FIRE! FIRE! – Hudson, New York (Part 2)

Continuing with our 2011 late summer/early fall road trip to New York State and Pennsylvania…

Welcome to part 2 of our visit to the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) Museum of Firefighting…  

We didn’t capture any specific information on this great looking piece of firefighting apparatus…a very old ladder truck.  I especially like the ‘FD’ imprinted in the radiator grill!

This is a 1937 American LaFrance Type 475 Invader Pumper.  This unit was originally delivered to Citizens Hose Company #5 in Catskill New York.  This 12-cylinder unit could pump 750 gallons of water per minute and it was in active service until 1966.  The enclosed 3-man cab was very unusual for American LaFrance fire apparatus… 

Note the ‘man behind the wheel’ of this great looking 1939 pumper.  This 6 cylinder triple combination pumper was built by the Sanford Fire Apparatus Company for delivery to the Canaan Protective Fire Company.  This truck was later given to the Berkshire School for Boys.  When the school’s insurance company said that the school could no longer fight its own fires, the school donated this unit to the FASNY museum.

This ‘hunky’ piece of firefighting apparatus is a 1 ½ ton 1942 General/Chevrolet Military Special.  Built by GM’s General Fire Truck Division, this unit was never used in the war and it was sold as surplus to the Lomontville New York Fire Department.  That department used it as a ‘brush rig’ for almost 40 years.  This truck is equipped with the original ‘blackout lights’ that were used by army convoys so they could follow each other at night while remaining undetected from the air.

This is a 1947 Ward LaFrance Lighting & Rescue Truck with a Waukeshaw 6-cylinder engine.  Only 3 of these units were ever built.  It served the fire department in New Hyde Park on Long Island as well as the Somers New York Fire Department.  This 74 year old unit was still fully functional when it was donated to the Museum of Firefighting.

This is an overview of a large portion of the lower gallery of the FASNY Museum of Firefighting.  The number of firefighting units on display is almost overwhelming.  The upper level of the museum holds most of the pre-motorized apparatus with the ‘newer’ equipment being shown on this level.

The museum also has a display of equipment, parts and pieces commemorating the events of 9/11/01.  The door shown above was removed from a building on Liberty Street in lower Manhattan post 9/11.  It bears the markings made by the secure and recovery workers searching for survivors…

Laurie and I felt that this was definitely the most poignant item on display in the 9/11 section of the museum.  It’s a fragment of one of the airliners that was flown into one of the World Trade Center Towers…

As I mentioned in Part 1 of my blog about the Firefighting Museum, this is a very interesting attraction to visit and the cost is minimal.  It’s only $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children (free at 4 years of age or less).  The Firefighting Museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM except on major holidays.  The FASNY Museum of Firefighting is located at 117 Harry Howard Avenue in Hudson New York.  Phone: 877-347-3687.  Website: www.fasnymuseum.com.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for another visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

A Hudson Valley Diner…

Continuing with our 2011 late summer/early fall road trip to upper New York State and Pennsylvania…

We love diners, corner restaurants, local eateries, etc.  In Chicago, they’re just the local family or corner restaurant and most of them seem to be operated by Greek families…  In the Northeast, most local restaurants that serve breakfast, lunch and dinner are called diners.  While we love our new life in East Tennessee, real diners are few and far between…

So…as we neared our destination for the evening, a hotel in the Albany area, we were elated when we spotted the sign shown above!  Our location for dinner was set…no search necessary.  We checked in to our hotel and then immediately set our course back to the East Greenbush Diner!

The diner obviously hadn’t been designed by Frank Lloyd Wright or any other famous architect.  On the other hand, we weren’t looking for an architectural masterpiece, just some comfort food to end our day of travel… 

The interior was 'typical diner' chic… The only difference between the interior of the East Greenbush Diner and a neighborhood corner restaurant in the Chicago suburbs is the counter seating.

