From the Kingston Daily Freeman, December 5, 2008:

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/20 ... 386622.txt

The Holiday Train has Arrived

Friday, December 5, 2008 3:06 AM EST
By BONNIE LANGSTON
Freeman staff




The unveiling of Catskill Mountain Railroad’s holiday train off Kingston Plaza last weekend drew plenty of attention, but a visit by Santa coupled with other festivities may have overshadowed the significance of scheduled rides.

“December 6 will be the first time this line has seen passenger service since 1954,” said railroad chairman Harry Jameson. “We’re doing two things. We’re recreating history, and we’re making it at the same time.”

Jameson and a cadre of more than 130 other volunteers, including railroad president Earl Pardini, are delighted their efforts have culminated in a longtime dream.

“Boy, I’ll tell you there’s electricity in the air,” Jameson said from the interior of the holiday train’s refurbished caboose before it left the train yard on Cornell Street in Kingston last Saturday for the railroad site off Fair Street and Schwenk Drive.

Weekends this month, however, the more than half-century-old RS-I engine, a flatbed and the caboose will be stationed at Westbrook Lane and Aaron Court near the alternate entrance to Kingston Plaza. Besides the new paint job the once-abandoned historic train sports, it also is decked out in festive finery, including multi-colored lights and evergreen boughs.

Debbie Downes, of Boiceville, whose 12-year-old daughter, Marissa, was part of a dance troupe that performed on the flatbed during the Saturday unveiling, took note of all of the above.

“I think it’s great,” she said. “It’s festive, and it brings back the old trains. It’s a wonderful addition we have in Kingston.”

The jolly old elf, there for the special event, also is expected to return for scheduled runs.

“I hear tell that Santa is going to have a big bag of treats, too,” Jameson said.

Up to 70 passengers, especially if they choose to stand, can be accommodated during the approximately 2-mile hourly trips that wind along Fair Street, Washington and Albany avenues then back. The train will hum along at up to 15 miles per hour, said Pardini, who will serve as an engineer. Riders, particularly those on the more open flat car, should be mindful of winter’s bite and clothe themselves appropriately.

“You’ve gotta dress the same way you would if you were skating on the pond,” Jameson said, although passengers who nab one of the approximately 22 seats in the caboose should feel some warmth from an antique stove aboard.

Warmth is a commodity railroad volunteers themselves, however, have foregone for years. Crews have worked year-round, apparently adopting the motto of postal workers: “Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night,” or gloom of early morning in their case, has kept them from their goal.

Two weeks before the train’s christening, for instance, an intrepid group of about 20 worked in temperatures that matched their numbers to finish the flatbed and take care of other last-minute matters.

“I bet you the wind-chill factor was zero,” Pardini said. “It was incredible. It would take the hide right off you.”

He said the fact that volunteer numbers have increased 12-fold in the past two years is heartening. The railroad is ending a quarter-century, the same number of years in a lease it entered into 17 years ago with Ulster County, which in 1979 purchased 38.6 miles of track that once was part of the Ulster and Delaware Railroad.

The public, in general, is aware of the popular run between Phoenicia and Boiceville, but more recently the railroad has been making efforts in Kingston. Its visibility, nevertheless, has been limited until the recent introduction of the holiday train, which Jameson and Pardini said will likely expand to Easter and other special occasions.

Jameson said the next step in a five-year plan is to operate a dining car with a destination to and from the scenic Ashokan Reservoir. Eventually, plans call for train trips from Kingston to Phoenicia.

When will that happen?

“It depends,” Jameson said.

“It would be really reasonable to say it would be in 10 years,” Pardini said, “maybe sooner.”

But for now, the men and other volunteers are concentrating on the holiday train, which they expect will bring business to Kingston as well as a fun, affordable experience for passengers of all ages.

“We’re very proud of our train,” Jameson said, “and we’re glad to offer the opportunity for a little something extra for the community.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Catskill Mountain Railroad Holiday Train

WHERE: Westbrook Lane, Kingston Plaza alternate entrance

WHEN: Begins Saturday, running weekends through Dec. 28

SCHEDULE: Hourly from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays (starting Dec. 12)

DETAILS: Half the money earned from Dec. 21 rides will benefit the Queen’s Galley soup kitchen in Kingston.

