has their been any new info since the hearings about status about the adirondack scenic railroad's future? i live in michigan but keep hopes up that at least for people in the east coast and upstate area of new york will have many years of the adirondack scenic to enjoy. hopefully railfans' fun will not be spoiled by a few NIMBY's and people intent on the railroad being turned into a trail. we have enough of those trails here in michigan. once a rail line is converted it will never ever see rail service again.
Its not tree huggers . it the locals who see a much larger economic return on hikers and snowmobilers. The area is economically driven by these groups. Ever been in lake placid in the dead of winter it is pack with snowmobilers and cross country walkers. So let the new yorkers decide what's best for them. Not tree huggers or rail fans.
Those snowmobilers already have the run of the place in the winter, a fact that has some early supporters for the trail proposal starting to second guess the motivation behind the small group of well financed individuals going after the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.
As for hikers, the "trail" is too long and too remote for the traffic to ever amount to anything and there are already many dozens of excellent trail options throughout the Adirondack region to cater to that segment far better than this ever could.
Folks would be wise to try to protect what they have instead of being fooled into taking it away. The Adirondack Scenic Railroad's opponents don't want you in their territory and won't hesitate when presented an opportunity to take away an asset like this.
Hopefully it's protected just like the St. Regis Mountain fire tower has been, another near victim of these folk's. Thankfully the public and common sense saved the day there. Hopefully it will again.
Bottom line it needs more than protection, the line needs to be put back into service soon or it will be recycled into a trail. When did the line last see service?
The Adirondack Scenic Railroad is very much active and utilizing its roadbed.
Between Remsen and Lake Placid, trackage is owned by the State of New York and is designated as a multi-use corridor: for rail traffic only during the spring, summer and fall seasons and as a snowmobile trail during the winter months. The track removal would allow bikes and hikers to use the trail the other nine months.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
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