Upper Hudson River Railroad

The Upper Hudson River Railroad was a heritage railroad that operated from 1999 to 2010 in the upper Hudson River in New York State's Adirondack Mountains.

Upper Hudson River Railroad
LocaleAdirondack Mountains, Warren County, New York, USA
Commercial operations
Built byAdirondack Railway
Original gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Preserved operations
Reporting markUHRX
Preserved gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Commercial history
Opened1871
1889D&H acquires the railroad
Closed1989
Preservation history
1999Opened
2010Closed
2011Saratoga and North Creek Railroad takes over
HeadquartersNorth Creek, New York

Primary motive power consisted of Southwind Rail Travel Limited ex-Delaware & Hudson locomotive No. 5019.

History

The Upper Hudson River Railroad uses the Adirondack Railway line built by Thomas C. Durant in 1871 to North Creek. North Creek station is where Theodore Roosevelt learned he was to become president of the United States of America after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901.

During World War II, magnetite, ilmenite, and titanium were shipped by rail from Tahawus by the Delaware and Hudson Railway (D&H). The D&H, which acquired the Adirondack Line from William West Durant in 1889, ran through this region until 1989 when the mine at Tahawus closed. The D&H last operated Monday through Saturday scheduled passenger service in the 1950s; reduced to summer service by the mid-1950s.[1][2] Regular service having entirely ended by 1957, with only freight service remaining.[3][4]

In 1998 the right of way was purchased by Warren County with plans to operate an excursion train to improve tourism and economic development in the area. In 1999, the Upper Hudson River Railroad was formed and introduced an excursion train that ran 8.5 miles (13.7 km) south from North Creek to Riverside Station in Riparius.

The track from Riverside Station 40 miles (64 km) south to Hadley was rebuilt by 2007. The Upper Hudson River Railroad celebrated its tenth year with a run, dubbed "40 Miler", that started at the 96-foot (29 m) high trestle in Hadley and ended at the restored 90-foot (27 m) turntable in North Creek. The 2007 season included excursions to 1,000 acres (400 ha) Ranch, the 40 miler to Hadley, and a Payroll Robbery. Various actors playing the roles of clowns, hobos, and a musician/storyteller join the excursions.

End of operations

The Upper Hudson River Railroad lost their contract with Warren County on December 31, 2010.[5] On April 8, 2011, it was announced that Iowa Pacific Holdings would take over operation of the route effective July 1, 2011.[6] As part of the agreement, the Iowa Pacific agreed to operate a minimum of 182 tourist-oriented passenger trains over the line.[6] Iowa Pacific began operating trains on July 12, 2011 as the Saratoga and North Creek Railroad. Unlike the Upper Hudson River Railroad, the Saratoga and North Creek operates over the entire 57-mile (92 km) distance between the Upper Hudson River Railroad's former terminal in North Creek and the station in Saratoga Springs, which allows connections with Amtrak's Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express services.[7]

An article dated May 14, 2012 in the Post Star titled Federal board OKs rail freight line between North Creek and Newcomb stated, "The operator of the Saratoga & North Creek Railway can move forward with plans to reopen the Tahawus rail line between North Creek and Newcomb and offer freight service, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Monday. The federal Surface Transportation Board on Monday approved a request for 'common carrier' status on the line, which allows Iowa Pacific Holdings, the rail line operator, to reopen the line." This action will result in freight traffic running over the former UHRR line.[8]

Stations

References
  1. 'Official Guide of the Railways,' January 1950, Delaware & Hudson section, Table 5
  2. 'Official Guide of the Railways,' December 1954, Delaware & Hudson section, Table 3, "NOTE. Train service on Branch Line Saratoga Springs to North Creek discontinued until June 18, 1955"
  3. 'Official Guide of the Railways,' December 1957, Delaware & Hudson section, Table 3
  4. 'Official Guide of the Railways,' August 1958, Delaware & Hudson section, Table 3
  5. "Iowa Pacific may reopen line in New York State". Trains Magazine. December 17, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  6. "Iowa Pacific gets go-ahead to operate Upper Hudson River Railroad". Trains Magazine. April 8, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  7. Nemeth, Tom (August 2011). "The Buzz in the Adirondacks". Railpace Newsmagazine.
  8. http://poststar.com/news/local/federal-board-oks-rail-freight-line-between-north-creek-and/article_b26d8222-9e0f-11e1-982c-0019bb2963f4.html

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