Railway Preservation News :: View topic

The land upon which the first S-motor and the last T-motor (and U25b) has been sold to a developer set on building condominiums. All are in grave jeopardy. It would be a shame for a prototype to survive 107 years only to be torched due to a transportation problem.

Not to be picky, but being from Pennsylvania, the first thing I thought of when I saw "M&H Update" was the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad.

I haven't heard about this developer. Aren't they stored next to a power plant?

Edit: The units are located here:

http://binged.it/12OXHyw

You have to zoom in to see them.

The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum is trying to save these units, but is having major problems with an adjacent land owner. He won't let them use his property to move the units out.

There is a thread already here on the locos:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34026&p=184262&hilit=glenmont#p184262

Some 2007 pics here:

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 93&t=76426

NYC 100 - Alco/GE S-1 electric - Albany, NY (in need of preservation) (originally NYC 6000)
NYC 278 - Alco/GE T3a electric - Albany, NY (in need of preservation)

Author:	NH0401 [ Sun Jul 14, 2013 9:30 am ]
Post subject:	M&H Update
From Loconotes: Quote: The land upon which the first S-motor and the last T-motor (and U25b) has been sold to a developer set on building condominiums. All are in grave jeopardy. It would be a shame for a prototype to survive 107 years only to be torched due to a transportation problem.

Author:	Overmod [ Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:08 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
Who is the developer, and what is their contact information? Someone needs to make a credible 'connection' with people in that organization, let them know about the concerns regarding the equipment, and secure some timetable regarding when the property would need to be cleared. I think this may end the access-to-the-locomotives question -- but again, now is the time to obtain access permission, and determine what needs to be done to prevent vandalization or inadvertent damage or scrapping.

Author:	thebigham [ Sun Jul 14, 2013 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
I haven't heard about this developer. Aren't they stored next to a power plant? Edit: The units are located here: http://binged.it/12OXHyw You have to zoom in to see them. The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum is trying to save these units, but is having major problems with an adjacent land owner. He won't let them use his property to move the units out.

Author:	junior [ Sun Jul 14, 2013 11:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
Not to be picky, but being from Pennsylvania, the first thing I thought of when I saw "M&H Update" was the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad.

Author:	Tavor [ Mon Jul 15, 2013 3:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
junior wrote: Not to be picky, but being from Pennsylvania, the first thing I thought of when I saw "M&H Update" was the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad. I think the OP was referring to the Mohawk and Hudson NRHS. Building Condos would likely need heavy construction equipment, by the way. Perhaps the devoloper would be willing to help clear the land? Loading a truck is much less difficult than scrapping and then loading a truck anyway. Perhaps these condos are the answer to the access problem.

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M&H Update https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35292	Page 1 of 2

Author:	Bobharbison [ Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
I think Tavor is on to something. Did they plan to ship them out on their own wheels? (I rather doubt it, but I don't know any specifics...) If they're going out by truck, then he's correct, they need access to the site to build the place, and it should conceivably be possible to work with them to protect this valuable historic artifacts until such time as they can be removed from the property. Of course having a plan and the money to do it will help matters a lot.

Author:	Kuyahoora Valley [ Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
I met with the landowners a few years ago before the housing market collapsed. They were making plans to build on the site where the power plant used to dump their fly ash (I think that's what it was) which is north of the power plant. They were very helpful and supportive of getting the equipment out at that time. If they are the same landowners today I'm not sure. The power plant was also very cooperative at that time. We made a cash offer for the locomotives and undfortunately M&H didn't want to sell. To fully understand the situation, the equipment is basically landlocked now on all four sides. To the east is the Hudson River, to the south the power plant, to the west the CSX main with only a small underpass with low clearance under it, and to the north the Normans Kill (river). The track that the equipment is on came across the Normans Kill on a bridge (partially constructed from the old D&H Whitehall turntable) and continued to the powerplant. That bridge has since collapsed at the north end and will not support RR equipment. To the south, the powerplant has dumped fill over the track that is about 30 feet deep and would need to be excavated. It is thought that the rails still exist under the fill. The easiest way to get the equipment out would be to excavate the fill and drag the locomotives up a grade to the powerplant which still has a siding to CSX. Craning them where they are at would be difficult due to overhead powerlines, plus trucks couldn't make it under the CSX main. The only way out is through the powerplant, or fix the bridge, or get really crazy and put them on a barge. Not normally mentioned are the additional equipment on site: 2 D&H Diner-Lounges Saratoga Inn and Adirondack Lodge, which are ex D&RG I believe, as well as a car marked John Hancock. Dont know the history on that one.

Author:	twofoot [ Mon Jul 15, 2013 5:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
thebigham wrote: I haven't heard about this developer. Aren't they stored next to a power plant? Edit: The units are located here: http://binged.it/12OXHyw You have to zoom in to see them. The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum is trying to save these units, but is having major problems with an adjacent land owner. He won't let them use his property to move the units out. Where? Could not find them. and what exactly are "they" anyway? Thx. C.

Author:	thebigham [ Mon Jul 15, 2013 5:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
^Look here instead: http://goo.gl/maps/OHJvO In the middle of both maps. "Zoom in" to see them.

Author:	thebigham [ Mon Jul 15, 2013 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
There is a thread already here on the locos: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34026&p=184262&hilit=glenmont#p184262 Some 2007 pics here: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 93&t=76426 NYC 100 - Alco/GE S-1 electric - Albany, NY (in need of preservation) (originally NYC 6000) NYC 278 - Alco/GE T3a electric - Albany, NY (in need of preservation)

Author:	Les Beckman [ Mon Jul 15, 2013 5:33 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
Maybe dumb, but what about a move via barge? Les

Author:	FLO [ Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:15 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
(Edited by the author to remove images. Pics no longer needed).

Author:	twofoot [ Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
thebigham wrote: There is a thread already here on the locos: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34026&p=184262&hilit=glenmont#p184262 Some 2007 pics here: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 93&t=76426 NYC 100 - Alco/GE S-1 electric - Albany, NY (in need of preservation) (originally NYC 6000) NYC 278 - Alco/GE T3a electric - Albany, NY (in need of preservation) OH MY!!! LOL I hadn't realized. I last saw an S motor in the lower levels of GCT right before they were retired, and then one somewhere in a yard between NY and Chicago while on an Amtrak train. I have never seen one of the big T motors in person. I'm surprised these haven't been set free yet. C.

Author:	thebigham [ Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
^As explained above, the Berkshire Scenic is trying, but a landowner is being difficult.

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Author:	Brian Hebert [ Tue Jul 16, 2013 6:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: M&H Update
From the Bing birdseye view, it looks like the equipment is not very far from the power plants tracks. Surely there must be some way to pull the equipment forward?