Railroad Rainbows

20 August 2024  – Tuesday

Driving from PA to NY where we spend the night in a quaint town with a historic railroad collection.

0838  66,052  59°F  Mechanicsburg, PA   Leave our overnight spot at Appalachian Brewing Company

0910  66,069  60°F  Harrisburg, PA   Refuel at Costco

1051  66,165  58°F  Stretch at a rest area on 81 in PA  

1145  66,190  61°F  Scranton, PA  Refuel at Sam’s Club

Fuel is less expensive in Pennsylvania than it will be in New York

Ate lunch in the, less than scenic, parking lot at Sam’s Club  1238

1345  66,250  Sanitaria Springs, NY

Stopped after passing under this tall and narrow railroad crossing. Signage told of a sanitarium featuring curative springs that opened here in 1870. 

1457  66.314  Milford, NY

We have landed at the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad, a Harvest Host site, for tonight.

Milford had nice sidewalks, so I wandered around the town. 

Found the 1810 Sayre House and Store Museum,

some beautiful old homes,

and a cute yarn shop.  

The museum offers Railbike excursions. 

We sat in on the briefing as a group readied for a ride. Bikes are electric powered. In order to engage the electric motor, one person needs to keep the pedals moving, but there is no significant resistance. 

There is a lead car and a trailing car with folks to assist if anyone had difficulties along the way.

We watched a few of the cars head out. 

 

An hour and a half later all the rail bikers returned looking happy despite the drizzle.

Back at the museum, we learned that the depot, built in 1869, was a combination freight and passenger station for the Cooperstown and Susquehanna Valley Railroad.  A ticket window and pot belly stove remain in the preserved waiting area.

Other rooms in the depot have model trains and railroad memorabilia.

We left a donation since the full scale trains only run on weekends.

We were treated to a rainbow as the last of the employees closed up for the night.

I can’t resist sharing a few more rainbow pictures.

Is the D&H Caboose a pot of gold?

This was a very quiet spot though it did get down to a chilly 47°F overnight.

After closing, the only visitor was a woodchuck outside our window.

Today’s Route

259 miles

Click on any image to enlarge

Railfans can scroll down for bonus photos…

Growing up near the Delaware and Hudson mainline, I enjoyed seeing D&H equipment being preserved. 

I did get permission to wander the rail yard from the owner. Here are a few more shots of rolling stock that I found interesting.

Goodbye, for now, from the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad.