After years of on-again-off-again discussion, it looks like there is finally motion on the renovation of the old New York, Ontario & Western station and headquarters at Middletown, NY, with Middletown approving a $23 million financial package.

https://midhudsonnews.com/2024/04/03/middletowns-ow-station-on-track-for-revival/?fbclid=IwY2xjawB-abABHV2RDgVbjXOhNSLLSv5ge2OIzb0593auANqeC9Z-zk7WntQ4EZjG6d6thw

Forgive me my relative skepticism, but I distinctly recall writing up that same story almost verbatim when I was the assistant editor of the newsletter for my NRHS Chapter............. back in 1990. And it's been rehabbed at least one other time in between. This specific depot really seems to have a curse on it.

I feel like Rocky J. Squirrel saying to Bullwinkle "But that trick NEVER works!".........

And, nearly a year later, photos have begun to appear on Facebook of scaffolding being installed at the station to start the renovation.

Whatever work was done on it since the 1990s, it definitely hasn't been anything significant in the last 30 years.

I passed through Middletown the other day to check up on progress. Scaffolding has been erected and clean up has begun. It's a shame it took 20 years for any progress since the fire, but at least it's better than never.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/54376273286

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/54376666940

The track in the foreground is active, used by Middletown & New Jersey.

-otto-