HOW MUCH: Adults, $6; children 4 to 11, $4; and children 3 and younger, free

ONLINE:

info@catskillmtrailroad.com or http://www.catskillmtrailroad.com

Saturday, December 6th

Phoenicia/Mt. Pleasant

In Mt. Pleasant, George Liucci, Ernie Gehrer, Ed Palmatier, and Al Johnson worked to decorate the station for the holidays as well as Gladys' caboose and the 701.

In Phoenicia, George Peck, Dave Mason, Greg Peck, and Derek Stapleton got the gradall out on the line, and continued ditch work from about MP 24.5 east.

Kingston

In Kingston, we had a large crew there getting the train ready for its first run. The crew consisted of Earl Pardini, Harry Jameson, Mark Glaser, Greg Vaughn, Jeff Otto, Ernie Klopping, Dave Baker, Bob Blake, Mike LaLonde, Tom Healy, Paul Hintz, Burr Hubbell, John Tuma, John Patane, Joe Marsh, Erik Morehouse, George Bain, Mimi Pardini, Pat Smalley, John Voelcker, Josh Weis, Joe Buonfiglio, Peter Fluchere, George Cook and myself. Train crew consisted of Gladys Gilbert in the ticket booth, Ray Farrell, Bill Kaba, and Dan Howard.

Here are some photos from before the ribbon cutting ceremony:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 226140.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 526339.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 726431.jpg


Here are some from the ribbon cutting ceremony:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 027110.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpPVbo61vCI


Here are some of the train in service:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 827227.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 331427.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 431540.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 431976.jpg


All in all, a great day for the railroad, the reward for 2 and a half years of hard work. And to those of you who may have forgotten, here is a view of the track near Washington Avenue when we started cutting the brush in 2006:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 632108.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 927063.jpg

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Thursday December 11th

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street tomorrow at 9am. He plans to take a crew out to do some track maintenance between Cornell Street and Westbrook Lane. It you can join him, please call him, so you can find out exactly where he is working.


Friday, December 12th

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street at 9am. In the morning he will be doing some finish work on the train, and getting ready for operations which will run from 3pm to 7pm.


Saturday, December 13th

Kingston

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street at 9am get ready for running the Kingston shuttle from 1pm to 7pm. Those not involved in operations may work on projects in the yard. The Hunter/Tannnersville High School Band plans to play on the loading platform at Westbrook Lane at 12:30pm.

Ray Farrell is trainmaster in charge of train crew, and if you want to work as Train Crew Saturday or any other day in the December Kingston schedule, call him.

Phoenicia

The 702 crew plan to work on Saturday on coach 702. Let George Liucci or Al Johnson know if you wish to join them.

George Peck will be leading a crew out of Phoenicia at 9am. They will be doing maintenance on the line from Phoenicia to Mt. Pleasant, in anticipation of the Sunday Santa run.


Sunday, December 14th

Kingston

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street on Sunday at 11am, in anticipation of starting operations at 1pm. If you wish to start earlier than 11, let Earl know. Any staff not needed for Kingston operations that day will probably be working on completing the new siding in Cornell Street Yard.

Phoenicia

George Peck will lead a crew preparing for the annual Santa Train in Phoenicia. They plan to start at 9:30am. The Santa Train will be departing at 12:30pm on several trips to Rock Cut and back until dark.

If you wish to work as train crew on the Santa Train, contact Ray Farrell.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Thursday, December 11th

On Thursday, December 11th, Earl Pardini and Bob Blake did track maintenance work in Kingston.


Friday, December 12th

On Friday, December 12th, the Kingston Shuttle ran from 3 to 7pm.


Saturday, December 13th

Phoenicia

In Phoenicia, Ernie Gehrer, George Liucci, and Al Johnson worked on the 702. George Peck, Greg Peck, Dave Mason and Derek Stapleton worked on preparing the line for the Santa Train on Sunday.

Kingston

In Kingston, the Tannersville/Hunter high school marching band played at the loading platform at 12:30. The Shuttle service ran from 1 to 7pm.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 514895.jpg


Sunday, December 14th

Phoenicia

The Santa Train ran from Phoenicia to Rock Cut, MP 24.1, several times. Many passengers were carried as well as Santa.