This diner is open 7 days a week and based on the menu it’s operated by a Greek family.  Greek items on the menu include Stuffed Sole Athenian ($14.99), Moussaka ($9.99), Shrimp Santorini ($13.99), a Souvalaki Platter ($12.99), Spanakopita ($9.99), a Greek Salad ($7.99 to $9.99) and a true indicator…Gyros with pita and Tzatski Sauce! ($7.99)

Well, as you can see, despite the hour of the day, I was in the mood for breakfast!  I might have over-ordered though…two eggs over easy, fried potatoes, sausage links plus a large split biscuit slathered with sausage gravy… ($8.99) With Tabasco and ketchup at hand, breakfast was served!  It was a very good breakfast…

Breakfast is served all day at the East Greenbush Diner…a terrific feature that you can usually find only at the ‘same old’ restaurant chains in east Tennessee (Waffle House, Shoney’s, IHOP, etc.).

Laurie went with her favorite sandwich and French Fries… This is the Patty Melt on grilled rye bread with sauteed onions and Swiss cheese. ($7.99) It was a very nice sandwich…completely meeting Laurie’s high standards and requirements.

The expanded menu includes a number of seafood entrees…ranging from Clam Strips at $9.99 to the Captain’s Platters at $16.99.  Steaks and chops range from $10.99 to $13.99.  House favorites include a Half Chicken with stuffing, soup or salad, potato and vegetable for $10.99 or Meatloaf for $9.99.  Other offerings include Italian entrees, dinner salads, wraps and pitas, deli sandwiches, burgers, specialty sandwiches, club sandwiches and hot sandwiches.  Like most diners, the menu goes on and on with choices…

Checking the Internet after our visit to the East Greenbush Diner, I found reviews on various travel websites ranging from 5 ‘stars’ to 1 ‘star’.  Some customers apparently really liked their experience while others really disliked this diner.  Our experience was positive.  While this wasn’t the best diner we’ve ever eaten at, what we had to eat was solid and satisfying, the place was clean and service was just fine.  We would eat there again if we were back in this area.  I guess that we’d give the East Greenbush Diner 3 ½ ‘stars’.

The East Greenbush Diner is located at 751 Columbia Turnpike in East Greenbush New York.  Phone: 518-477-8483.  I couldn’t locate a website for this restaurant…

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

FIRE! FIRE! – Hudson, New York (Part 1)

Continuing with our late summer/early fall road trip to New York State and Pennsylvania…

Since I always research the areas of the country we’re going to visit, I usually end up routing our trips so that we can check out some of the popular, more unusual and/or out of the way attractions along the way.

This is the Firefighter’s Association of the State of New York’s, (FASNY), Museum of Firefighting.  It’s located on the grounds of the New York State Firefighter’s Home near the Hudson River in Hudson New York.

The museum first opened in 1926.  Additions to the facility occurred in 1957, 1972, 1989 and in 2000.  The museum has over 90 pieces of firefighting apparatus and hundreds, if not thousands, of other firefighting artifacts on display.  FASNY has a mission of educating, serving and supporting volunteer firefighters in the state.  The organization was founded in 1872 and it has about 40,000 members.

The earliest fire fighting apparatus on display is this 1725 Newsham Pumper.  It was imported from London in 1931 as ordered by the Common Council of New York City. (They ordered 2 of these units) With one of these pumpers, New York Engine Company #1 was formed. 

The Newsham Pumper was superior to previous pumpers in that it could provide a continuous stream of water vs. previous units that projected the water in spurts.  One downside was that this unit didn’t have a fifth wheel so it had to be manually lifted around corners…with all of its weight plus 170 gallons of water!

This is the very patriotic post Revolutionary War Yankee Pumper #5.  It dates back to 1783.  This hand operated side-stroke pumper served first in New York City and then in Catskill New York.  One strange feature was that it has 4 square cylinders and a square compression chamber!

This unusual and rare piece of firefighting apparatus is a hand pulled Bucket Machine.  It was used by the Jamaica, (Queens) New York volunteer fire department to fight fires in the outlying areas of Jamaica that lacked fire hydrants.  Volunteer firefighters were used to protect parts of Queens from 1797 until at least 1927.

