"Adirondack RR's Big Train"

On Oct 16, 2021, I took my second trip of the year on Adirondack Railroad's Utica-Thendara NY train (104 miles roundtrip). Once again, I rode in the dome car, this time with three friends. This was the second-to-last Utica-Thendara run of 2021, the last occurring on October 17th.
The video begins at Utica's Union Station. Two CSX freights blasted by before our 9:30 departure: a westbound stack train and an eastbound mixed freight. Amtrak 280, 45 minutes late due to an automobile fouling the tracks, arrived about 10 minutes after the eastbound bringing with it one of my friends who joined me on the Adirondack.
It was raining very heavily on our arrival in Thendara. Instead of spending the four-hour layover in Old Forge, we opted to take the 12:30 Thendara-Otter Lake "local," which returned to Thendara at 3 o'clock.
A sad sight just before Thendara's station: a railroad "graveyard" from signals lifted by NY State when the tracks were torn up between Tupper Lake-Lake Placid NY earlier this year.
We then checked out the Thendara engine house and its present occupant, former NY Central 8255, a veteran of the Adirondack Division (we weren't certain while making the video whether 8255 had been on the Adirondack Division but a friend later found a photo showing this engine in Tupper Lake).
The Frigidaire refrigerator seen in the engine house was made in 1952. Engine No. 8255 is a year older.
The locomotives, borrowed from Mohawk, Adirondack & Northern, were C425 ALCO's Nos. 2453 & 2456. There were eight cars in the consist with a passenger count of approximately 320.

[@lisabishop6266]

The inside of this station is beautiful!!! I need a cushion to sit on the benches, but I love it there. Plus they have a great farmers market once a week.

[@valeriebassett3107]

Really great video. Your friends seem like they are characters, fun characters, the kind to keep. Thank you and your friends for this wonderful video.

[@railroadingrambler218]

Thanks, Valerie. I enjoyed following the Adirondack RR this season. Glad you’ve enjoyed the videos!

[@dannyparrack6848]

It's good to see the Adirondack acquire some nice cars. I had a great time working with the railroad in 2010 and 2011.

[@williammiller2750]

Greate video from Okeechobee Florida. Too bad it was such a rainy gloomy day for such an excursion.

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

Enjoyed this trip. Thanks. James.

[@goodeye03]

During 92-96 I rode on that car on the Lake Shore Limited when I worked on that train from BOS as an LSA. It never made it to Boston , it was too tall for the Muddy River bridge. Nice to see it is still around..I worked BOS-CHI over the years.

[@railroadingrambler218]

Very interesting, thanks for your comment!

[@tylerg7567]

I was surprised to learn that there was never any food service offered to riders from Utica to Placid. I Throughly enjoy your videos. Thank you

[@railroadingrambler218]

I was surprised as well, thanks for commenting!

[@railfankasey]

8255 is waiting for some repairs. we planned on running it this year but no man power to do it due to the work trains. it ran on 3 trains in August 2017 and has not pulled a train since. it and 1508 need some fine tuning before they get back into service.

[@mikehudsonrocks9585]

Outstanding! Thanks so much for this video. 👍🏼

[@railroadingrambler218]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@JKBlay]

Nice video as always! Hope to ride the dome next year.

[@railroadingrambler218]

It’s a great ride JKB!

[@cp368productions2]

Rail trails are the bane of the nation. Especially where they rip up used track to make a fricken trail.

[@tonyfrancesco3701]

There is something serious wrong with this nation. We should demand separate rails for passengers. We are not product , and that’s how we are treated. In the 50s and into the early 60s there was four line mains

[@bboomer1948]

Enjoyed the video, thanks for posting. I didn't think Middle America existed any longer. I live in So Cal.

[@railroadingrambler218]

Glad you liked the video, thanks for commenting!

[@ryans4087]

The infamous WJM!

[@LeitoTrenes]

Super video. Likes

[@CharlieRicker24]

Incredible video, well done!

[@railroadingrambler218]

Thanks, Charlie!

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Pretty cool railroad in the state of New York.

[@jimdep6542]

A very sad sight ! Those old signals should be at least kept in storage to keep them from rusting out ! They aren't cheap either.

[@northjerseyrailroadproduct2770]

I wonder if those crossing signals and bungalows can be aquired either given away or sold/ auctioned off...?

[@nhspartan123ify]

What happened to 8223?

[@richardvonhagn5019]

Is there a plan to replace the track from Tupper Lake to Lake Placid

[@railroadingrambler218]

No, a trail is going in.

[@carlyeiter9263]

Was that a kite flying in front of engine at 4:08

[@tonyfrancesco3701]

I always have a four hour layover there just to get to Amsterdam

[@dalejanes8122]

Do you know why the Adirondack RR is using MA&N motive power on it's trains?

[@railroadingrambler218]

They have two RS18u’s, 1835 & 1845. One had been used on work trains, the other for Otter Lake local. When I arrived in Thendara on the 16th, one was down for an inspection. They have two F10s: 1508 not used this year, 1502 has been but sparingly. So, there was a power shortage and MA&N helped out.

[@dalejanes8122]

@@railroadingrambler218 Thank you for the clarification and the quick response. I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the great work.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Well there definitely seems a shortage of containers on that alleged doublestack @1:50. Hardly needed a DPU.

[@ncsd98]

Its really too bad that railroad does'nt go into Tupper, They need that.. would be such a positive thing.

[@goodeye03]

BTW we did 80 on the Lake Shore

[@robk1310]

Why is October 17th the last run for the year? A thanksgiving trip would be a lot of fun.

[@railroadingrambler218]

They will run Polar Express trains from Utica-Holland Patent (24 miles r/t) in Nov & Dec. For a few years, a Christmas train was run to Thendara one weekend in December, nothing scheduled for that this year as far as I know.

[@lisabishop6266]

@@railroadingrambler218 omg, all those kids and parents in matching PJ's waiting for the polar express is way too funny!

[@jaywinn481]

What a great video I know one of those guys you traveled with from way back.. AG... I do not know your actual name and I want to contact you.. give me a shout..

[@railroadingrambler218]

Hey, Jay. Just email me at [e-mail]. I am Dan’s brother from K&K Trains & Hobbies.

[@andyknott8148]

My love of Alco's has shown no sign of abating, and to date there is no vaccine.

[@vicnis625]

20:44 yes it indeed has been used on. The andirondack rr I have a fridge magnet of 8225 as he leas and only engine at the minehana crossing, and jay winn also capture it running with a steam susqenahana train:kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZyZf5qQnKt1h7s

[@floydblandston108]

The curse on Northeastern railroading- all those empties headed west. : (

[@juliopabon4017]

from the bronx n.y