Delaware & Ulster Railroad Facebook photo
KINGSTON – For the first time since 2001, tourism railroad operations in western Ulster County will resume as the county has granted a five-year permit to the not-for-profit Delaware & Ulster Railroad.
The Arkville-based U&D Railroad ended tourism passenger service to Highmount 17 years ago to focus on operations between Arkville and Roxbury in Delaware County.
Ulster County Executive Michael Hein announce on Wednesday the county has issued a permit for the railroad to re-establish service to county property in Highmount near Belleayre Ski Center, enabling the railroad to extend its operating track length to nearly 20 miles. Hein said D&U Railroad will invest in upgrading its track from Arkville to Highmount to restore the tourism service.
Wes Coates, the general manager of the railroad, said the “important partnership puts the ‘Ulster’ back in our operation and will support our plans to attract more visitors to the western Catskills.”
The five-year permit provides the railroad with a future station area where passengers can access or disembark from the railroad event and dinner trains.
The county property will provide a “siding run-around,” a second set of tracks that will allow the D&U Railroad to move its locomotive engine from one end of the train to the other so the train can be pulled in the opposite direction.
In exchange for the use of some 930 feet of county railroad property, the D&U Railroad will be responsible for upgrades and maintenance of the property adjacent to Route 28 and Galli Curci Road.
