Steam Locomotive In Mt Tremper

WCA member Tommy Healy sent this photo of the steam train that the CMRR ran in Mt Tremper over last weekend. A little piece of railroading history.

All Aboard The Steam Locomotive

The Catskill Mountain Railroad is hosting a steam locomotive this Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, August 9th on Rt 28 in Mt Tremper. This event will be for ONE WEEKEND ONLY. Tickets are limited so you might want to order online at CMRREVENTS.COM. You can also call 845-688-7400 for more information.

Mini-Railroad Rides

For those looking for something really fun to do with young children there are mini-railroad rides at the Empire State Railway Museum on Lower High Street. Here is a video featuring WCA member Dakin Morehouse as the engineer on the ride. It looks like great fun to me! Check it out this coming weekend!

ESRM Needs Volunteers

WCA members Dakin and Doris Morehouse, who spearhead the efforts to preserve the Empire State Railway Museum (Dakin is President), sent me a message to post here on the blog regarding volunteers. If any of you have some time and want to be involved please contact Doris. Here is what she had to say:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! the Empire State Railway Museum needs docents on Lower High Street, in Phoenicia. The museum is open weekends and holidays from 11 to 4, beginning Memorial Day weekend. We are casual and you would learn quickly about the history of the station and the area and photos on the walls etc. I am there and need a second person to help at the gift shop and/or just talk with the visitors. 

  You are welcome to volunteer as few or as many days as you can. The Mini train will be running mid day on the property and the CMRR train ride is just a mile east on #28.

 Please consider donating some time with us. No experience necessary; only interest in helping preserve our beautiful station and the history of our area. 

  Call me and we can talk more about it.

Doris

688-5773 (home)

688-7501 (museum)

http://www.esrm.com

Blasting Under The East Side

After WCA member Tom Healy sent me his diving posts he also sent me another really cool video. Tom works for the MTA in New York City as a dispatcher so he keeps up with all their different projects around the city. As you all probably know the MTA has been building another subway line under the east side of Manhattan. They have been working on it for a long time and occasionally have to blast some rock. The video Tom sent shows that happening. According to the blurb on the YouTube page with this video this was a blast under Grand Central Station and is one of the last they have to do. I thought it was very interesting to be able to watch this amazing project near it's completion. Maybe you will enjoy it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms0nDGDrNc8&feature=youtu.be

Kingston Holiday Train

Photo © Dan Howard

Besides the local festivities this Sunday in Phoenicia and Mt Tremper  (see previous post) the CMRR is also operating their Winter Holiday Train in Kingston. Below is information on that full filled holiday activity. It's another great opportunity to ride the train and see Santa. I still think that Santa Claus must have a close relative in Woodland Valley. What a resemblance!! Don't forget to join the railroad and the Empire State Railway Museum this Sunday for a their annual holiday celebration right here in town! The fun starts at noon. See you there.

   ALL ABOARD the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s 2012 Winter Holiday Train! The Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) is proud to announce the continuation of Holiday Train service in Kingston, New York, for their twenty-ninth year of operating trains in Ulster County. The CMRR, having reestablished passenger service in Kingston in 2008, for the first time since 1954, has been busy decorating the Train to provide you with, what is now a Holiday Tradition for the whole family.

Holiday Train service will be on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm hourly starting December 1^st through December 30^th. Come ride with Santa through December 23^rd as he spreads cheer to all the good little children of Kingston! Be sure to bring your camera! Take a special train ride to celebrate the holidays and usher in the New Year. Tickets will be available at the CMRR station, located in the Kingston Plaza ball field parking lot near the Hannaford Supermarket - Adult fares are $6.00, Children (ages 2-11) ride for $4.00, and children under 2 years-old ride free with a paid adult fare.

Get into the holiday spirit and enjoy a one-hour excursion through the historic City of Kingston! The Holiday Train will depart from Westbrook Lane for a three-mile round trip; heading West across Fair Street, Washington Avenue, to the old C9 Bridge, and then back again. Trains consist of open-air seating as well as limited space inside our refurbished caboose. Please dress appropriately and make sure to bundle up!

Have a toy train set under your Christmas tree? Well why not bring the kids out to experience the real thing. Get ready for the holidays with a visit from Santa Claus and a train ride on the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s decorated Winter Holiday Train.  

Mini Railroad Coming Back Soon

WCA member and ESRM President Dakin Morehouse sent me a message and some photos and videos  (see below) of the Mini RR that was running at the museum until last fall when Hurricane Irene pulled up the tracks. The volunteers at the museum have been working hard to restore service. They are almost finished. I will let you know when they are fully up and running so you can all go and pay the museum a visit and see the super fun mini.  Here is what Dakin had to say.

