crew starting at 10am at Cornell Street that will continue any final work on the Holiday Train. Service starts at 1pm at Westbrook Lane.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Wednesday, December 2nd

On Wednesday, December 4th, Earl Pardini and Raphel DeMeglio worked on completing the benches for the 278 in the Cornell Street Yard.


Friday, December 4th

Tom Healy led a crew consisting of Neil and Kathy Isabelle and Thom Johnson who nearly completed decorating the Holiday Train.

Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of Raphael DeMeglio, Chester Hartwell, Harry Jameson, Mimi Pardini, George Peck, Greg Peck, John Patane, Bill Hoppe and Alicia Williams. They moved the Westbrook lane ticket office and loading platform to the other side of the tracks per instructions from the county.


Saturday, December 5th

Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of Harry Jameson, Mark Glaser, Mimi Pardini, Raphael DeMeglio, Peter Fluchere, Ron Epstein, Bill Hoppe, George Bain, Paul Hintz and Thom Johnson, making final preparations at the new location of our location for Westbrook station on the north side of the tracks. Train service started on time at 1pm.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=158140

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=158147

In Phoenicia, George Liucci, Tom Healy, Al Johnson and Dick Wilhelm decorated our train there in Christmas decorations.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=158141

George Peck led a crew consisting of Greg Peck, Dave Mason, Dave Heick and Derek Stapleton. They cleared out a culvert near Mt. Pleasant, and did repairs and cleanup near the section house in Phoenicia.


Sunday, December 6th

Kingston operations started on time at 1pm. Some photos:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=158149

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=158151

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=158154

Many thanks to all in Kingston and Phoenicia who made this happen!



Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, December 12th

On Saturday, George Peck will lead a crew starting at Phoenicia at 9am. They will be "digging out" from today's snow to get ready for the ESRM Santa train on Sunday.

Also in Phoenicia, the 702 crew will start about 10am.

In Kingston, Earl will lead a crew starting around 9am at Cornell Street to clear the line, especially the crossings, of snow and ice. Train operations will start in the afternoon at 1pm at Westbrook Lane.


Sunday, December 13th

On Saturday, George Peck will lead a crew starting at Phoenicia at 10am. They will be getting the train and railroad ready the ESRM Santa train which will start about 1pm.

In Kingston, train crews should come around 12 noon to Cornell Street for the afternoon runs starting at 1pm at Westbrook Lane.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, December 12th

On Saturday, George Peck and Jason DiTolla plowed out the Phoenicia yard from the snowfall last week.

At Mt. Pleasant, George Liucci, Ernie Gehrer, Ed Palmatier and Al Johnson decorated the Mt. Pleasant station and then the train.

In Kingston, Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of Mark Glaser, PJ Hintz, Ed Mead, and Peter Fluchere who plowed out the line prior to service starting at 1pm. Some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiqXRFdc7Fc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPYcz2VPXXM


Sunday, December 13th

In Phoenicia, the ESRM/CMRR Santa Train ran in the afternoon between Mt. Pleasant and Phoenicia, despite the bad weather.

In Kingston, the Holiday Train ran its normal schedule.

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, December 19th

On Saturday, George Peck will lead a crew starting at Phoenicia at 9am. They will be working on repairing the hi-rail dump truck so it can be used at Shokan, as well as working on the backhoe.

Also in Phoenicia, the 702 crew will start about 10am.

In Kingston, Earl will lead a crew starting around 12 noon at Cornell street preparing for train operations (If there is snow between now and Saturday, the crew will start at 10am to clear the line). Train operations will start in the afternoon at 1pm at Westbrook Lane. Santa will be there!


Sunday, December 20th, Monday Dec. 21st, Tuesday Dec. 22nd, Wednesday Dec. 23rd

In Kingston, train crews should come around 12 noon to Cornell Street for the afternoon runs starting at 1pm at Westbrook Lane.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, December 26th

On Saturday, George Peck will lead a crew starting at Phoenicia at 9am. They will be working on repairing the hi-rail dump truck so it can be used at Shokan. However, session will be cancelled in case of bad weather. Check with George directly beforehand to be sure.

Also in Phoenicia, the 702 crew will start about 10am.

In Kingston, Earl will lead a crew starting around 12 noon at Cornell street preparing for train operations (If there is snow between now and Saturday, the crew will start at 10am to clear the line). Train operations will start in the afternoon at 1pm at Westbrook Lane. Half of all proceeds will go to Queens's Galley, a local charity.


Sunday, December 27th

In Kingston, train crews should come around 12 noon to Cornell Street for the afternoon runs starting at 1pm at Westbrook Lane. This will be the final day of operations for the CMRR for 2009.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Some more photos of the Kingston Holiday Train:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=159588

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=159589

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=159590

EH

Earnie,

I think I speak for quite a number of people when I say "Congrats" on another tremendous year of accomplishments for the Catskill Mountain RR. Your efforts for 2009 brought you up to bridge C-9, right? Will there be a waiting period to get funds in hand to do any further work to the bridge? Will your intrepid track gang pick up in 2010 on the other side of the bridge and continue working west towards Ashokin?

Sincerely,

Rob Gardner

Rob,

Thanks for your kind words. We are now working on our plan of attack for 2010. Obviously both bridges (C9 and C30) are high on our list. Winter is our strategy season so we should be able to announce our plans for 2010 by April 1st.

In the mean time, you may enjoy this video done by one of our volunteers that shows our work in Kingston over the past three years. Enjoy!.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hre8VLZt2Q

Ernie Hunt
CMRR

What engine is the boiler seen in the video from?

That is former Otto Chemical Davenport 0-4-0, which is owned personally by CMRR's President, Earl Pardini.

For background, there is an article on the acquisition of this locomotive in the Winter 2002 issue of the ESRM's Telegraphed Dispatch on p.9:

http://www.esrm.com/esrm/pdf/winter2002.pdf

EH

Saturday, January 2nd

On Saturday, January 2nd, George Peck will lead a crew meeting at Mt. Pleasant at 8:30am to move the train parked there to Phoenicia. He will continue working in the yard at Phoenicia for the rest of the day, moving equipment around for its winter configuration.

The 702 crew plan to start at 10am.

There will be no work scheduled for Kingston on Saturday.


Sunday, January 3rd.

No crews are scheduled.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Ernie,

Tell Tom he did a great job on that video.

I seem to recall some rolling stock was stranded for a while over a washed out section of track. Was that at the Kingston end of the line? Have those cars been moved to firmer ground?

What rolling stock might be next to get restored once the coach is completed? I'm thinking you're going to need more capacity in Kingston before too long!

Rob Gardner

Rob,

We have three coaches, a ballast hopper, and a gondola stored west of Kingston near Route 209, and the ESRM has a former NYC Diner stored there as well. These coaches were moved a few hundred feet to higher ground in November 2006 after they were undermined in an April 2005 flood.

We are now able to retrieve the cars and bring them back to Kingston, which will likely occur in the winter or spring.

The ESRM diner, the "Lion Gardiner" will likely be scrapped - it is too fargone to restore and not CMRR equipment anyway; we will start refurbishment of one of the coaches in 2010 (most likely former CNJ 1204 or 1198), and the hopper and gondola will go into work train service.

Once we gear up for this move, there will be plenty of coverage here!

Ernie Hunt