WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE CAME FROM

In 1992 a few men got together to talk railroads.  They discussed the possibility of running trains in an area near Old Forge NY on tracks that had  been used in the 1980 Winter Olympics after the Penn Central had abandoned them in 1974.  They started with 4 miles.  It was a total success.  The men began looking into improving and lengthening the operation.   Tracks were improved, speeds came up and the rides grew longer. 

Before long trains were coming up from Utica and the track got even better.  The Thendara station got a face lift and the platform from which people board was paved.  Equipment got newer and better and locomotives improved.  It wasn't long before those same men began talking about operations in Lake Placid.

In 2000 track rehabilitation took place during the summer in the Lake Placid/Saranac Lake area.  The depot in Saranac Lake had been restored the year before and now the tracks were being renewed.  In that year in the month of September the first trains ran.  My wife Jill and I were on it the second weekend as Car Hosts.  We've been there since.

Now they're talking again.  $5 million has been granted to the railroad (still under review by our new government officials) for further rehabilitation.  The trains may soon run to Tupper Lake....  or at least to Lake Clear Junction.  We'll see how far the money goes.  It's hoped that by next fall, the trains will be running.  You can bet that this guy will be on it in some capacity.  I had the distinct pleasure of taking the passenger train into Tupper Lake 3 year ago when our former Operations Manager Pete Snyder allowed me to take the throttle and pull her the last 4 miles.  Proud?  You bet your bottom dollar.   I'm hoping to do it again soon and I'm hoping that you're on it with me.

Support us in any way you can so that the dreams of those original men stay alive in the Adirondack Scenic Railroad (a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization by the way)

~Doug~