Courtesy of Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railway
By Paul Post
Hal Raven could drive the train, but he’d rather be the conductor punching tickets like Tom Hanks on the Polar Express.
“That’s my thing, talking with people, interacting, getting kids excited,” he said.
His company, the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railway, gives people Christmas-themed memories to last a lifetime on the Candy Cane Express, a fun festive ride that runs through Dec. 22 highlighted by visits from Santa, music, lights and hot cocoa refreshments.
Raven, a Queensbury resident, gave up a 28-year railroading career to fulfill his dream of owning a scenic line. It operates year-round between South Greenfield and Hadley on 17 miles of track owned by the Town of Corinth.
“We do all the maintenance and repairs,” he said. “When we first took over, weeds were chest high and overgrown. We had to fix all the crossings.”
Two previous operators had run tourist trains from Saratoga Springs to North Creek, but couldn’t make a go of it. This is Raven’s third year in business and by all accounts it’s full steam ahead.
“I’ve pretty much worked in every aspect of railroading,” he said. “That’s why we’re successful here. My first summer job in high school when I was 17, 18 years old was spiking tracks over in Greenwich for the Battenkill Railroad.”
Later, he worked for Canadian Pacific Railway, became a locomotive engineer and eventually moved up to division superintendent for Pan Am Railways, a subsidiary of CSX, in charge of all operations between Rotterdam and Boston.
Raven said his railway has flourished, unlike previous ones, because of its close ties to the community.
“Its a different business model,” he said. “What we do differently is work with all the local businesses, use local products and do local fund-raisers.”
On Nov. 16, the railway made a special run for Operation Toy Train, giving people a chance to donate gifts for underprivileged children at multiple stops where crowds enjoyed live music and free taste treats.
“Its a lot different when it’s run by somebody who was born and raised here instead of sitting in a corporate office in Chicago,” Raven said. “There aren’t too many places where the president, owner and CEO is on almost every single train, fixing engines, fixing the track, being out there every day. Its a very hands-on approach. You have to know how to do it all to have a small railroad like this.”
The fun continues later this winter with a Valentines Day ride called the Wine and Chocolate Train, followed by St. Patricks and Easter Bunny trips, the Maple in April Hadley Express and a Mothers Day Tea & Brunch Train.
The full season begins on Memorial Day Weekend and continues through summers with all kinds of special excursions such as dinner trains, Sunday Funday Sundae and Sunset Limited Beer & Wine trains, and both a Pizza and Moonlight Moonshine Express.
After Labor Day its time for the Pumpkin Picker and Autumn Explorer, leading right back into the holidays.
The railway also allows cyclists to park cars at the Corinth station, bike south and load bikes on the train for a trip back to their vehicle.
Part-time employees such as Andrew Leece, of Glenville, help out because of their love for railroading. “My great-grandfather and my fathers uncle worked for the Erie Lackawana out of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania,” he said. “There’s a lot of history with this line. It started out bringing wealthy people from New York City to their Great Camps in the Adirondacks. Teddy Roosevelt took this line to become president after President McKinley was shot.”
“So we’re not only preserving railroad history, but the history of the Adirondacks and our country as well,” Leece said.
Raven started out with one locomotive and two cars, but to keep up with demand has expanded to six locomotives and 13 cars, as many rides are booked solid.
He purchased equipment with savings and some revenue from a separate business, Adirondack Cruise & Charter Company, which offers pontoon boat rides on Saratoga Lake.
“A lot of it was knowing people in the industry,” he said. “I was able to orchestrate a lot of deals and trades.”
Some locomotives are on other properties, leased out to freight operations, which also generates income.
The future?
Previous companies on this rail line went all the way to North Creek. But track north of Corinth is owned by Warren County.
A firm called Revolution Rail offers rail bike adventures out of North Creek, but the Warren County portion of track hasn’t had train traffic since Saratoga & North Creek Railway ceased operations several years ago.
Raven said he’d like to partner with Revolution Rail some day, but for now his main focus is doing the best job possible on his section of track.
“Were both in the tourism business,” he said. “It makes a lot of sense to do things that keep this great asset in place. But we have a nice little home base right here in Corinth. That works good for us right now.”
Warren County officials have discussed the possibility of tearing up their track, costing an estimated $30 million, and replacing it with a multi-purpose recreation trail.
Raven is strongly opposed to the idea.
“Busloads of people come here,” he said. “We get groups of special needs kids and seniors. A bike trail is only going to serve a group of elite people. Who’s going to cycle deep into the Adirondacks where you don’t even have cell phone coverage? Certainly not a family with kids, certainly not seniors; not special needs groups.
“Train rides make the beauty of the Adirondacks available to a broader audience,” he said. “Its important to keep this asset intact. Once you lose the infrastructure its gone.”
For information go to: www.corinthtrain.com