Reporting mark SNC Phone +1 877-726-7245 Opened 1871 | Closed 1989 Built by Adirondack Railway | |
 | ||
Locale Warren and Saratoga counties, New York, USA Original gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) 1889 D&H acquires the railroad Address 3 Railroad Pl, North Creek, NY 12853, USA Similar Adirondack Mountains, Saratoga Springs station, North Creek Depot Mu, The Hyde Collection, Thurman Station Bridge Profiles | ||
The Saratoga and North Creek Railway is a heritage railway that began operation in July 2011 in the upper Hudson River region of the Adirondack Mountains, in the U.S. state of New York.
Contents
The railroad currently operates between North Creek and Saratoga Springs, New York, where it connects with Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express and Adirondack services.
History
The Saratoga and North Creek Railway operates over former Adirondack Railway trackage built by Thomas C. Durant in 1871. North Creek station is where Theodore Roosevelt learned he was to become president of the United States of America after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901. During World War II, magnetite, ilmenite, and titanium were shipped by rail from Tahawus by the Delaware and Hudson Railway (D&H). The D&H, which acquired the Adirondack Line from William West Durant in 1889, ran through this region until September 1989 when the mine at Tahawus closed.
In 1998, the line was purchased by Warren County with plans to operate an excursion train to improve tourism and economic development in the area. In 1999, the Upper Hudson River Railroad began operating excursion trains south from North Creek to Riverside Station in Riparius. The Upper Hudson River Railroad lost their contract with Warren County on December 31, 2010, ending 11 years of operation.
On April 8, 2011, it was announced that Iowa Pacific Holdings (IPH) would take over operation of the route effective July 1, 2011. As part of the agreement, IPH agreed to operate a minimum of 182 tourist-oriented passenger trains over the line. IPH began operating trains on July 14, 2011 as the Saratoga and North Creek Railroad. Unlike the Upper Hudson River Railroad, the Saratoga and North Creek operates over the entire 57 miles (92 km) between Saratoga Springs, New York and North Creek.
With the creation of the Saratoga and North Creek Railway, regularly scheduled service returns to the line for the first time since the D&H ceased freight operations on November 17, 1989.
On May 14, 2012, IPH received permission from the Surface Transportation Board to restore freight service on the derelict north end of the line as far as Newcomb, New York. Freight service began on the line in February 2013.
On August 2, 2013, the rear locomotive of an SNCRR train derailed in Thurman. No injuries were reported, but the railroad was closed temporarily to allow for repairs.
In 2016, plans were floated for 3-hour pedal-powered railbike tours on a 10-mile section of unused railroad tracks between Moose Pond Club Road and North Creek.
Route
Regularly scheduled service runs once each day Friday through Monday from July 1 to October 31 and on Saturdays and Sundays during the fall and spring. The trip takes 2 hours and 12 minutes.
A separate service, the Snow Train, runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the winter. Unlike the summer trains, the Snow Train has two trains each day in both directions.
The North End Local runs a shorter route between Thurman and North Creek twice a day on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in July and August. All other trains run the full length of the line between Saratoga Springs and North Creek.