This is another hand-drawn apparatus.  It’s an 1855 John Roger’s Engine and it was named “Sun”.  Originally, this unit was built in Baltimore for the Alexandria Virginia Volunteer Fire Company and it cost $2,400.00.  After being damaged in the Civil War by Union Troops, it was repaired and in 1887 it was sold to the Volunteer Firemen’s Association of New York City.  That organization used the “Sun” for campaigning and in parades until 1925 when it was donated to the museum. 

In addition to the elaborate paintings and other decorations, there are 4 fancy paintings on this unit.  They depict: Washington Crossing the Delaware; Pocahontas saving Captain John Smith; the Coat of Arms for Virginia and; the Virtue of the Military Genius of Virginia.

This photo is of an 1871 Lysander Button & Son hand-drawn Steamer.  It was used by the D.E. Ladow Company #2 in Mechanicsville New York.  It was rebuilt by the American Fire Engine Company in Seneca Falls back in 1907.  It’s hard to imagine a group of firemen manually pulling this pumper through the streets…

This is a 1904 Hand Drawn Service Sleigh.  It was built by Frederick Rice for the Oriskany Independent Fire & Hose Company.  Frederick was a charter member of this organization and he was also the village blacksmith.  Apparatus such as this were used to transport ladders, hose, nozzles, axes and other tools to winter fires.  The rollers it sits on made it easier to pull onto a snow or ice covered street.  This unit was in service from 1904 until 1923.

This was just Part 1 of a 2-part blog about this museum.  Part 2 will include much more modern fire engines as well as artifacts from 9/11…

This is a very interesting museum to visit and the cost is minimal… It’s only $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children (free at 4 years of age or less).  The Firefighting Museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM except on major holidays.  The FASNY Museum of Firefighting is located at 117 Harry Howard Avenue in Hudson New York.  Phone: 877-347-3687.  Website: www.fasnymuseum.com.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for another visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Stopped in for a Pizza – Lenoir City TN

Laurie, Dawn and I had gone to a movie matinee and on the way home we decided to stop and have a pizza.  We remembered a place where Laurie and I had eaten a couple of years ago.  Since we didn’t have any bad memories, we decided to try it again…

Angelo’s Brick Oven in Lenoir City Tennessee bills itself as 'Italian with a Side of Southern'.  The menu is quite broad with a number of appetizers; 6 dinner salads; 5 burgers; 14 different Subs & Pita sandwiches; Calzone & Stromboli (6 specialties plus create your own); a broad spectrum of pasta entrees ranging from Baked Spaghetti to Veal Parmesan to Fettuccine Carbonara; 4 shrimp dishes including Shrimp & Grits; 3 steaks and of course; the Brick Oven Pizzas.

Pricing is quite reasonable.  Burgers run from $5.95 to $7.45 for a double and they come with French fries or homemade potato chips.  Most pasta entrees fall between $9.95 and $14.95, with Angelo’s Grand Tour of Italy, (lasagna, chicken parmesan, spaghetti and fettuccine Alfredo), at $15.45.  Steaks are under $14.00 and the subs/sandwiches range from $6.25 to $7.45.

Back to the reason we stopped for dinner…Pizza!  We ordered the large Meat, Meat & More Meat Pizza. ($14.95) Dawn also ordered the Greek Salad, with Kalamata Olives, Pepperoncini and Feta Cheese. ($6.95)

I failed to take a photo of Dawn’s salad, probably because it was delivered after we got the pizza… When we asked where it was, the waitress told us that it had to be prepared in the kitchen.  Apparently, it’s a project to put it together?  In any case, when it arrived, Dawn said that it was satisfactory…but she had hoped to have it before the pizza arrived.  The waitress should have known to ask Dawn if she wanted the salad before the pizza.

