North Creek and Saranac Lake

This follows up on my response to Pat's comment about my previous post.

Below is a picture of the Saratoga & North Creek train I rode in October of 2013.   You ferroequinologists out there may notice that our lead locomotive was a BL-2.  BL stands for Branch Line, and the sloped long carbody gives the crew a view in both directions, for safety when operating in either direction without turning the locomotive.

Number 52 was reportedly built by Electro Motive Diesel (EMD) in 1949 for Bangor & Aroostook, worked for a while in Wisconsin, and sat at a museum in Green Bay before going to Iowa Pacific Holdings, the "then" operator of the S&NC.  But they (both Iowa Pacific AND the BL-2, as well as other equipment) are reportedly gone from the railroad, leaving behind a bunch of very rusty rails.

The scenery on this line is outstanding.  It has high bridges, hills, rivers, lakes, and magnificent autumn colors. 

Too bad the railroad is no longer operating...everyone could enjoy a trip on the S&NC, particularly with seats in the lovely dome car!

Now for another trip back in time, as well as a venue change to the Adirondack Scenic Railway's northern branch, from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake - a distance of about 9 miles.   I rode this all-coach train back in August of 2016.   Nice engine, well-kept equipment.  In 2017, the State of New York denied permission to run while legal wrangling over rail-trail status of the line continued.  Trains did not run in 2018 either, and sadly, it's uncertain whether service will ever resume.  The tracks may actually be removed.  (And as everyone knows...once they're gone, they're gone forever.)

Here, my train simmers at its layover in Saranac Lake:

Following is a picture of yours truly, taken at Teddy Bear Park on Flower Lake in Saranac Lake, NY.   A couple on a boat, with two large, rather hungry-looking and mightily-unhappy Dobermans aboard, docked just out of the picture.  The owners seemed to be having a problem controlling their dogs (the lady was being dragged around by hers.)  I got this picture and immediately beat feet out of there, to make sure my day didn't morph from "very good" into "very bad."  An ambulance ride to the hospital because of a dog attack would surely have messed up a lot of things...

Segue to yesterday: I was walking out of the just-closed post office in my home town, wearing my usual outfit of stirrup pants, pantyhose, turtleneck, flats, jacket, and my purse.  As I walked back to my car (there were only 2 cars in the lot and mine was one of them) I heard a woman's voice call out "Ma'am!"  I turned around to see a young lady in the other car looking at me as she asked:  "Ma'am, is the post office closed?"  "Why yes, Ma'am - it is."  "Oh, OK, thank you, dear!" "You're welcome, hon!"

I guess I "passed."  It's always fun!

More later...

Mandy