Comments on: The opening of the Dutchess Rail Trail, and the Hopewell Junction Depot

By: Harrison B

Harrison B — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 20:53:22 +0000

Mr. Dawson, your final remark is so brilliant I’d like to know if I can quote that. I volunteer on the CMRR and I’m passionate about building the trail parallel to the railroad. You could not have said it more perfectly.

By: Andrew Dawson

Andrew Dawson — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 10:31:07 +0000

There is no valid reason why there should not be a rail line in that town today. It was because of corrupt politics that the line was stolen.

Rail with Trail is a no brainer. Just like a sidewalk next to a road.

By: William Hays

William Hays — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 19:02:11 +0000

Does anyone know when the “Fleetwood” (Mount Vernon) NYC station was put into service?

By: William Hays

William Hays — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 19:00:37 +0000

I can operate, professionally, a CAT D-9 bulldozer, and would be glad to volunteer my time on one (D-8s, D-6s, and D-4s acceptable) between Wassaic and Millerton, and north (west) ward to Chatham. Even a JD-350, or JD-450 would work for me!) Screw the Yuppies! Would have to hose down the lags every day to get the
‘Labrador Landmines’ out of the treads, not to mention disposable diapers and plastic water containers.

By: JOhn

JOhn — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 00:48:31 +0000

Thanks for addressing the rail to trails issue.
The Adirondack Scenic is a beautiful line, and I’d hate to see the Lake Placid operation come to an end (although the trail groups somehow claim the line segment they want isn’t in use/needed) because of the inability to move equipment back to Utica for service.
What we really need to do is start a legal fund to defend the operators of these economic engines. I’m a cyclist, but in reality I wouldn’t have any use for that segment, it’s too far from anything resembling emergency services. Besides bike paths usually become homes for drug dealers and rapists (at least here in WNY) due to lack of law enforcement.
It’s a damn shame.

By: Backshophoss

Backshophoss — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 23:12:08 +0000

In Santa Fe NM,there’s a trail that follows the NMRX/Santa Fe Southern ROW from
the Railyard till just east of Rodeo Road near CP Hondo,in some places using the
former ATSF Branch ROW(in an area near Zia Road).
The “Rail Trail” is a part of an interconnected bike/walk trail network in the city
of Santa Fe,regreatbly,the Santa Fe Southern has been “mothballed” due to
the lack of freight and the local economy is still somewhat depressed.
NMRX runs daily except for some holidays.

By: Nathanael

Nathanael — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 08:07:06 +0000

Thanks for discussing this. It’s been very upsetting the way the “Rails-to-trails conservancy” has been perverted into an anti-rail, anti-conservation, pave-it-with-asphalt-and-drive-cars operation.

The scheme for destroying the Woodinville Subdivision in the Seattle area is going to have nasty long-term consequences, as it’s the only north-south connecting rail route west of Spokane and east of the waterfront, and the line along the waterfront is threatened by mudslides and rising seas. This is a scheme which a lot of villains have had their hands in, starting with the state roads department (I mean “department of transportation”).

The situation with the Catskill Mountain Railroad is the most egregious, of course.

The Adirondack Scenic is protected to some extent by support from the state government and several local governments. But the anti-rail nuts in the Adirondacks are not above lying through their teeth — which they have done repeatedly — in addition to the vandalism. They are suspected of not actually wanting a trail at all. While it’s a great rail route, it would be a completely unusable trail, wandering through the “forever wild” parts of the Adirondack Park for over 30 miles without access points.

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 01:39:27 +0000

In reply to Michael Napolitano. Aww, you mean the photo of Bernie in his Conductor hat wasn't enough? ;) Believe me, there are plenty of things that I could have said about Hopewell, but kept it short to address the rails to trails thing. Plus, I think everybody should get their butts over to Hopewell!

By: Michael Napolitano

Michael Napolitano — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 23:40:14 +0000

No mention of Bernie Rudberg, Emily? I don’t think the Hopewell Depot project would have gotten anywhere without him. Anyway, you will be happy to know that he linked over to here in a post on the New Haven Railroad forum.

By: Larry Dawson

Larry Dawson — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 22:11:40 +0000

As a one-time resident of Poughquag, I can recall watching the NH climbing the hill up from Green Haven and disappearing in the cut. My recollection of Hopewell Junction (we always called it Hopeless) is of a slightly different depot, which was still in service in 1963-64. Was there another building at that junction?