The pizza itself was flavorful with plenty of meat to satisfy the carnivore in us all.  It would have been a little better if there was a bit less crust… All in all, we’d come back for another pizza or to sample other items on the extensive menu.  As for other pizza options, the menu lists 16 specialty pies including a Chicken Bacon Ranch, a Bacon Cheeseburger (with pickles) and a Shrimp Spinach Pesto with Tomatoes, Mushrooms and Peppers.  You can also design your own…

Angelo’s Brick Oven is visible from US 321 in Lenoir City.  It’s located at 175 Kelsey Lane.  Hours are from 11 AM to 10 PM daily.  Phone: 865-988-9288.  Website: http://media.wix.com/ugd/bd02ea_028b1a5f154e13b7a69452fd36f36396.pdf?dn=Angelos%2BBrick%2BOven%2BMenu.pdf.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

2011 Road Trip – Railroad Depots + (#10)

Continuing with our late summer-early fall 2011 road trip to New York and Pennsylvania…

As the followers of this blog know, we’re always on the lookout for old railroad rolling stock plus railroad stations, ranging from derelict to those in current use.

This is former Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 Electric Locomotive #4917…later Amtrak Commuter Locomotive #4934.  It’s now owned by the Leatherstocking Railroad museum and, according to the Internet, it’s ‘in storage’ at Cooperstown Junction New York.  This particular unit was built in 1942…

This is a refurbished GG1 from the Northwestern Railway System that is now part of the National Railway Museum’s collection in Green Bay Wisconsin.  Check out this great collection at http://www.nationalrrmuseum.org/en-us/default.aspx.

These electric locomotives are 80’ long, weigh 237.5 tons, and they can generate 4,620 H.P. with their 12 electric motors.  Depending on the condition of the track, they operated at speeds as high as 100 m.p.h.  A total of 140 of these units were built between 1934 and 1943 by General Electric and the Altoona Works in Pennsylvania.  The last GG1 was retired from commuter service by the New Jersey Transit Authority in 1983.

This is the Rhinecliff-Kingston Amtrak Depot which, confusingly enough is located in Rhinebeck New York.  This depot was built in the Mission Spanish Revival Style in the early 20^th Century for the New York Central Railroad.  Approximately 14 or 15 trains stop at this station every day of the week.  It’s a stop for the Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express and the Maple Leaf Amtrak routes. 

In 2010, ridership was up 6.6% for a total of 158,534 passengers.  Major cities that can be reached from here include Toronto, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, Albany, Poughkeepsie and New York.

This is the Metro-North Station in Poughkeepsie New York.  Trains depart from this station to New York City every hour on weekdays…and every 25 minutes during rush hour.  Both Amtrak and Metro-North Commuter trains operate through this depot.  Via Metro North trains, it’s 1 hour and 46 minutes and 73.5 miles from here to the Grand Central Terminal in New York City.  Amtrak trains…the Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Maple Leaf plus the Lake Shore Limited…all end up at New York’s Pennsylvania Station. 

This is the northernmost outpost of the New York Metro area’s Metropolitan Transit Authority…and it even has an MTA police presence on location.  There are 1,101 parking places adjacent to the terminal.  Ridership in 2010 included 424,580 Metro-North (MTA) passenger…with no increase from 2009, as well as 75,775 Amtrak passengers…a 12% increase over 2009.

I ‘borrowed’ this photo of the main waiting room at the Poughkeepsie Station.  The terminal was completed in 1918 and it was modeled after New York City’s Grand Central Station.  It has a high gallery, 3 original chandeliers, 14 original chestnut benches, wood paneled and carved stone walls and walnut rafters.  This depot is listed on America’s National List of Historic Places.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Christmas Eve Morning – Mark’s Downtown Diner

Laurie and I hadn’t eaten at Mark’s Diner in Loudon Tennessee for over a year and a half.  We hadn’t enjoyed our last meal…a breakfast…all that well so we’d moved on to other restaurants.  As I’ve previously mentioned, we’ve had a bit of a struggle finding a good basic breakfast here in East Tennessee.  Of course, coming from Chicago with a breakfast restaurant every other mile down the street, it’s tough to compare! 

This is Mark’s Diner in downtown Loudon Tennessee.  It’s a great location and it has a look to it…along with a mercantile/gift shop and the best ice cream shop, (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g55167-d834598-Reviews-Tic_TOC_Ice_Cream_Parlor-Loudon_Tennessee.html),  in East Tennessee as next door neighbors.

After we took our Dawn Marie to the airport for a Christmas Eve morning flight to visit her brother in Detroit, Laurie and I decided to give Mark’s another try for breakfast.  The place was packed at 7:00 AM when it opened… It turned out that this crowd had gathered for breakfast…to fuel up…for an important mission.  They were almost all volunteers who were gearing up to hand out Christmas food baskets for those in need!