Just a couple shots of:
Doris and her favorite engineer (with Davy and his steamer behind),
- the pudgy engineer himself,
- and Davy - with a (friendly) cop.
Ah this second childhood is rough!
Dakin

.... and a couple U-tubes of our Mini RR at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcrmbzPFGuU  pre flood diesil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqdiPWlmk8o   short pre flood steam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6zRppHbeu4  2011 - Dak pre flood monolog (7.6 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu7L5chMiYs   2012 - rebuilt post flood run

Santa Comes to Town Today

Don't forget that Santa is coming to town this afternoon (starting at about 12pm) at the Empire State Railway Museum located on Lower High Street in Phoenicia. If you go to the museum, Santa will give you a ticket to ride the Catskill Mountain Railroad train for free out of Mt Tremper. Train rides are at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00pm. I caught up with Santa and Mrs. Claus last weekend and they told me that it was going to be a great day with fun for all!! It certainly is a beautiful (albeit cold) day for a train ride! So go on down to town for some free, festive holiday fun!!

CMRR in NY Times Today

Many members of the WCA do volunteer work at the Catskill Mountain Railroad and/or the Empire State Railway Museum. Today they got some coverage for their fall foliage train rides in the NY Times. Here is the link so you can check it out.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/travel/24foliage.html?scp=1&sq=catskill%20mountain&st=cse

Let's hope this brings a lot of folk up to ride the trains and spend money here in our area!

WCA Train Charter & Party

Greetings WCA Members,
Due to technical difficulties, the annual summer fun schedule & dues letter has been delayed. The full schedule will be out sometime next week. In the meantime, I wanted to let you know about our first event so you can save the date. Here are the details.

Saturday, June 19th - 4:00pm – CMRR Train Charter & Party
The WCA has chartered the Catskill Mountain Railroad for a private train ride for members of the Woodland Community Association. We will gather at 4:00pm at the ESRM station on Lower High St in Phoenicia, board the train and then return and have a party at the station. There will be food at the party. The event is free to all WCA members and their families with an RSVP to me at wvview@gmail.com. Please let me know exactly how many people will be attending. You may bring guests but guests will be charged $10.00 per adult - $5.00 per child. Guests must be accompanied by a WCA member. All single members of the WCA are allowed one free guest. Please be sure to RSVP. I need an accurate count for both the railroad and the food. Those of you who do not RSVP beforehand will be charged $10.00 per person at the station.

For those of you who have never been on the train it is a lot of fun! I hope to see you all there for the first WCA event of the season!!

Best,
Carol Seitz
WCA President

CMRR Gets New Engine

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!!!

Free Christmas Show and Train Ride

There is lots and lots of fun to be had this weekend in Phoenicia. Dakin Morehouse sent me this information about the STS Christmas Show, the party at the Empire State Railway Museum and the train ride on the Catskill Mountain Railroad. Santa himself will even be there. This event is a gift to the community from all three of the organizations involved and it is entirely free! So come one come all for some festive Holiday cheer!

Santa Rides the Rails Again!

- On the Catskill Mt. RR Christmas Trains -
and so can all you kiddies – for Free!
That’s on Sunday, December 13, right after the 12:00,
Shandaken Theatrical Society’s Annual Christmas Show
on Church St. in Phoenicia
~ ~ ~
Then it’s across the creek to the historic
Phoenicia RR Station
for cookies & cider,
Model RR trains and good cheer –
and a Train Ride with St. Nick Himself!
(Trains will run as they fill up between 1:00pm and 4:00pm)
~ ~ ~
While this annual event is free, donations are always welcome - and helpful to the Empire State Railway Museum
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Many thanks to all the contributors including the ESRM, Catskill Mt Railroad, the Shandaken Theatrical Society and participating Phoenicia shops and restaurants.

CMRR Holiday Train in Kingston

The Catskill Mountain Railroad has launched a Winter Holiday train ride in Kingston. The ribbon cutting and inaugural trip took place this past Saturday. Chairman of the CMRR (and WCA member) Harry Jameson, Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature, Dave Donaldson, President of the CMRR Earl Pardini, and Santa Claus (who looks strangely like another WCA member), among others, were all on hand to preside over the opening ceremonies. Trains will run over the next few weeks from the platform adjacent to the Kingston Plaza (near the Hannaford) on Aaron Court just off Westbrook Lane. Here is the schedule:

Fridays Hourly from 3pm - 7pm
Saturdays and Sundays Hourly from 1pm - 7 pm
December 12th through December 28th

Adults $6.00
Children 4 - 11 $4.00
Children 3 and under ride free

So if you find yourself holiday shopping in Kingston you might want to go for a ride!

