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Next Stop, Tupper Lake: Adirondack Railroad

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Next Stop, Tupper Lake: Adirondack Railroad
Posted by Harrison on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 7:22 PM

Since this belongs in both preservation and passenger, I'll just post it here.

TUPPER LAKE, NY- On September 13th, 2022, residents welcomed the inaugural run of the Adirondack Railroad. The train, which departed Thendara station around 11:00 AM, arrived in Tupper Lake shortly after 1:30 PM. RS-18 #1845 led the train north, seen here along Mount Arab Road and arriving in Tupper Lake.

   

Word spreads fast in a small town- many people turned out to see the train arrive in Tupper Lake.

   

After dropping off passengers, the train pulled ahead to run around the five cars it consisted of. Recently acquired C424 #2400 was then positioned to lead the train south.

     

With the speeches made and ribbon cutting done, the train departs south for Thendara.

 

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

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Posted by MidlandMike on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 8:38 PM

Have they published a regular schedule yet?  Did they go through with scraping the line north to Lake Placid?

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 9:29 PM

MidlandMike

Have they published a regular schedule yet?  Did they go through with scrapping the line north to Lake Placid?

The tracks north of Tupper Lake are gone.  There hasn't been much work on building the vaunted trail, and I suspect progress will be slow on it.

There is the possibility of one more trip this fall - I believe a rail historical group or two plan a charter for which they will sell seats.  I have no other details.

Regular trips will begin in 2023.  I've heard several variations of what that schedule may look like, so don't want to speculate.  The schedule for the coming year is usually developed in the February time frame, so watch the railroad's website (adirondackrr.com).

I was on the trip (I can be seen in one of the pictures).  You can see my GoPro on the nose of both leading locomotives.  I haven't had a chance to go through the video segments yet (they are about 15 minutes each).  The plan is to use this video (and more that will be shot later of other sections of the line) to train the crews.

It was a pleasure to meet Harrison (finally) as well as his mother and brother.  Great family.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Harrison on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 10:19 PM

tree68

 

 
There is the possibility of one more trip this fall - I believe a rail historical group or two plan a charter for which they will sell seats.  I have no other details.

Regular trips will begin in 2023.  I've heard several variations of what that schedule may look like, so don't want to speculate.  The schedule for the coming year is usually developed in the February time frame, so watch the railroad's website (adirondackrr.com).

 

It was a pleasure to meet Harrison (finally) as well as his mother and brother.  Great family.

 

I'm officially now hooked on the Adirondack Railroad and even submitted a forum to volunteer (out of Tupper Lake when operations start, and if I am wanted). I assume any trains operating out of Tupper Lake will go to Beaver River and return as the "short trip", and Thendara as the "long trip"? 

Also, the short video is out now.

https://youtu.be/OBFAcpGYvOE

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 7:13 AM

I believe the "local" trip out of Tupper Lake will go to Sabattis.  If I understand it correctly, the stub siding there will be double ended to allow the locomotive to run around the train.

Sabattis will still give a nice view of the Adirondack Forest.  I was talking with a rep from the Wild Center in Tupper Lake while waiting for the southward departure.  There was some interest in partnering with the railroad, possibly in the form of a docent from the Wild Center riding the train.  Could be interesting.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by MidlandMike on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 7:55 PM

tree68
The tracks north of Tupper Lake are gone. ...

I was keeping an eye out for news or photos of the dismantling of the Lake Placid-Tupper Lake segment, but never saw anything. When were the tracks taken up?

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Posted by Leo_Ames on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 8:32 PM

MidlandMike

 

 
tree68
The tracks north of Tupper Lake are gone. ...

 

I was keeping an eye out for news or photos of the dismantling of the Lake Placid-Tupper Lake segment, but never saw anything. When were the tracks taken up?

Was well in progress July 4th, 2021. Track seemed pretty much all lifted in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, with large piles of track material like tie plates in the Saranac Lake depot parking lot.

I was so disgusted that I've not been back since. I used to go for a ride up to the Lake Placid area once or twice a month.

 

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Posted by Harrison on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 9:30 PM

Leo_Ames

 

 
MidlandMike

 

 
tree68
The tracks north of Tupper Lake are gone. ...

 

I was keeping an eye out for news or photos of the dismantling of the Lake Placid-Tupper Lake segment, but never saw anything. When were the tracks taken up?

