Eighteen Old Forge residents and business owners will take a step back in time on Monday, January 21 as they board the vintage Hickory Creek railroad car in Utica for a roundtrip adventure to the Rhinecliff-Kingston Amtrak Station.
Once aboard the car the passengers will be escorted to the lounge area, where they will enjoy train travel as it was in 1948, the year the Hickory Creek was built by the Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company.
All will relax as they are served appetizers and beverages by Pullman porters—dressed in traditional white—as they travel the famed New York Central Railroad water level route.
The manufacturing of Hickory Creek in 1948 was part of one of the largest orders by the New York Central Railroad in an effort to provide its riders with the latest up-to-date comforts and technology.
Now privately-owned, the cost to restore the car to its original appearance has exceeded $1.3 million.
Every detail of the car—from the interior paint to the carpet and chairs—has been restored to its original 1948 condition.
The only small modification was the addition of a small flat screen TV with GPS so passengers know what towns they are going through as they journey.
Arrangements for the trip were made by Don Chaudruc, road foreman of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.
Chaudruc said he has been negotiating with the owners of the car since last year to bring the car to the Adirondacks for a few months so that area folks would have an opportunity to ride the rails within the piece of New York history.
“The 18 people taking the trip will get a preview of what could be in our future. With the agreement between Iowa Pacific and the Adirondack Scenic Railroad in place, all we need is the state of New York to finish the railroad to Lake Placid,” Chaudruc said.
