Adirondack RR: Harrietstown reverses rail-trail stance

jefalcsik · **Joined:** Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:42 am **Posts:** 84

Quote:

The real question here - and what needs to be considered - is what the Rail Explorers did in one season to reverse a local public attitude on their presence and value to the community that apparently the railroad didn't do, or at least not right there.

Rail Explorers USA has made several presentations to the communities and one of the most interesting visual aids is found at the link below, using zip code data from their paying customer base:

https://batchgeo.com/map/RailExplorers_zips2015

This speaks for itself on the impact they are having to the Tri-Lakes communities. I think Harrietstown is considering this real data as opposed to the speculation of the trail boosters.

Dennis Storzek · **Posted:** Thu Jan 07, 2016 2:29 pm

J3a-614 wrote:

Dennis Storzek wrote:

Except, if you ever want to run actual trains again, these types of operations won't be any easier to evict than a trail.

Unless you got as busy as the Strasburg, why would an "eviction" be necessary? One of the things brought up was that these rail cycles could share a railroad with a track warrant, same as a motorcar or hirail movement.

The main thing would be that the "window" would be long enough for the relatively slow rail cycles to be clear in time for a regular train.

And if they don't clear? What do you do with your train load of paying passengers? It is my understanding that "killer drones" are going to be more difficult to permit in the future.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 07, 2016 8:22 pm

Dennis Storzek wrote:

And if they don't clear? What do you do with your train load of paying passengers? It is my understanding that "killer drones" are going to be more difficult to permit in the future.

What do you do if another train is late?

Sounds like the same problem, and with the same solution--just run things well.

In the case of rail cycles, that would also mean providing an operating margin for some of the slower pumpers; alternately, put the slower pumpers up front, let them set the pace (that way they don't get left behind). Or provide a small track car as a pusher service.

These are just thoughts off the top of my head, but the point is this is not insurmountable.

jefalcsik · **Joined:** Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:42 am **Posts:** 84

A great article by the Rail Explorers proprietors was published in the ADE today:

http://adirondackdailyenterprise.com/pa ... l?nav=5282

thebigham · **Joined:** Sun Jul 14, 2013 3:46 pm **Posts:** 261

^Thanks!

Two highlights:

State ignores rail bikes, which are confirmed as an attraction
January 22, 2016
By ALEX CATCHPOOLE and MARY-JOY LU , Rail Explorers

Eleven thousand people in 100 days rail biked with Rail Explorers in 2015. One point three million dollars is the calculated direct economic impact. Indirect economic impact is estimated to be $3.25 million.

thebigham · **Joined:** Sun Jul 14, 2013 3:46 pm **Posts:** 261

More good news!

http://adirondackdailyenterprise.com/pa ... l?nav=5240

Franklin County legislature calls for rails with trails
February 4, 2016
By JUSTIN A. LEVINE and PETER CROWLEY , Adirondack Daily Enterprise

The Franklin County Board of Legislators added its voice to the rail/trail debate Thursday by unanimously resolving that it supports keeping and upgrading the rail line.

The seven-member legislature, which meets in Malone, also called for adding a parallel trail to the state-owned Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor, as recommended in a 1996 unit management plan. The two-sentence resolution said "these investments will enhance current and future economic and recreation opportunities in the communities along the corridor."

This is the second local government body recently to come out in favor of the keeping the train running. The Harrietstown Town Council voted for a resolution in favor of the rails at its December meeting following a presentation by Rail Explorers, a private enterprise that operates a rail bike business on 6 miles of the tracks between Saranac Lake and Lake Clear Junction. The Franklin County Legislature also had a presentation from Rail Explorers about a month ago, according to Vice Chairman Gordon Crossman, D-Malone...