By 7:15 AM, all of these booths were full as well.  Note the local touch with dozens of caricatures of local officials, business persons and regular customers on the walls.  Mark’s is definitely a popular local diner that’s in touch with the local populace…

So…with all of this build up, the fact is that we were here to check out the basic breakfast offerings…  Laurie had her usual favorite…eggs over easy, hash browns, bacon and toast. ($6.38) It did hit the spot…breakfast satisfaction was achieved!

I had my usual…the only difference from Laurie’s breakfast was that I usually prefer sausage patties vs. bacon. ($6.38) It was all good!  The eggs were done right, the toast was pre-buttered, the hashbrowns were actually browned properly and the sausage patties had a nice flavor.

OK…Mission accomplished!  Mark’s Downtown Diner served up a nice breakfast, one of the better ones that we’ve experienced in East Tennessee.   Service was prompt and only one waitress in the restaurant seemed a bit grumpy this early in the morning.

Mark’s Downtown Diner has some inconsistent winter hours.  The restauarnt is open from 7 AM to 3 PM Monday and Tuesday; from 7 AM to 7 PM Wednesday and Thursday; 7 AM to 8 PM on Friday; 7 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, and; 9 AM to 2 PM on Sundays.  Mark’s doesn’t serve breakfast after 11 AM.  There is a full menu of sandwich items after 11 AM as well as nightly specials Monday through Friday evenings.

Mark’s Downtown Diner is located at 502 Grove Street, (right off of US Highway 11), in Loudon Tennessee.  Phone: 865-458-2231.  Mark’s can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marks-Downtown-Diner/128749287154281.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

The Fenimore Art Museum - Cooperstown

Continuing with our visit to Cooperstown New York and our late summer/early fall 2011 road trip…

Cooperstown was a great destination for us… There was much to see and enjoy in a small area in a modest size town.  In other words, we had small town charm, minimal crowds and hassle, plus top notch attractions!

This particular museum should be on everyone’s list as it was top notch in every respect…

This is the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown.  The museum is housed in this impressive neo-Georgian home that was built in the 1930’s.  The facilities of the Fenimore Museum have been expanded twice, once in 1968 and then again in 1995.  The museum is operated by the New York State Historical Association.

The Fenimore is focused on American Indian Art, American Folk Art, Fine Art and Photography.  We were especially blown away by The Thaw Collection’s Art of the American Indian.

This is a Glengarry Cap, made by a Mohawk Indian artist ca. 1970.  The Indians modeled this cap after the ones used by the Scottish Glengarry Regiment that had been based in Canada following the French & Indian War.  In the late 1800’s, native women beaded hats such as this one for sale to visitors and tourists.

I don’t have any detail regarding these display items… My point is that each and every display was well labeled and well thought out, never crowded with so many items that the viewer was overwhelmed, but instead could focus on the individual works of art being exhibited.

This 1904 Quiver Case, Bow & Arrows were made by Geronimo, the great Apache war leader who ran the US Army ragged for years.  While in captivity, Geronimo began making these items for sale.  This set was purchased from him at the 1904 World’s Fair.  He died in 1909.

This Hide with Pigment, ca. 1880, was made by Lakota or Teton Sioux artists in either North or South Dakota.  One can envision the battle shown on the hide!  The artists had excerpted episodes in which the Lakota were victorious over their adversaries, the Crow.  The prime goal of these types of paintings was to serve as a record of the warrior’s achievements or claims of prestige.

This Teton/Lakota Sioux Jacket, ca. 1890 – 1910, was made from hide, cloth, glass beads, weasel fur and pigment.  The jacket was inspired by American-style coats and is often referred to as a Scot jacket.  The warriors on horseback are still colorful and eye-catching after these many years…

We own a few nice Indian baskets…and we enjoy them…but they sure didn’t break the bank when we bought them!  This however, is a truly fabulous basket!  It’s called ‘Beacon Lights’ and it was woven by a Washoe Indian artist from Nevada, Louisa Keyser, (also known as Dat So La Lee), in 1904 and 1905.  This very large, well balanced and spectacular basket was made from willow, western redbud and bracken fern.  Over 80,000 stitches were needed to finish this masterwork…

Switching now from Indian Art to American Fine and Folk Art… This painting is entitled “Hudson River Looking Toward the Catskills”.  It was painted by Asher Brown Durand, one of the leaders of the Hudson River School.

