Adirondack Railroad train arriving Tuesday
Dan McClelland
by Bob Hest
Many in the Tupper Lake community over the years believed their town deserved passenger rail services again and to encourage that the town board, headed at the time by Supervisor Dean Lefebvre, created a committee about 2004 that in the ensuing years built a new station in the Junction, a historic replica of Tupper’s first station that was razed on that site a century ago. The aim was that if Tupper Lake as a community could build a train station, it would show the world, and state officials in particular, that it wanted to see trains return to town.
Passenger service disappeared here in 1965 and the corridor remained absent of train traffic from that point on with the exception of a brief operation for the 1980s Winter Olympics.
The town committee called “Next Stop! Tupper Lake,” chaired by Dan McClelland, raised over $300,000 in hundreds of donations from railroad supporters here and built the station in 2006 and 2007 with the help of dozens of volunteers, and a contracting crew headed by Darryl Robideau. Many local businesses gave generously to help the station get built. A long-time summer resident at Big Wolf was a key benefactor of the train station project.
Lots of volunteers and staff at the Remsen-based Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society (ARPS) also believed trains could eventually return here, committing thousands of hours of time and energy in the fledgling train operation in the south end of the Adirondack Railroad corridor during the past 30 years.
Rail service to Tupper Lake from points south on the track and excursions out of Tupper Lake are expected to commence on a regular basis, ARPS officials have said this summer.
The dream of many in the community is coming true next Tuesday when the non-profit railroad company has planned ceremonies to celebrate this historic milestone. A train with more than 100 invited passengers aboard is expected to arrive around 1p.m. having started the journey from the Thendara Depot near Old Forge. Community residents wishing to be a part should plan to arrive at the Junction depot no later than 12:45 to see the train arrive.
Parking near the depot is limited. Emergency vehicles only will be parking on the Depot property. Handicapped persons may wish to park behind the Lumberjack Restaurant. Arrangements have also been made to use the large parking area near the playground on Washington Street. It is a short walk from there to the station and a shuttle service is being organized.
The ceremonies will feature tributes, remarks by state and local elected officials, and a ribbon cutting. Regional news media have been invited. Local photographer and train enthusiast Jim Lanthier will be taking pictures for the historical record. Locals may wish to walk through the train which will include a glass- topped dome car, a dining car that once was in service to Tupper Lake when operated by the New York Central railroad, and first class cars that offer passengers an enjoyable and memorable experience. A ribbon cutting ceremony and photo opportunity is planned around 3p.m. in front of the newest locomotive acquired by the railroad, before the train departs to return to Thendara.
Railroad company officials have said numerous times this year that they look forward to being good community partners in the years ahead.
-Bob Hest is the corporate secretary of the Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society and board member who resides near Malone. He has been working diligently in recent years with fellow ARPS board members Jim Ellis and Al Dunham along with the Next Stop! Tupper Lake group, to bring about this event.