New York State has begun the process of applying to the federal Surface Transportation Board for the formal abandonment of a 30-mile section of the Saratoga and North Creek Railway from North Creek to the former Tahawus mine in the Town of Newcomb.
Last week, the Warren County Board of Supervisors Public Works Committeebegan discussing the futureof a 45-mile section of the line owned by Warren County and the Saratoga County Town of Corinth.
Peter Bauer, Executive Director of Protect the Adirondacks, seeks a two-part solution.
“The first is that the rail line from North Creek up to the Tahawus mine should be abandoned and the land should revert to the forest preserve and the private landowners,” said Bauer. “And the rail line from North Creek south to Saratoga Springs, we think that should be converted, where we should take a hard look and start to look at planning funds and a full investigation similar to what they’ve done in Ulster County – with the old rail line down there and the conversion into a public recreation way.”
Railway operator Iowa Pacific Holdings removed equipment from the line in May.
