Catskill Mountain Railroad

CMRR currently operates on a 4.7-mile (7.6 km) section of track of the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad from Kingston to Stony Hollow, New York.

The updated Stone Consulting report showed that Rail-with-Trail is clearly feasible From Kingston to the Ashokan Rail Trail and costs about 25% more than Trail-only.

[4] CMRR has lacked a secure area to maintain its equipment since a legal settlement with Ulster County forced it to vacate the Cornell Street yard on April 30, 2016.

[5] CMRR believes that an all-weather engine house is needed to maintain its equipment year-round, and has identified a location adjacent to its permit area in Kingston to be used for this purpose.

CMRR plans to install a run-around siding in Kingston and near the new Basin Road terminal to allow engine-first operation on the entire line.

The Soybean Oil feedstock is sourced from local farms near Syracuse, NY and treated at their facility in nearby Rock Tavern, New York.

According to the US Department of Energy, the use of biodiesel reduces Carbon Dioxide (Greenhouse Gas) emissions by 74% compared to regular diesel fuel.

CMRR believes that reconnecting with the national rail network via CSX (successor to Conrail by absorbing former NYC trackage) at Kingston maximizes the value of the railroad to its owner Ulster County.

[9] In 1973, the Catskill Mountain Transportation Corp. "CMCT" was formed with the goal of purchasing the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad for freight and passenger service.

On August 9, 1982, CMRR initially began operations in Phoenicia, using track cars and trailers to haul tourists and tubers three miles along Esopus Creek to Mt.

Also in 1986, the CMRR signed its first multi-year lease with Ulster County, for five years, and began switching freight for the Kingston Recycling Center as well as operating tourist train service from Phoenicia to Mt.

The project received approval and after about ten years, public funding was provided to complete reconstruction of the crossing and installation of warning lights and gates.

In late 2009, the railroad opened more track west of Washington Avenue and offered additional seasonal service throughout that year.

Because Cold Brook station remains privately owned, the railroad maintained no agency there and there are no facilities to board or discharge passengers.

In the non-operating segment east of Cold Brook station, the most significant damage was the loss of three of the four spans of Boiceville Trestle (Bridge C30) to rising flood waters.

Also in 2023, the CMRR signed a Letter of Intent and later a lease for a property adjacent to its permit area for a permanent equipment storage and maintenance yard.

A small ticket office and loading platform was constructed off Westbrook Lane (MP 3.78) opposite Kingston Plaza to support tourist operations in 2008.

The critical Washington Avenue crossing was reopened for limited use in 2008, and the track was opened to Bridge C-9 (MP 5) on November 15, 2009, for the 2009 Kingston Holiday Train.

Realizing that the future lies in conventional railroad equipment hauled by locomotives, two flatcars were rebuilt as open air bench cars to accommodate passengers.

In 2011, construction of a new switch and siding began at MP 24.75, to park maintenance equipment and give the work train a place to alight.

Under its prior lease, the CMRR's third base of operations was at MP 16.4 at Shokan, New York, at the site of the former Ashokan Railroad Station.

The goal was negated on November 14, 2017, when the Ulster County legislature voted to remove 11.6 miles of tracks from alongside Ashokan Reservoir for a rail trail.

[12] The CMRR is also partially helping the ESRM restore a steam locomotive for future use on their line: Ex-Lake Superior and Ishpeming (LS&I) 2-8-0 No.

All have been converted to open-air passenger service with the addition of side walls, benches, and a steel canopy frame suitable for tarp installation.

Phoenicia passenger equipment consists of two former Erie Lackawanna Railway (EL) Multiple unit (MU) trailers that have been completely renovated: No.

On January 24, 2006, when the Kingston Daily Freeman announced "Trail Plan Could Mark End of Line for Railroad", trail advocates began promoting a plan to convert segments of the county-owned railroad corridor into a recreational path, which would limit the length and location of the tourist train excursions.

In a meeting with the Ulster County Executive, held on June 24, 2013, the CMRR was asked to vacate the line from Kingston to the Ashokan Reservoir, and told that unless it complied, its lease would be terminated on July 12.

CMRR filed a Yellowstone Injunction on July 9 and was granted a TRO prohibiting the county from terminating the lease pending the outcome of a court decision on August 6.

[citation needed] On April 19, 2015, the Ulster County Legislature passed a resolution to create a nine-member legislator only committee to study the entire U&D corridor in Ulster County and make recommendations on long term use, including rail, trail or rail with trail with recommendations due by November 30, 2015.

This development should permanently foreclose any affordable restoration of through passenger train service from Kingston to a connection with the DURR at Highmount, and on to Roxbury.