| The 1998 NRHS Convention was based in Syracuse, New York, and hosted by the Central New York Chapter. Nevertheless, because of Syracuse's close proximity to Utica, the Utica & Mohawk Valley Chapter also played a key role, along with the Adirondack Railway Preservation Society (ARPS). Central New York, regrettably, doesn't have the same range of attractions that Pennsylvania has, but the local tourist railroads, as well as some freight railroads, gave their all to ensure the best convention experience possible. The biggest event was, in my opinion, the re-opening of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad from Utica-Thendara, which had only been run once before since restoration, in 1997, when it was run for volunteers and dignitaries (the railroad is run completely by volunteers from the ARPS and NRHS). I worked the excursion, in my dual role as an NRHS and ARPS member, as a trainman, and I shot these photos for the railroad's use. When they had no use for them, I stored them, and here they are published for the first time. These runs went off without any major problems, even if subsequent months saw delayed trains due to late trackwork, and obviously everyone was quite excited at this vast expansion of the Adirondack's role as a tourist railroad. I took all of these pictures on the way back to Utica, so this one was taken at Thendara. The lead locomotive, an ALCO C425, was lent to us by the Mohawk, Adirondack, & Northern Railroad(MA&N), who run the freight services between Utica and Remsen, on the same route that we took. |