Subject:
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News Story: Adirondack Scenic Railroad Adds Cars...
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.org.us.lucny, lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Fri, 4 Oct 2002 15:55:41 GMT
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Viewed:
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1172 times
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From the Utica, NY, Observer Dispactch newspaper
SCENIC RAILROAD ADDS CARS TO COLLECTION
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2002/10/02/news/6792.html
Scenic railroad adds cars to collection
Wed, Oct 2, 2002
By CECILIA LE
Observer-Dispatch
A line of new rail cars are connected to a Adirondack Scenic Railroad engine
Tuesday after they were delivered to Utica. The rail line purchased eight 1950s
vintage cars to be used on their current lines. The cars cost $150,000.
Volunteer Jim Hinman works on cleaning some of the new rail cars the Adirondack
Scenic Railroad recently purchased from a defunct Canadian tourist line.
Don Stannard works on cleaning some of the new rail cars that were recently
purchased. Riders of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad may soon be taking day
trips in one of eight vintage cars the railroad has acquired.
The cars will be divided among the railroad's three stations in Utica, Thendara
and Lake Placid. Riders can take the trip to enjoy the fall foliage and visit
scenic lake towns or historic Old Forge.
"This is not a commuter railroad," Adirondack Scenic Railroad President Gene
Falvo said. "We want people to enjoy their experience in the Adirondacks."
New cars will supplement the four cars that currently run from Utica to
Thendara on Wednesdays through Sundays. Each car will add 70 to 75 seats to the
train's current capacity of 280, trainman Stanley Blazek said. Some of the new
cars will be in operation today, said Walter Coogan from the reservations
department.
The railroad will retire or sell some of its older equipment.
"Some of the cars they've got are pretty ratty," Blazek said.
The green-and-silver train cars, built around 1950, have been restored, Falvo
said. There are coach cars with red plush seats and open-air cars whose seats
face the windows. The dining car is equipped with tables and a concession
stand.
The cars are handicapped-accessible and have baseboard heating and have
picturesque names like the "North Bay Nugget."
Before coming here, the cars made scenic excursions through Ontario and Quebec.
The railroad bought the cars from the Royal Bank of Canada for $150,000, Falvo
said.
"It's a good price," he said. "I think we stole it."
The railroad has paid the cost, plus cleaning and transportation fees, through
a combination of income, grant money, fund raising and loans, general manager
Peter Gores said.
The railroad is a nonprofit organization and derives most of its revenue from
the fare window, Falvo said. Almost all the employees, including himself, work
on a volunteer basis.
A Utica native, Falvo runs the railroad to spur the area's development.
"There's a heritage of railroads here," he said. "I want to see things around
here improve economically -- like how it used to be."
Blazek, one of the volunteers, has a long history working on trains. He has
been a yard clerk, rail welder, fireman and brakeman.
"Back then (rail welding) was all by hand, not like now how it's done by
machines," he said.
Falvo, who runs a woodworking business for his livelihood, said the scenic
excursions are the only way to really know the land.
"It's magnificent," he said. "The beauty of the Adirondacks -- you don't see
this part of the country except from the tracks."
* TAKING THE TRIP The Old Forge Wilderness Adventure is a full-day trip between
Utica and Thendara. Trains leave at 9:30 a.m. from Union Station and arrive in
Thendara at 11:45 a.m. Riders can take a bus into Old Forge. The train departs
Thendara at 4:15 p.m. and returns to Union Station at 6:30 p.m. The trains run:
* Sept. 25 to Oct. 13: Wednesday through Sunday
* Oct. 19 and 20: Saturday and Sunday
* June 27 to Aug. 31: Thursday and Saturday
* Sept. 7 to 15: Saturday and Sunday
* Sept. 17 to 22: Thursday through Sunday
Round-trip fare is $28 for adults and $14 for children 3-12, except from June
27 to Aug. 31, when it is $25 for adults and $12.50 for children. One-way fare
is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Call 724-0700 for information
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