Tim Stockwell
End of an Era
Unfortunately, the future of the former D&H Adirondack Branch north of Corinth is beginning to look bleak. Recently, two significant pieces of news have put a damper on the hopes of continued railroading on this historic line. First, Iowa Pacific recently consented to New York State's desire to have the Sanford Lake Branch (between Tahawus and North Creek) declared abandoned. Second, the last remaining potential suitor for the Warren County-owned portion between North Creek and Corinth--United Rail--recently withdrew from contract negotiations with Warren County, citing that delays on the part of Warren County made it clear that they were not a priority. Reportedly, United Rail will continue in negotiations with the Town of Corinth--which owns the line from Corinth to Saratoga Springs--but it now seems that not only will no trains every traverse the line between Tahawus and Corinth again, but all of it could be turned into a trail. As everything has begun to fall apart, I was reminded that almost exactly five years ago today I was able to catch just the second stone train to originate from the former mine in Tahawus since 1989. On November 1, 2014, Saratoga & North Creek BL-2 #52 (originally a Bangor & Aroostook engine) led a train of 10 hoppers of stone from North Creek to Corinth before picking up 9 previously transported hoppers of stone there and continuing to Saratoga. Here, the train rounds the curve at Stony Creek, with both the Hudson River and the Adirondack Mountains in the background. After enjoying several years of shooting trains at this location, it's sad to think that I may never be able to do so again. The only hope is if the Town of Corinth were to try to acquire some of this trackage from Warren County, but I do not think that is likely.
End of an Era
Unfortunately, the future of the former D&H Adirondack Branch north of Corinth is beginning to look bleak. Recently, two significant pieces of news have put a damper on the hopes of continued railroading on this historic line. First, Iowa Pacific recently consented to New York State's desire to have the Sanford Lake Branch (between Tahawus and North Creek) declared abandoned. Second, the last remaining potential suitor for the Warren County-owned portion between North Creek and Corinth--United Rail--recently withdrew from contract negotiations with Warren County, citing that delays on the part of Warren County made it clear that they were not a priority. Reportedly, United Rail will continue in negotiations with the Town of Corinth--which owns the line from Corinth to Saratoga Springs--but it now seems that not only will no trains every traverse the line between Tahawus and Corinth again, but all of it could be turned into a trail. As everything has begun to fall apart, I was reminded that almost exactly five years ago today I was able to catch just the second stone train to originate from the former mine in Tahawus since 1989. On November 1, 2014, Saratoga & North Creek BL-2 #52 (originally a Bangor & Aroostook engine) led a train of 10 hoppers of stone from North Creek to Corinth before picking up 9 previously transported hoppers of stone there and continuing to Saratoga. Here, the train rounds the curve at Stony Creek, with both the Hudson River and the Adirondack Mountains in the background. After enjoying several years of shooting trains at this location, it's sad to think that I may never be able to do so again. The only hope is if the Town of Corinth were to try to acquire some of this trackage from Warren County, but I do not think that is likely.