Kingston

The following worked: Earl Pardini, Greg Vaughn, Gladys Gilbert, Ernie Klopping, John Watson, Mark Glaser, John Patane, John Tuma, Peter Fluchere, Raphael DeMeglio, Chester Hartwell, Dave Hilliard, Dakin Morehouse.

Besides running the Kingston shuttle service, they moved the new Mount Pleasant sign into the station there for storage, added a second small sealed beam rear headlight to the caboose, replaced missing bolts on a rail joint West of the O&W switch, and installed a temporary culvert combined with raising a low spot in the track just West of Albany Ave.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 720989.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 721097.jpg


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Friday, December 19th

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street at 11am. In the morning he will be doing some finish work on the train, and getting ready for operations which will run from 3pm to 7pm.


Saturday, December 20th

Kingston

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street at 9am get ready for running the Kingston shuttle from 1pm to 7pm. Those not involved in operations may work on projects in the yard.

Ray Farrell is trainmaster in charge of train crew, and if you want to work as Train Crew Saturday or any other day in the December Kingston schedule, call him at 845-229-5386.

Phoenicia

The 702 crew plan to work on Saturday on coach 702. Let George Liucci or Al Johnson know if you wish to join them.

George Peck will be leading a crew out of Phoenicia at 9am. They will be doing maintenance on the line from Phoenicia east.


Sunday, December 21st

Kingston

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street on Sunday at 11am, in anticipation of starting operations at 1pm. If you wish to start earlier than 11, let Earl know. Any staff not needed for Kingston operations that day will probably be working on completing the new siding in Cornell Street Yard.



Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

To all:

Due to bad weather, today's runs were cancelled, as were Friday's. But we were running yesterday, with some great snow shots:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 632085.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 832214.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 232353.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 132486.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 332591.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 032658.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 524304.jpg

Enjoy!

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Friday, December 26th

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street at 9am. In the morning he will be doing some work on the train, and getting ready for operations which will run from 3pm to 7pm.


Saturday, December 27th

Kingston

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street at 10am get ready for running the Kingston shuttle from 1pm to 7pm. Those not involved in operations may work on projects in the yard.

Ray Farrell is trainmaster in charge of train crew, and if you want to work as Train Crew Saturday or any other day in the December Kingston schedule, call him.

Phoenicia

The 702 crew may plan to work on Saturday on coach 702. Let George Liucci or Al Johnson know if you wish to join them.

George Peck will be leading a crew out of Phoenicia at 9am. They will be doing maintenance on the line from Phoenicia east.


Sunday, December 28th

Kingston

Earl Pardini plans to open Cornell Street on Sunday at 10am, in anticipation of starting operations at 1pm. If you wish to start earlier than 10, let Earl know. 1/2 of our proceeds Sunday from operations will go to a local charity, Queens Galley.




Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Saturday, December 27th

On Saturday, December 27th, Al Johnson and Ed Palmatier worked on completing the sills in coach 702 in Phoenicia. George Peck, Dave Mason and Paul Sternitzke worked in the Phoenicia yard.

Sunday, December 28th

On Sunday, December 28th, the CMRR donated half its proceeds, over $500, to Queens Galley, a local charity. We had an excellent turnout, both of customers and CMRR volunteers for the final runs of the year on Sunday. Our runs on Friday and Saturday also had excellent turnout.

Year 2008

2008 was a year of great accomplishments for the CMRR, which included:

Extending passenger Service .6 mile to Cold Brook Station, and running the work train to the Boiceville Bridge, MP 21.3.

Repairing track in Kingston to Washington Avenue, and starting shuttle service in December.

Completing conversion of caboose 675 and flat 213/278 to passenger service.

Expanding Cornell Street yard by 3 times by moving the fence there, and starting siding construction at Cornell Street.

Extending track No. 2 in Phoenicia, and completing the section house repair.

Thorough overhall of the tie handler and scarifier, and nearly completing repair of the tamper.

Nearly completing renovation of the 702.

All and all a great year, and we are planning on having an even better one in 2009.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR