Mark Bergman

The goal of being able to board a train in Saratoga Springs and travel along the Hudson River to Corinth, Hadley and North Creek was derailed when tracks and a culvert in the town of Greenfield washed out during heavy rains in the summer of 2006. The Pataki administration came through with $3 million to make repairs and upgrade the tracks in Saratoga and Warren counties, but the work won't be completed in time for service this fall.

"I wanted to have our scenic fall run this year," said Jack Kelley of Saratoga Economic Development Corp. "It just is not going to happen."

While track work continues, Kelley is working with officials in Corinth and Warren County to establish a local development corporation that would oversee operation of the rail line. It likely would seek bids from potential operators to provide the rail service, which would include ski trains in the winter.

The Upper Hudson River Railroad operates a tourist train from North Creek station south to Hadley, but the washout blocks the route farther south.

John Riegel, the railroad's president, said he hopes to get the contract to operate trains along the entire route. Business this summer has been about even with last year's season, when the railroad carried 18,000 passengers.

The railroad would have to have heated passenger cars to operate winter ski trains, however.

William Thomas, supervisor of the town of Johnsburg, which includes North Creek, said he isn't surprised by the delays in restoring full service.

"I told the people in Johnsburg we were going to have the tourist train three years before it got here," he said. "Government moves slowly."

The delay may give the town more time to get several planned hotel and condominium projects under way.

"If we get a lot of people here at once, we're going to have to figure some way to move them around and get them to beds," Thomas said. "There's probably not enough rooms right now in North Creek."

While the tracks where the washout occurred are owned by the town of Corinth, the Canadian Pacific Railway is overseeing the repair and maintenance work.

The washout area repairs should be completed by Oct. 19, said Steve Fisk, senior manager for corporate business development at CP Rail. Clearing brush and replacing ties and ballast are also part of the work. Much of the track was upgraded about 15 years ago, he said, and remains basically in good shape.

The last time the route had regular passenger service was in 1956. It hasn't been determined how new service would operate.

Thomas envisions trains coming up from New York City, while Kelley suggests trains could run from Saratoga Springs to North Creek. Kelley hopes to tap into Saratoga Springs' summer crowds, offering them day excursions to North Creek and to towns along the route.

Anderson can be reached at 454-5323 or by e-mail at eanderson@timesunion.com.