Upper Hudson River Railroad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Upper Hudson River Railroad |
|
|---|---|
.png) |
|
| Locale | Adirondack Mountains, Warren County, New York, USA |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | Adirondack Railway |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Reporting mark | UHRX |
| 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 | Opened |
| 2010 | Closed |
| 2011 | Saratoga and North Creek Railroad takes over |
| Headquarters | North Creek, New York |
The Upper Hudson River Railroad was a special kind of train line called a heritage railroad. It ran from 1999 to 2010. This railroad was located in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of New York State, along the upper part of the Hudson River.
The main train that pulled cars on this line was locomotive No. 5019. It used to belong to the Delaware & Hudson railway company.
Contents
The Story of the Upper Hudson River Railroad
How the Railroad Began
The Upper Hudson River Railroad used tracks that were built a long time ago, in 1871. These tracks were part of the Adirondack Railway and were built by a person named Thomas C. Durant. The line went all the way to a town called North Creek.
Something very important happened at the North Creek station. In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt was there when he found out he would become the President of the United States. This happened after President William McKinley passed away.
Trains During World War II
During World War II, trains were very important for moving materials. Special minerals like magnetite, ilmenite, and titanium were shipped by rail from a place called Tahawus. The Delaware and Hudson Railway (D&H) handled these shipments.
The D&H company bought the Adirondack Line from William West Durant in 1889. They continued to run trains through this area until 1989. That's when the mine at Tahawus closed down.
Passenger and Freight Service
The D&H used to offer regular passenger train service. In the 1950s, they ran trains Monday through Saturday. By the mid-1950s, this was reduced to only summer service.
By 1957, all regular passenger service had stopped. After that, only freight trains, which carry goods, continued to use the tracks.
Bringing the Railroad Back to Life
In 1998, Warren County bought the railroad tracks. Their plan was to start a special excursion train. This train would help bring more tourists and improve the economy in the area.
So, in 1999, the Upper Hudson River Railroad was created. They started running fun train trips! The train traveled about 8.5 kilometers (5.3 miles) south from North Creek to Riverside Station in Riparius.
Expanding the Train Route
By 2007, more of the track was rebuilt. This extended the line about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south from Riverside Station to Hadley.
The Upper Hudson River Railroad celebrated its tenth year with a special trip. They called it the "40 Miler." This trip started at a tall bridge in Hadley, which was about 29 meters (96 feet) high. It ended at a restored turntable in North Creek, which was about 27 meters (90 feet) long.
During the 2007 season, the railroad offered many exciting trips. These included excursions to a large ranch and the "Payroll Robbery" event. Actors dressed as clowns, hobos, and musicians would join the trips to entertain everyone.
Why the Railroad Stopped Running
The Upper Hudson River Railroad's agreement with Warren County ended on December 31, 2010. This meant they could no longer operate the trains.
On April 8, 2011, a new company called Iowa Pacific Holdings announced they would take over. They started running trains on July 1, 2011.
The new train service began on July 12, 2011, and was called the Saratoga and North Creek Railroad. This new railroad was different from the Upper Hudson River Railroad. It traveled the entire 57-kilometer (35-mile) distance between North Creek and the station in Saratoga Springs. This longer route allowed passengers to connect with other train services like Amtrak's Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express trains.
In May 2012, it was announced that the Saratoga & North Creek Railway could also start moving freight. This meant that goods would once again be transported by train on these tracks.
Train Stations
Here are the main stations that the Upper Hudson River Railroad used:
- North Creek – Located in North Creek, New York.
- Riverside Station – Located in Riparius, New York. This station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
