The Catskill Mountain Railroad operates a segment of the former Ulster & Delaware Railroad, which later became New York Central’s Catskill Mountain Branch. The train runs from Kingston west toward Stony Hollow, in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains.
Choices
Themed excursions—music, train robbery, and the like—are powered by an Alco RS1 built in 1950 for Illinois Terminal on the Catskill Mountain Railroad. They board at the Westbrook Lane station on summer Saturdays and offer rides on open cars and ex-Long Island Rail Road coaches.
When to go
In addition to the Friday, Saturday and Sunday trains that run from Memorial Day through Labor Day, there are themed excursions for special events in spring and from October through December. CMRR also hosts a visiting steam engine at least once a year.
Good to know
For children, the CMRR runs an Easter train in the spring, Pumpkin Patch Express from late October into November, a night train called “Rails of Terror” in October, and the Polar Express in November and December.
Worth doing
Nearby uptown Kingston offers many stores and restaurants. Also in Kingston is the Trolley Museum of New York, which operates a restored streetcar along the banks of the Hudson River over another short stretch of the Ulster & Delaware.
Don’t miss
A short drive west is the restored Phoenicia depot, which opened in 1900 and is now home to the Empire State Railway Museum. Farther west is the Delaware & Ulster Railroad, another piece of the old U&D, with excursions from Arkville.
Getting there
The railroad is accessible from Exit 19 of the New York State Thruway (I-87). Follow I-587, then turn left on Albany Avenue. Make the first right on Clinton Avenue, then right on Westbrook Lane to the Kingston Plaza parking lot. The station is on the right.
Location: 55 Kingston Plaza Road, Kingston, NY
Phone: 845-332-4854
Website: catskillmountainrailroad.com
E-mail: info@catskillmountainrailroad.com
