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Old Up and Down Catskill Mountain Branch of the New York Central by Ham & Bucenc
The Old Up and Down Catskill Mountain Branch of the New York Central by John M Ham & Robert K Bucencec
Hard Cover has plastic protective covering
263 pages
Copyright 2003
CONTENTS
Preface 5
Chapter One A Brief History
The Ulster & Delaware Railroad, Steam Era 9
The Catskill Mountain Branch, Diesel Era17
Chapter Two
Along the Ulster & Delaware21
Under the Ashokan Reservoir39
Chapter Three
The New York Central Railroad Company79
The 1936 "Wonder Trip" 107
The Kaaterskill Excursion 115
Catskill Mountain Snow Trains 130
Chapter Four
Ulster & Delaware Steam on the Wallkill Valley Railroad 153
Chapter Five
1948: The Diesels Take Over 167
Chapter Six
The Penn Central Years201
Chapter Seven
The End of the Line235
Chapter Eight
Preservation of the Ulster & Delaware247
Delaware & Oswego Railroad247
Catskill Mountain Railroad248
Empire State Railway Museum248
Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride251
Kingston Trolley Museum254
Ulster & Delaware Historical Society 255
Locomotives of the Catskill Mountain Branch257
Contributors263
PREFACE It has been more than forty years since the idea of writing a book about the Catskill Mountain Branch was conceived. I was with Bob Haines and his dad Hildreth, a New York Central engineer, at a locomotive derailment in Phoenicia in the late 1950s. Bob and I had been collecting photographs for a while, and often met to take our own pictures. We began speaking with the train crew about our plans and one of them suggested putting our photographs in a book for others to enjoy. We thought that was a good idea and immediately put it away in the back of our minds. It had been discussed occasionally when we got together, but the idea never became a reality.
Then, in the mid-1960s, I met a man who made a profound impression on my thinking about railroad history, especially the Ulster & Delaware Railroad. Edward L. May answered a letter that I wrote, and with his reply and continuing correspondence, a close friendship ensued, lasting up until his death in 1998. Ed was a master photographer, collaborating with Al Staufer on four historic pictorials about the New York Central that have become the leading reference for that railroad. Taking me under his wing, Ed spent many days at my home talking about the New York Central and the Ulster & Delaware in particular. He readily volunteered to help us form the Ulster & Delaware Railroad Historical Society, eventually becoming the Board Chairman Emeritus. Along with his lovely wife Claire, Ed came to all of the society functions and became a major force in the organization. His keen photographic eye and vast knowledge of local railroading astounded all who came to know him.
Ed had also befriended a young Gene Dauner, praising his photographic images. He had mentioned to me on numerous occasions that Gene had the unique ability to plan for, and take, great railroad photographs.
A year after Claire May passed away, Ed moved to a Texas senior facility and decided to give me all of his Catskill Mountain Branch negatives and the rest of his Ulster & Delaware memorabilia. Gene and I made a special trip to Ed's home to pick up this magnificent gift. I called Ed to sincerely thank him and to make a promise that his collection would be well taken care of and made available to others, as was his wish.
I knew immediately that by taking Ed's material, the photographs of Bob Haines and Gene Dauner, and my collection, it would be a fantastic start for a book endeavor. In the meantime, I was able to obtain many original negatives and photographs from other railroad photographers, such as the late Robert F. Collins, Gerald M. Best, and Frank Quin. I was fortunate to acquire George Phelps's negatives that he had taken from the late 1920s through the 1950s. The final decision to author a book on this railroad was made when I received a call from my friend, the late John Stellwagen, asking me to visit him at his home in Goshen. Upon my arrival, he presented me with his entire collection of images that he had taken of the Catskill Mountain Branch in the 1960s and 1970s. He told me that I would know the proper thing to do with them.
Gene Dauner and Bob Haines have been major contributors of informaton and photographs of the diesel era from the mid-1960s and 1970s. Without their valuable input this book would be seriously lacking.
After Bob Bucenec and I published our first book, Light Rails and Short Ties Through the Notch, we were told by those who really know the ."Up and Down" that this new publication would be the perfect companion book. Bob and I are proud to present the photographic work of so many old friends.
John M. Ham
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