The Saratoga & North Creek Railway

As our jitneys traveled around the Adirondacks this weekend, filled with sleepy passengers and dedicated navigators, we felt many times the unmistakable jostle of tires on train tracks.  One such crossing occurred in Warren County, right before we crossed the Hudson.  Those tracks run through the tiny hamlet of Riparius, the same cluster of cottages where I have spent many months with my family, and are a part of the Saratoga & North Creek Railway.  As mundane as our encounter with the S&NC was this weekend, the railway is a crucial part of the area's history and a rich example of the railroad's influence on the park.

The line now used by the S&NC was built in 1871 by Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad Co.  Like many at the time, Durant hoped the line would help his industrial and recreational investments in the park.  Although the transportation of goods from the tannery, garnet mine, and woodworking plant in North Creek was an initial part of the line's usage, Durant quickly realized demand was higher for transportation of summer visitors to the park.  In fact, as industry in the park declined, the popularity of both its summer runs and its winter "ski trains," which brought skiers from Schenectady and New York City to the slopes of Gore Mountain, kept the line running through the Great Depression until demand for iron from the mine at Tahawus during World War II revived the its industrial use.  In 1901, the North Creek station became famous for being where Vice President Teddy Roosevelt learned he was to be sworn into office as President of the United States.

The station at North Creek

Today, the rich history of the line continues to sustain the Saratoga & North Creek Railway.  According to their website, the railway "harkens back to the days when train travel was sophisticated and elegant."  The "leisurely" train ride provides stunning views of the Hudson River, making stops at various adorable riverside hamlets, and offers "exceptional on-board dining prepared fresh to order."  Catering, (quite literally) to the tastes of down-staters who can access the railway from connecting lines in Saratoga Springs, NY, the railway continues the tradition of tourism, offering in addition to the ski trains stops at locations where visitors can experience canoeing, kayaking, shopping, and even visiting local art galleries.  The railway, by making use of the historic line, helps to minimize car traffic in the area while offering many towns visitors that otherwise would have gravitated toward larger tourist areas in the park.  It balances wonderfully the meeting of appreciation for history and continued introduction of new visitors to the park. 

The S&NC line runs along the west bank of the Hudson River, providing gorgeous views for the passengers.

Sources:

• https://www.sncrr.com/
• http://www.northcreekdepotmuseum.com/about-us/
• https://www.premierrailshosting.com/saratoga-north-creek/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/04/Greg_Klingler_201251_Fall_300-e1430494716245.jpg
• http://www.northcreekdepotmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/secondary-image8.jpg