My mother painted several paintings that the family still treasures, which were based on the style of this artist.  This is “Sugaring Off”, painted in 1945 by Anna Mary Robertson, better known as “Grandma Moses”.  Anna Robertson lived from 1860 – 1961.  She was a self-taught artist who became one of the most celebrated Americans of the 20^th Century.

Pictured above is a painted wooden Cigar Store Figure entitled “Indian Maiden” which was carved ca. 1870.  The artist was Thomas V. “Daddy” Brooks.  This figure was used in a Tobacco Store in Utica New York for over 50 years.

This oil on canvas painted by James Bard has the rather long title of “Steamer Niagara Passing Fort Washington Point – 1945”.  The location shown is now the eastern end of the George Washington Bridge in New York City.  The steamer Niagara served as a ‘day boat’ for the New York, Albany & Troy Line until 1847.

We own one of these too…Unfortunately, it’s falling apart as it wasn’t properly cared for during the years before it was passed on to us.  The treasure shown above is an 1885 ‘Crazy Quilt’.  It is made out of silk, satin and velvet and the artist was Ann Eliza Gardner Moore.  The problem with these quilts is that the silk becomes very fragile over time and tends to break down if not carefully stored and tended to…

What I’ve shared is just a fraction of the terrific items on display at The Fenimore Museum.  Laurie and I would recommend this experience to even the most jaded museum junkie.  The Fenimore Museum is located at 5798 NY State Hwy. 80 (Lake Road) in Cooperstown.  Phone: 607-547-1400.   Website: www.fenimoreartmuseum.org.  

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Casual Dining – Cooperstown NY

Still in Cooperstown…continuing with our late summer/early fall road trip to upper New York State and Pennsylvania…

Another day and this time we’re ready for a casual dinner.  Our destination was right across the street from Nicoletta’s Italian Café, our dining experience from the previous evening.

This is the Doubleday Café located in the heart of downtown Cooperstown… This café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week. 

As anyone will note, the interior is very casual and as we were there a little after the prime tourist season, most of the clientele appeared to be locals.

I had a bowl of clam chowder to start ($3.75). It was pretty good with lots of clam bits… If you are wondering about the reddish tint, it’s all about my daily ration of Tabasco!

The Doubleday Café has a decent breakfast menu too.  It includes a homemade muffin, oatmeal, a breakfast sandwich, eggs Benedict or Florentine, huevos rancheros, French toast, waffles, omelet’s and a gaggle of breakfast combinations.  The most expensive item on the breakfast menu was the #5 Combination with 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, French toast, home fried potatoes and coffee for only $8.25.

Laurie chose the Quesadilla filled with seasoned ground beef, salsa and jack cheese with a side of sour cream. ($10.95) All of the Mexican entrees at the Doubleday Café are accompanied by refried beans and Spanish rice.

In addition to the selection of Mexican offerings, the café has sandwiches and wraps, salads, burgers, hot sandwiches, a quiche of the day and, for dinner there is a selection of appetizers plus dessert.  It would be a challenge to spend more than $15.00 per person unless one was to order an alcoholic beverage or two…

I followed up the chowder with a Roast Beef sandwich on rye with lettuce, tomato and mayonaise. ($7.95) I chose the apple sauce over my other side options, which included cole slaw, macaroni salad or French fries.  The sandwich was enhanced by the fact that the roast beef was roasted in-house… It had more flavor as it wasn’t just prepackaged and thrown on the sandwich…

Service was decent and pleasant.  The food was flavorful with no disappointments.  While the Doubleday Café certainly isn’t a gormet dining establishment, it is a good place to fuel up with competently prepared food at a fair price…

The Doubleday Café is located at 93 Main Street in Cooperstown.  Phone: 607-547-5468.  Trip Advisor gives this restaurant 4 out of 5 possible points based on 98 reviews.  There were a couple of reviewers who just didn’t like this restaurant but we didn’t encounter any issues at all...  Check it out at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g47529-Cooperstown_New_York.html.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

2011 Road Trip – Railroad Depots (#9) NY

Continuing with our late summer-early fall 2011 road trip to New York and Pennsylvania…

While in the Cooperstown New York area, with Laurie's help, I had a chance to add a couple more old railroad depots and some rolling stock to my photo collection.

