Since so many of our members are either volunteers of the Catskill Mountain Railroad or the Empire State Railway Museum, I thought I would tell you all about the recent excitement on the line. The CMRR has recently purchased a new (at least to them) engine. This vintage locomotive is a 1946 S-1 locomotive manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (Alco). It served the Long Island Railroad for many years until being acquired by the Staten Island Railroad. After much faithful service in Staten Island's yards, the locomotive was slated for replacement by a newer, more modern technology. Destined for the scrapper's torch, an effort was made to save a piece of railroading history. The CMRR in order to meet the needs of an ever growing ridership has continued to restore more passenger cars, meaning bigger trains, which required a larger locomotive. As luck would have it, locomotive #407 found it's new home in the Catskills where it will serve the CMRR as the prime motive power for it's Esopus Creek scenic train starting on May 29th. The WCA will have the opportunity to ride one of the first trains of the season to be pulled by the locomotive on June 19th during the upcoming Woodland Community Assciation's train ride and get together. So all members of the WCA come out and ride the rails!!!
