UTICA, N.Y. — There’s still time to get out and see the fall foliage, and one of the best ways to see it is by rail.
The Adirondack Railroad is running excursions from Thendara to Tupper Lake.
Adirondack Railroad Conductor Al Heywood said the ride allows passengers to take in some of the most remote scenery in the Adirondacks, and at times take it in rather quickly.
“We go up to 50 just because, frankly, there’s not much to see over that few miles. And we pick it up a little bit, but 30 or 40 is our typical speed. Fast enough to get you there in reasonable time, but slow enough that you can enjoy the scenery,” Heywood said.
Conductor David Julian knows when to apply the brakes.
He’s in charge of inspecting the train, talking to the dispatcher, getting permission to use the tracks, paperwork and making sure the train runs properly and safely.
“Well, the Conductor is the boss of the train. The train does not move without a Conductor. It’s fun at times. It’s hard work sometimes, too. It’s a lot of responsibility,” Julian said.
He can’t do it all by himself, so he relies on help from railroad car host Valarie Schenk.
“You can’t help but love being on a train. Every day is different. My job on the train, I take tickets, I talk to people, I take pictures, just help out in any way I can,” Schenk said.
Once you arrive in Tupper Lake, Heywood said that the railroad and the Town of Tupper Lake provide shuttle buses that take you to various locations around town.
“You know the station is not exactly in downtown Tupper, so to get people around to the highlight spots we have that shuttle bus. And while those people are shuttling around town, the train makes two short runs down to an area called Sabattis and back for people who are in Tupper and just want to go for a short ride.”
The railway runs over 200 miles roundtrip from Utica to Tupper Lake and since it can’t get any longer, the plan is to upscale the quality of the equipment and the events they put on.
The Adirondack Railroad is not-for-profit organization. Most of the funds raised are used to keep the trains running.
After 24 years with the railroad, Heywood is retiring this weekend, Oct. 12, but says the railroad is always looking for volunteers.
“The whistle blows. We need a conductor; we need a full crew. We do it because we love it, and we’re always looking for more,” Heywood said.
Oct. 12 is the last day of the season for the train ride from Thendara to Tupper Lake, but there’s a whole host of events coming up, and you can check them all out at AdirondackRR.com.