 

 

Was well in progress July 4th, 2021. Track seemed pretty much all lifted in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, with large piles of track material tie plates in the Saranac Lake depot parking lot.

I was so disgusted that I've not been back since. I used to go for a ride up to the Lake Placid area once or twice a month.

 

 

I feel the same way. During my recording of the deconstruction in the summer of 2021, I daresay I will have to voiceover my remarks for my documentary to avoid the risk of being demonetized. It's a very touchy topic, because if I say anything that "crosses the line" the rails-to-trails people will be after me and attempting to cancel me and my video. 

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

My YouTube

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Posted by 54light15 on Thursday, September 15, 2022 12:00 AM
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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, September 15, 2022 2:49 PM

54light15
News item:

I made the little crossbuck to use at train shows....

Normally it sits on top of a little carousel of brochure holders atop a stand.

 

LarryWhistling
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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, September 15, 2022 6:42 PM

Does Adirondack run any open window coaches?

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, September 15, 2022 7:20 PM

zugmann

Does Adirondack run any open window coaches?

There is one coach sans windows, and a baggage car that runs with the doors open.  Not having run lately, I'm not sure which may be in service right now.  There's a lot of rehabbing of cars going on.

The open cars are popular when we do run them.

 

LarryWhistling
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Posted by adkrr64 on Thursday, September 15, 2022 7:53 PM

We run the open air coach (coach sans windows) on the Thendara locals. There are seats down the center of the car that face out the sides. The baggage cars only run on the trains out of Utica at this point.

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Posted by MidlandMike on Thursday, September 15, 2022 8:46 PM

I'm glad I rode the Lake Placid-Saranac section about 10 years ago.  I wish I had rode the rail-bike on the Saranac-Tupper segment before it was ripped up.  Sounds like I should plan on riding the line up to Tupper before the politicians get any ideas to rip up the rest of the line.

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Posted by SD60MAC9500 on Thursday, September 15, 2022 9:41 PM
 

Sharp paint scheme on 2400 there.

 
Rahhhhhhhhh!!!!
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Posted by 54light15 on Thursday, September 15, 2022 10:50 PM

If this is as successful as everyone wants it to be, I wonder if the rails would be relaid to Lake Placid or is that too much to hope for? 

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Posted by Leo_Ames on Friday, September 16, 2022 1:09 AM

Once the rails get lifted it's incredibly difficult to ever restore such an asset. And in the Adirondack Park in particular, I'd dare say it's an impossibility.

Lee Keet with his bank account won that war. Our focus has to shift towards making sure he doesn't open a second front and extend his attention towards Saranac Lake and southward to further drive people out of his woods.

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Posted by Harrison on Friday, September 16, 2022 9:20 AM

adkrr64

We run the open air coach (coach sans windows) on the Thendara locals. There are seats down the center of the car that face out the sides. The baggage cars only run on the trains out of Utica at this point.

 

When I took the train from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake and return back in 2014, I distinctly remember riding in the "open air" car. It was quite enjoyable, but something I found more interesting is the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson's open-air car. A flatcar was purchased and railings were built, with tables in the middle. It's a much more "cruise-like" experience. 

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

My YouTube

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, September 16, 2022 9:24 AM

Leo_Ames
Lee Keet with his bank account won that war. Our focus has to shift towards making sure he doesn't open a second front and extend his attention towards Saranac Lake and southward to further drive people out of his woods.

I've heard he was fighting a beach in Saranac Lake village (on his lake).

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, September 16, 2022 10:09 AM

I finally got around to looking at Harrisons pictures.  Great shots Harrison!

As most here know I'm not a big diesel fan but wow, those old Alcos look GOOD!  I'd ride behind them any day!

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, September 16, 2022 12:19 PM

Flintlock76
I'd ride behind them any day!

Riding in one tomorrow to evaluate an another engineer.  They're fun to run...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Saturday, September 17, 2022 7:09 PM

Is there any freight traffic potential for the route?

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Posted by MidlandMike on Saturday, September 17, 2022 7:59 PM

Industry is tightly controlled inside the Adirondack Park "blue Line".

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, September 17, 2022 8:08 PM

Electroliner 1935

Is there any freight traffic potential for the route?

Not really.  Perhaps some consumer goods like fuel headed in.  There's not enough lumber going out to warrant any service.

They used to bring in a fair amount of coal for heating, but that's long gone.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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