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  • Adirondack Railroad

    First, let me say that I am not looking to cause any arguing here, I'm just asking for information!
    It's difficult to keep current with events in the Adirondacks from way down here, and, now that I'm on this forum, I'm soliciting for a "nutshell" synopsis of what is going on with the Adirondack Railroad as regards extending regular service north beyond Big Moose station. Apparently there are folks all in favor of this, and another group who want the rails removed to facilitate hiking and biking along that corridor.

    Is that correct, or anything near correct?

  • #2
    Yes Some want a scenic railroad while others want to make the rail bed an all season trail. Lots of lies from both sides. Kind of funny in a way.

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    • #3
      Thanks!

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      • #4
        Actually the rail removal folks are advocating for a multi-use trail which is a euphemism for a snowmobile trail. Of course it could be used for hiking and bicycling.
        Woodspirit

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        • #5
          Its used as an snowmobile trail now.

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          • #6
            it could be used for hiking and bicycling.
            There is an old "reclaimed" railbed down here that I hiked a couple times, but its "boring" as can be. Too flat and, obviously not laid out for sights or to visit ponds or anything. Two-three times on it was all I could take. I'll take a "dedicated" hiking trail anyday, personally.

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            • #7
              Here's the latest development on this saga. The Thendara>Tupper segment for rail and the Tupper>Placid segment for cycling is a brand new idea introduced into the mix.
              NYS will consider tearing up the RR and establishing a bike trail on at least part of a 90-mile railroad corridor that cuts through the Adirondacks.
              "Days in the woods are days beyond time"--Paul Jamieson

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              • #8
                I recall reading somewhere that often when rail lines were put in, it required the use of eminent domain or some other legal hurdle. Not that the actual legal principle involved is important (or maybe it is), but in some cases the easement/takeover for use by the State specifically for use as a rail. If the lines are removed, I read, in some cases depending on the deed, etc... the land would revert back to the original owners. I am sure all the legal eagles have looked into this. Could one imagine the clusterf___ if they removed the rail lines and then the property owners barred public use (which would be their right if the land in question actually did revert back.)
                "There's a whisper on the night-wind, there's a star agleam to guide us, And the Wild is calling, calling . . . let us go." -from "The Call of the Wild" by Robert Service

                My trail journal: DuctTape's Journal

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                • #9
                  The line is currently used as a snowmobile trail but the ridable season would be extended if the rails weren't there. Any objects under snow encourage melt, metal rails especially, so the tracks need quite a bit more snowpack before they can be safely groomed and ridden. And if you've ever hit a switch when there's marginal snow cover...

                  Not only are there all kinds of deed issues, but in some cases where the RR made cuts and fills these must be reverted back to original contours. Not sure if that would be the case here, but there's a lot that goes into conversion, it's not just "rip up the tracks and lay down crushed stone". I found this document enlightening if you want to know about common hurdles and strategies of rail to trail advocates -- it's actually from the R2T side so it's not likely the problems are exaggerated.

                  In answer to the OP: there is merit and obfuscation on both sides. There have been many other rail to trail projects across the country, and at least some can legitimately be called successes. However, I'm not aware of any that are remotely comparable because of the unique nature of land management and community structure in the Adirondacks -- if anyone else does, I'd love to look into it.

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                  • #10
                    I can't speak for the entire section of rail between Thendara and Tupper Lake, but the rail north of Horseshoe Pond is in deplorable condition and I can't fathom how much money it would take to put it in a condition to handle rail cars once again. A high proportion of the ties are rotted to the point that the spikes can be lifted out by hand and many of the metal supports that the rail sits on aren't even touching the rail and/or have missing spikes. Considering the use it would get if rail service was restored, I believe the cost/benefit ratio would be deplorable. I surely don't want any of my tax dollars poured into restoring rail service. That being said, I don't want to see it turned into a foot trail either, for selfish reasons having to do with some property interests near the tracks.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by EagleCrag View Post
                      I can't speak for the entire section of rail between Thendara and Tupper Lake, but the rail north of Horseshoe Pond is in deplorable condition and I can't fathom how much money it would take to put it in a condition to handle rail cars once again. A high proportion of the ties are rotted to the point that the spikes can be lifted out by hand and many of the metal supports that the rail sits on aren't even touching the rail and/or have missing spikes.
                      That's been my experience as well, even south of Horseshoe. This photo is from just south of Hitchins Pond. The light colored ties with metal on the ends look like relatively recent replacements, and the rest are basically doing nothing. It would cost a fortune just to get the track up to the condition where it could handle trains going 30mph, and then who wants to spend 6 hours going from Utica to Lake Placid except as a one-time novelty trip just to see it?

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                      • #12
                        What a great trail for ATV's!
                        Never Argue With An Idiot. They Will Drag You Down To Their Level And Beat You With Experience.

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                        • #13
                          Yep, the ties cost a pretty penny to replace, to keep the line passable they space them out. The volunteers work very hard to complete the work, when money comes in, they buy as many ties as they can and run them in, later they will add more, they have rules figured out as to how far apart and how fast/heavy they can travel. THey are using the income from the areas that are currently being supported by passengers to fund it and the renovation of the cars and engines you see parked at Thendara and other places.

                          I've been along the length from Thendara to Lila, it wasn't a pretty stretch except for a very few spaced "windows". It follows a flat grade and avoids anything too interesting, mostly low-lying forest that you can't see father then 50 yards on either side. Frankly, as a road, it would invite the wrong sort of users IMHO. At Nehasane station we removed 4 large garbage bags of recent beer cans… apparently the snowmobilers found them too heavy, after they emptied them , to go to the trouble of taking them back out. THis is the sort of people they try and discourage by making significant length trails to water edge from parking lots. The longer the trail, the less riff raff.

                          Once the trains are gone, so will the bridges. They will simply cost way too much and present way too dangerous an obstacle and invite lawsuits. They will degrade all by themselves, or wash out. etc. Also the funding for the trail is figured from the rails being scraped for $$$, however I believe they are still the property of the railroad- why would't they want the cash of steel they own? YOu tax dollars will go to upkeep a boring road nobody will ever re-visit. I can think of a million more interesting places to hike/bike or snowmobile.

                          I think an expanded use of the trains is much more interesting, where they drop people off and they paddle, peddle or hike back on much more interesting routes.… or visa versa, they hike paddle or peddle out, and get picked up. Or supplies dropped off, etc. etc. People who are disabled can get out there or too old.

                          Same thing was touted for the Erie (barge) Canal, "tourists will boat they said!" People I know who have gone there talk about a deep green hallway where you can't see out above the 20' banks, they never go back- its a big long bore that costs a fortune in gas to get anywhere. ANY lake is more interesting Go though a lock once and it looses its appeal. It is much the same basic situation for the railroad, a little better perhaps. It isn't any inter-contenential railroad like the one that goes through Canada, or the orient express.

                          Finally, the reason it should very carefully considered is that once the railroad is gone, it's gone. I think there is plenty of opportunities for hiking trails and bike trails and roads through the park that this one narrow ribbon should be carefully conserved as a railroad for what a railroad can uniquely offer. DIrect your energy and attention elsewhere.. there are 100's of trails and bridges and lean-tos to repair in places that are 1000 percent prettier!

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                          • #14

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                            • #15
                              Times-Union Article



                              I believe the article has a link to the DEC plan.
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                              Once a year, go some where you've never been before.

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