Adirondack branch
{{Short description|Railway line in New York, United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Adirondack branch
| other_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| logo_alt =
| image =
| image_width =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| type =
| system =
| status =
| locale =
| start =
| end =
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| ridership2 =
| planopen =
| open = {{Start date|1865|12|1}}
| yearcommenced =
| yearcompleted =
| close =
| event1label =
| event1 =
| event2label =
| event2 =
| event3label =
| event3 =
| owner = {{Plainlist|
}}
| operator = Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength_km =
| linelength_mi = 57
| linelength =
| tracklength_km =
| tracklength_mi =
| tracklength =
| tracks =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| old_gauge =
| load_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| routenumber =
| linenumber =
| electrification =
| speed_km/h =
| speed_mph =
| speed =
| signalling =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Adirondack branch}}
| map_name =
| map_state = uncollapsed
| embedded =
}}
The Adirondack branch is a railway line in the state New York. It runs {{convert|57|mi}} from Saratoga Springs, New York, to North Creek, New York. The line was built by predecessors of the Delaware and Hudson Railway between 1865 and 1871. Ownership of the line is split between Warren County, New York, and the town of Corinth, New York. The Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway operates excursion service over part of the line. The Tahawus line runs another {{convert|29|mi}} from North Creek to Tahawus, New York. It was built during World War II to serve a titanium mine and is now owned by a railbiking company.
History
= Delaware and Hudson (1865–1996) =
Under the leadership of Thomas C. Durant, the Adirondack Company had begun building north from Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1865. Trains began running as far as Hadley, New York, on December 1, 1865. In Saratoga Springs, connection was made with the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad.{{sfnp|Shaughnessy|1997|p=118}} The line reached North Creek, New York, in 1871.{{sfnp|Shaughnessy|1997|p=121}} The Delaware and Hudson Railway gained control of the line in 1889 and merged the Adirondack Railway in 1902.{{sfnp|Shaughnessy|1997|p=129}} During World War II, the line was extended further north to Tahawus, New York, to serve a titanium mine. The federal government owned the line and leased it to the D&H, which operated services.{{sfnp|Sanders|1959|p=46}}
Passenger service was reduced to summer-only in 1950 and discontinued altogether in 1957.{{Cite news |date=June 15, 1950 |title=D&H to End Run in Winter Between Spa, North Creek |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xqE0AAAAIBAJ&q=saratoga+north+creek+d&pg=PA7 |work=Schenectady Gazette |page=13}}{{Cite news |date=May 29, 1957 |title=D&H to discontinue passenger service to North Creek |url=https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ncnc19570529-01.1.1&srpos=1&e=------195-en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22north+creek%22+saratoga+d%26H--------- |work=The North Creek News Enterprise}} Operations at the titanium mine ended in 1989, and the federal government sold the line between North Creek and Tahawus to NL Chemicals, the owner of the mine.{{cite book | title=Minerals Yearbook | location=United States | publisher=Bureau of Mines | date=1989 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LWyMrl2op68C | page=589| isbn=978-0-16-035820-3 }}
= Public ownership (1996–present) =
Warren County acquired the line between North Creek and Corinth, New York, in 1996.{{Cite news |last=Goodspeed |first=Susan |date=June 27, 1996 |title=Legal Hurdle Cleared For Tourist Railway |url=https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ncnc19960627-01.1.1&srpos=1&e=------199-en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22warren+county%22+railroad+pacific----1996----- |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=}} The Upper Hudson River Railroad began excursion service between North Creek and {{stl|Delaware and Hudson Railway|Riverside}} on October 17, 1998.{{Cite news |last=Goodspeed |first=Sue |date=October 22, 1998 |title=Excursion Train Launched |url=https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ncnc19981022-01.1.1&srpos=2&e=------199-en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22upper+hudson+river+railroad%22----1998----- |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The North Creek News Enterprise}}
Corinth acquired the line between Corinth and Saratoga Springs in 2006.{{Cite news |date=2006-05-23 |title=It'll be one dam repair after another |url=https://www.saratogian.com/2006/05/23/itll-be-one-dam-repair-after-another/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The Saratogian |language=en-US}} Corinth and Warren County did not renew the Upper Hudson River Railroad's contract in 2010, and the Iowa Pacific Holdings took over in 2011.{{Cite news |last=Post |first=Paul |date=June 9, 2011 |title=Flooding didn't derail Saratoga-North Creek tourist train |url=https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ade20110609-01.1.2&srpos=1&e=------201-en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22upper+hudson+river+railroad%22+%22saratoga+and+north+creek%22--------- |access-date=2024-08-12 |work=Adirondack Daily Enterprise}} The Saratoga and North Creek Railway began offering scheduled passenger service between North Creek and Saratoga Springs--not just excursion service--on July 23, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Iowa-Pacific-introduces-intercity-passengerrail-service-in-New-York--27386 |title=Iowa Pacific introduces intercity passenger-rail service in New York |publisher=Progressive Railroading |publication-date=27 July 2011 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901021356/http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Iowa-Pacific-introduces-intercity-passengerrail-service-in-New-York--27386 |archive-date=1 September 2011 |url-status=dead }} The Saratoga and North Creek Railway also acquired the line between North Creek and Tahawus from NL Industries in 2011.{{cite web | title=Saratoga and North Creek Railway, LLC―Operation Exemption―Tahawus Line | url=https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/MPD/62491/2F9C26295556B53485257A0D00640FB9/42416.pdf | date=June 1, 2012 | last=Surface Transportation Board}} The Saratoga and North Creek ceased operations on April 7, 2018.{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Eric |date=April 3, 2018 |title=Saratoga North Creek train to shut down April 7 |url=https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Saratoga-North-Creek-train-to-shut-down-April-7-12801623.php |access-date=2024-08-12 |work=Times Union}}
The Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway began operating excursion service out of Corinth, New York, in 2022.{{Cite news |last=Moore |first=Kathleen |date=February 19, 2022 |title=New tourist train to roll through southern Adirondacks |url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/New-tourist-train-to-roll-through-southern-16929738.php |access-date=August 2, 2024 |work=Times-Union}} Revolution Rail, a railbiking company, acquired the line between North Creek and Tahawus in 2022.{{Cite news |date=2023-01-06 |title=Revolution Rail Purchases Former Saratoga North Creek Rail Line |url=https://www.saratogatodaynewspaper.com/revolution-rail-purchases-former-saratoga-north-creek-rail-line/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=Saratoga Today |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Surface Transportation Board |date=November 23, 2022 |title=Revolution Rail Holding Company, LLC—Acquisition Exemption—Saratoga and North Creek Railway, LLC |url=https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/DCMS_External_PROD/1669217475287/51502.pdf |access-date=2024-08-11}}
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite magazine | last=Sanders | first=Richard Allen | title=Better Late Than Never | magazine=Trains | date=January 1959 | pages=40–49 | volume=19 | issue=3 | issn=0041-0934}}
- {{Shaughnessy-DH}}