Free Christmas Events - December 14th

Shandaken Theatrical Society Presents
Christmas in Phoenicia
December 14, 2008
12:00pm

Train Rides with Santa leaving from the Empire State Railway Museum
1-5pm

The annual STS Christmas Show will be held on Sunday, Dec 14th at 12:00pm, in conjunction with the Catskill Mountain Railroad and the Empire State Railway Museum’s Santa Claus Train Rides. Admission is free and audience singing is encouraged. After the show, audience members can learn about the theater, visit with Santa (bring your own camera), and enjoy holiday refreshments baked by STS volunteers. Then head on over to the Old Phoenicia Train Station on Lower High Street for their free train rides with Santa Claus, live music, holiday cheer. Trains will run continuously between 1:00 and 5:00pm. While you are waiting for your train or when you get back, enjoy an old fashioned Christmas Party at the railway museum. The party is set to include fresh popcorn, cookies, and cider, several operating model electric trains, and live steam model trains. Please support this great day in Phoenicia with your presence.

Look for WCA members Lauren and Miriam Rose on stage at STS. Then join Dakin Morehouse, Tom Healy and Harry Jameson (also WCA members) over on the train.

See you there!

Fall Foliage Train Rides

Here is a message and some photos from Tom Healy. He is one of several WCA members that are volunteers at the Catskill Mountain Railroad and the Empire State Railway Museum. Thanks Tom!

Hey all,
The fall foliage is really good this year. Just some shots from this last weekend below. Next 2 weeks should be good also. So if you are up. Stop by the Railroad...
Best,
Tom Healy

Tommy Healy WV Resident/Trainman

In the above photo, Tommy Healy, trainman for the Catsill Mountain Railroad and Woodland Valley Resident, welcomes holiday riders. Tom is a long term member of the board of directors of the CMRR and is one of the driving forces behind the railroad. Tom and a number of other railroad volunteers also restore track and vintage railroad cars. The photo below of the coach at the Mt. Pleasant station was restored as well as decorated by the group with Tom's help. He also took the photo. Talk about multi-talented!!
(PS to Tommy - Great set of marker lights!!!)

Holiday Events Rescheduled

The Shandaken Theatrical Society, The Empire State Railway and the Catskill Mountain Railroad will try again to bring you a day of fun this Sunday, December 23rd. The festivities (postponed from last weekend) begin at the STS at 12:00 for "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and then move to the Empire State Railway Museum for refreshments and a ride aboard the CMRR train featuring Santa Claus! The train rides are scheduled for 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. The event is free for all but donations are accepted. See you at the museum!

Holiday Train

The holiday events sponsored by the Shandaken Theatrical Society in conjunction with the Empire State Railway and the Catskill Mountain Railroad were cancelled and rescheduled for next Sunday December 23rd. Because of the last minute weather related decision to postpone the events, and so as not to disappoint the folks that had braved the storm, the ESRM and the CMRR welcomed people and provided train rides to those that did show up. Many of the volunteers for both organizations are WCA members. Here are a few photos taken at the event.





Here Comes Santa (longtime friend of Dakin Morehouse) and his helper, trainman Tommy Healy













Santa boards the train















Santa and Mrs. Claus (a close friend of Doris Morehouse)









Woodland Valley residents and CMRR volunteers Tommy Healy and Harry Jameson join Santa and Mrs. Claus

Free Christmas Train Ride

The Empire State Railway Museum and The Catskill Mountain Railroad once again join together to bring us FREE Christmas train rides. There will be refreshments and music and a very special visit by Santa Claus!! This is a lot of fun for kids of all ages so put it on your calendar! And be sure to say hi to the many WV residents who volunteer for both of these organizations.

December 16th
Trains leave at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 pm.
Board the train at the Empire State Railway Museum on Lower High St. for the ride to Mt. Pleasant and back.
Free to all.

The Botchfords Ride the Rails

Here is a photo of Hawley and Joyce Botchford riding the Catskill Mountain Railroad not too long ago. The tourist train is closed for the season but will have a free Christmas train soon featuring Santa Claus.















Hawley Botchford joins CMRR volunteer and fellow WV resident Bob McDonald on the train. Bob works countless hours as a conductor on the railroad.