Saratoga and North Creek Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saratoga and North Creek Railway |
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Saratoga and North Creek train at the Saratoga Springs station
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| Locale | Warren and Saratoga counties, New York, USA |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | Adirondack Railway |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Reporting mark | SNC |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1871 |
| 1889 | D&H acquires the railroad |
| Closed | 1989 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1999 | Upper Hudson River Railroad began operating |
| 2010 | Upper Hudson River Railroad closed |
| 2011 | Saratoga and North Creek Railway began operation |
| 2018 | Saratoga and North Creek Railway ceased operation |
| Headquarters | Saratoga Springs, New York |
| Website | |
| (formerly) sncrr.com | |
The Saratoga and North Creek Railway was a special train line. It started running in July 2011. This railway was a heritage railway, which means it was preserved to show how trains used to work.
The passenger trains stopped running on April 7, 2018. The last freight train, which carried empty tank cars, ran in May 2018. The railway traveled through the beautiful Adirondack Mountains in New York. It connected North Creek and Saratoga Springs.
Contents
History of the Railway
The Saratoga and North Creek Railway used tracks that were very old. These tracks were first built in 1871 by the Adirondack Railway. A man named Thomas C. Durant helped build them.
Early Years and Important Events
In 1889, another company called the Delaware and Hudson Railway (D&H) bought the train line. A famous event happened at the North Creek station. In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt was there when he learned he would become the President of the United States. This happened after President William McKinley was sadly assassinated.
During World War II, important materials like iron ore were shipped on this railway. These materials came from a place called Tahawus. The D&H company stopped regular passenger service in 1957. They continued to move freight until September 1989, when the mine at Tahawus closed.
New Beginnings and Changes
In 1998, Warren County bought the railway line. They wanted to run fun train rides to help bring more visitors and jobs to the area. In 1999, a company called the Upper Hudson River Railroad started offering short trips. These trips went from North Creek to Riverside Station.
The Upper Hudson River Railroad ran for 11 years. But their contract with Warren County ended on December 31, 2010.
Saratoga and North Creek Railway Starts
On April 8, 2011, a new company, Iowa Pacific Holdings (IPH), announced they would take over. They started running trains on July 1, 2011. They promised to run at least 182 tourist trains each year.
The Saratoga and North Creek Railway brought regular train service back to the line. This was the first time since 1989. IPH began operating trains on July 14, 2011. Unlike the previous railway, the Saratoga and North Creek trains traveled the entire 57 miles (92 km) between Saratoga Springs and North Creek.
In May 2012, IPH got permission to start freight service again. They began moving goods by train in February 2013. However, the railway faced some challenges. In August 2013, part of a train went off the tracks near Thurman. Luckily, no one was hurt.
End of Operations
On April 3, 2018, it was announced that the railway would close because it was losing money. The very last tourist train ran on April 7, 2018. The future of the railway line is still being decided. Some people want to turn the old tracks into a walking and biking path. A new railway, the Saratoga, Corinth, and Hudson railroad, has since taken its place.
Train Services Offered
The Saratoga and North Creek Railway offered different types of train rides.
Regular Passenger Trips
Regular trips ran once a day from Friday to Monday. This was from July 1 to October 31. During spring and fall, trains ran on Saturdays and Sundays. The full trip took about 2 hours and 12 minutes.
Winter Snow Train
In the winter, there was a special "Snow Train." It ran on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Unlike the summer trains, the Snow Train had two trips each day, going both ways.
North End Local Service
The "North End Local" was a shorter trip. It ran between Thurman and North Creek twice a day. This service was available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in July and August. All other trains traveled the full distance between Saratoga Springs and North Creek.
Fun Railbike Tours
In 2016, there were plans for a new and exciting activity: pedal-powered railbike tours! These tours would use a 10-mile section of unused railway tracks.
Experiencing Railbike Tours
The railbike tours opened in July 2017. People could ride special bikes that fit two or four people. These bikes rode right on the train tracks! The tours started at the North Creek train station. Tourists were driven to North River. From there, they pedaled north for three miles. The path was mostly flat and included crossing the Hudson River on a high bridge called a trestle. Then, they pedaled back the same way.
The whole trip took about two hours. A company called Revolution Rail operates these tours. They pay the railway to use the tracks for this unique adventure.