This is the Milford New York railway depot.  It was built in 1869 and it served as the freight and passenger depot for the Cooperstown & Susquehanna Valley Railroad...the predecessor to the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad.  The 16 mile long CACV railroad was in turn purchased by the Delaware & Hudson Railroad.  This depot now serves as the center of operations for the CACV now operating as a tourist line under the auspices of the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society.

At this time, the CACV/Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society operates tourist sightseeing trains on an 8 mile stretch of track running from Milford to the south end of Cooperstown.  Plans call for the other 8 miles of the old Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley, (CACV), line to be rebuilt or reconditioned and put back into mixed tourist and freight hauling service.

The photo above is of one of the CACV’s active locomotives.   Diesel locomotive #3051 was built by Montreal Locomotive Works under license to the American Locomotive Company.  This 55+ year old S4 model 1000 H.P. switcher first served with Canadian National Railways as locomotive #8181.  Atlas Steel was the next owner where it was renumbered as #9.  CACV/LRHS purchased the locomotive in 2003, adding its second S4 to the organization’s collection of engines and rolling stock.  They currently have 5 locomotives in use or in storage. 

This is one of the passenger coaches used by the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad for its tourist trains between Milford and Cooperstown.  Number 102 is a former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway coach developed in 1930 for use as a ‘trailer’ unit for a MU/Multiple Unit commuter train.  Another coach, pulling this one, would be an electric powered unit with a pantograph connecting with the overhead electric lines.

Most of these coaches were built by the Pullman Company.  These multiple unit commuter trains operated from 1931 until 1984.  There are 97 ‘trailers’ and 59 motorized coaches still in existence around the country.

For some unknown reason, the tracks from Milford to Cooperstown stop at this old RPO coach at the south edge of town.  Why didn’t they leave the tracks in place so the trains could continue on to one of the old depots in Cooperstown?  It would have been much more in keeping with the overall Cooperstown experience!  In any case, this is now the passenger handling ‘depot’ for the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad at the north end of the line.

This Delaware & Ohio RPO (Rail Post Office) coach was built between 1928 and 1930 by American Car & Foundry.  These units used to be operated with scheduled rail passenger trains as a way to move mail quickly from one town to the next.  Railway Postal Employees would sort the mail as the trains rolled along the tracks.

At the height of their use, RPO cars were used on more than 9,000 routes and on more than 200,000 route miles of track in North America.  They operated for 113 years, with the last RPO ending its run between New York City and Washington D.C. on 6/30/77.  When the Post Office cancelled its contracts with the railroads, it spelled doom for most remaining railway passenger service.  The Santa Fe Railroad alone lost annual income totaling $35 million!

This is one of the remaining depots in Cooperstown.  It was raining and we neglected to check closely to determine what the building was being used for.  I suspect that it’s the current offices of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad and its holding company, the Delaware Otsego Corporation.  Their corporate address is 1 Depot Street in Cooperstown.  It’s a little strange since the nearest active rail line for the NYS & W operates from Utica to Binghamton, completely bypassing this area. (www.nysw.com)

According to the information posted at www.american-rails.com, there are no less than 5 old depots still standing in Cooperstown.  They were the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley depot; both the freight and passenger depots for the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, and; two depots for the Southern New York Railroad.  This is the only one that we found during our visit.

You probably noticed the old and very handsome passenger coach/observation car sitting next to the depot in the preceding photo.  This unit originally served both the Delaware & Hudson and the Erie Lackawanna Railways.  It’s now on static display sitting on a piece of track leading nowhere…

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave