Due to the overwhelming success of Thomas the Train and Polar Express and due to the monetary benefits to Ulster County businesses from train riders, the county executive has committed to keeping the Kingston Plaza to Hurley Mt.Road tracks in place. However, he currently wants to truncate the
rails 5 miles short of the Glenford Dike at the edge of the Ashokan reservoir.
Railroaders at the Catskill Mt. RR say their volunteers can easily repair this 5
mile stretch. They say that Glenford is the right stopping point for now, since
the extra uphill 5 miles from the Hurly Mountain Road to Glenford gets people up the long hill to the trail and the great views at the flat
plateau at the reservoir. From Glenford to Mt.Pleasant, there are storm related
washouts at Phoenicia and Cold Brook that will take county help to repair.
Presently, Catskill Mt. Railroad runs a second scenic 5 mile round trip from
Mt.Tremper to Boiceville.
There is no good rationale for
not completing the railroad tracks to Glenford. This extra 5 miles will
allow the Catskill Mt.Railroad to run "Dinner Train Rides to the Reservoir"
year round, bringing in more money for the county and its businesses. The extra
5 miles will also allow the transport of bikers and their bikes on the
train from Kingston to Glenford. People could take the train up the hill to the
reservoir and bike the trail up there and then ride the bike down the hill back
to Kingston where their cars are parked. The key point is to encourage tourists
to drive to Kingston, park at the Kingston Plaza, go to the reservoir trail, and
then take the train, or bike or walk back to Kingston where their cars are
parked. Kingston has the amenities that tourists want and enjoy. Let's bring
in the tourists and money to Kingston to benefit our residents and
businesses.
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2 comments:
Dave Donaldson is a County Legislator representing the citizens and businesses of the City of Kingston. From what I see and hear Dave's constituents really appreciate his vision and hard work in keeping the train at the Kingston Plaza. And now his vision is to extend the Kingston Plaza train tracks another 5 miles to the edge of the Tourists love parking at the Plaza because they love the amenities of the City of Kingston.
And now his vision is to extend the Kingston Plaza train tracks another 5 miles to the edge of the Ashokan Reservoir so riders can park at Kingston Plaza and ride the train for the views at the reservoir. Tourists love parking at the Kingston Plaza, because they love the amenities of the City of Kingston.
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