Nestled at the foothills of the serene Adirondack park, in Upstate New York, exists a little known treasure.
Utica, NY (PRWEB) November 21, 2004 -- In Utica New York, in the Mohawk Valley, a piece of railroad track serves as a working and preserved piece of American history. The train is used to recreate the famous childrens book titled, Polar Express." In the book, and on the Utica Polar Express, pajama clad children ride the train, read stories and get a gift at the end of the ride.
The holiday time event is made possible by volunteers who participate to see the look on the kids faces and to continue the effort to save and preserve the historic track. According to Kathy Kellogg, events coordinator for the Adirondack Scenic Railway, Volunteers for the Adirondack Scenic Railroad have a passion for railroads from their youth. None of this would even be possible without donations in time from volunteers and donations of cash from many caring people."
In 1992 a group of devoted rail enthusiasts banded together and proposed to operate a short section of the line from Thendara south to Minnehaha. New York State approved the 4-mile train ride and on July 4, 1992 the Adirondack Centennial Railroad ran its first train out of the Thendara station. By the end of the season the railroad carried over 55,000 passengers. With such a positive response from the public, New York State allowed the railroad to operate in 1993 and has extended the permission to run each year since. In July of 1994 the Adirondack Centennial Railroad became the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, which is operated by ARPS. ARPS is a 501(c) (3), not-for-profit corporation and is run by a staff of 150 volunteers and a few full and part-time employees.
The Utica Polar Express, according to a recently published article by Rob Thrasher, a freelance author in Central New York, The train represents the best of our ingenuity and imagination. The Utica Polar Express is helping preserve an important piece of the history of the State of New York State. The train serves as a constant reminder of a time when settlers were self-reliant and America was merely an entrepreneurial venture." Read the full article here: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=20167.
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