Considering the viability of various new tourist rail options is a personal interest of mine. I gave this one a looksie today and I see some potential, and a few possible challenges.
Potential:
- Scenic part of New York state.
- nearby access to three interstates and the remarkably pleasant Taconic State Parkway.
- Proximity to major metropolitan area for potential riders/volunteers
- Historic Depots:
Beacon, appears unrestored-
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.501443,-73.9641028,3a,75y,26.42h,89.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXo_ZBf1x__3XaxYSVQC6VQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
and Hopewell Junction, restored, the base of a bike trail, a located bit off the actual route and home to a small depot museum.
http://hopewelldepot.org/
- A very rural and hilly portion of the route, east of Stormville, circumvents Depot Hill, and crosses the Appalachian Trail.
http://hikethehudsonvalley.com/depot-hill/
- About 6 lakes, ponds, or reservoirs are passed east of Holmes.
- Active industry appears to exist along the line at Fishkill, and in a few other locations there few possible industrial sites to develop.
Challenges:
- Only one active industry (apparently) is located on the line (Montford Brothers, a masonry manufacturer in Fishkill).
- Few good locations for staging an equipment yard and maintenance facility. Hopewell Junction may be the best of them.
- Active Bike Trail development immediately adjacent to the right of way, on the old second track alignment in the Town of Brewster. This may be an asset, but I would not be surprised if trail users would like to see the conversion of the rest of the railroad line, where the trail would need to replace the rails.
- The lease is only for the land in NY. Danbury CT is a short distance down the line further, but it is not a part of this lease arrangement.
- Much of the line passes through the extended back yards of homes on large lots, presumably reasonably wealthy suburbanites, and possible NIMBYs.
My hunch is that the county would like to develop the line as a bike trail, and this effort by NYMTA is an effort to see if other rail use is interested by any parties, as they don't see it necessary for their commuter operation.
But this is just a guess, I have no information regarding actual intentions of any parties.
O.