Wouldn’t it be fun to ride a train up from crowded and sweltering New York City to vacation in the cool, clean, quiet Catskill Mountains? You wouldn’t be alone. Millions rode from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s (before air conditioning, comfortable cars and smooth roads). Staying in the thousands of hotels, lodges, boardinghouses, and bungalow colonies, they could walk through the countryside, picnic, boat, swim, or fish — or just relax with a cool drink in the porch shade and fresh air with friends and family.
The railroad that made it all happen closed down decades ago, but you can join us in celebrating its history at our 60th-anniversary convention on September 30. This year’s theme is “The O&W in the Catskills”. The O&W (short for New York, Ontario & Western Railway) was key to developing the summer vacation business in Sullivan, Ulster, Orange, and Delaware Counties, and brought most of the vacationers up to the area. The O&W touched many people in many ways. Do you have a connection to it (or family or friends do), or are just fascinated with the whole summer vacationing trade?
Come join us.
Tickets to watch our fascinating and informative programs are $20 at the door. The programs will be given at the following times:
11:30-12:30: Jeff Otto: “Planes, Trains and … Creosote”
1:00-1:30: Maurice Gerry: “1930s Ferndale memories”
1:45-2:30: Martin Leroy: “Growing up with the O&W”
2:45-3:45: John Conway: “Doctors Say, “Go To The Mountains!” How the Railroad and the Region’s Reputation as a Healing Environment Created Tourism in the Sullivan County Catskills.”
4:00-4:15: Special surprise presentation
4:30-5:30 Mal Houck: “NYO&W Passenger Traffic to the “Vacation Hotels”……via the “Great Wooden Fleet’.”
Doors open at 11 am at the Otterkill Country Club, 100 Otter Rd, Campbell Hall, NY 10916
Use GPS, or from Route 84 between Middletown and Newburgh, take exit 28 to Route 208 through Maybrook, 2.9 miles make a right onto Otter Rd, about 1 mile more to Otterkill Country Club.
Our mail order address: Ontario & Western Railway Historical Society
P.O. Box 713
Middletown, NY 10940-0713
2023 Calendar. A look at the O&W from Oneida to Oswego. It was sent to all of our 2022 members.
It is available for $12 at our sales table, as well as by mail order.
For mail order the following shipping charges apply:
USA SHIPPING: Orders over $10, up to $50, add $7. Over $50, add $12. SHIPPING OUTSIDE USA: Actual shipping cost will be billed after shipment.
.LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE The Story of the Ontario & Western’s Bridge Across the East Branch of the Delaware by David F. Mazurek. Analysis of disasters and improvements involving O&W’s Fish’s Eddy bridge and other bridges. As our 2021 Observer, it was sent to all of our 2021 members.
It is available for $45 at our sales table, as well as by mail order.
For mail order the following shipping charges apply:
USA SHIPPING: Orders over $10, up to $50, add $7. Over $50, add $12. SHIPPING OUTSIDE USA: Actual shipping cost will be billed after shipment.
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THE WALLKILL VALLEY RAILROAD, VOLUME TWO, FOREST GLEN TO KINGSTON by Bob Earle, Doug Barberio & Pete Brill. Continuing the trip along the WV, studying a busy conductor’s notebook, and a photo album As our 2022 Observer, it will be printed and sent to all of our 2022 members around the end of February, 2023.
It is available for $40 at our sales table, as well as by mail order.
For mail order the following shipping charges apply:
USA SHIPPING: Orders over $10, up to $50, add $7. Over $50, add $12. SHIPPING OUTSIDE USA: Actual shipping cost will be billed after shipment.
Since the arrival of O&W 105 at Steamtown much progress has been made. Initially all the graffiti was removed with a lot of elbow grease. The cab interior was cleaned up and windows washed so the locomotive looked somewhat presentable. The undercarriage and trucks were painted black and over last Labor Day weekend the locomotive was displayed in the Steamtown Core Complex.
After the Railfest event the 105 was moved to the east end of the shop. There have been numerous work sessions and a lot has been accomplished. A young diesel mechanic from the local Cleveland Brothers CAT dealership has volunteered to work on the diesel engines. He inspected both and found the one is in very good condition and will be easily repaired and fired up. The second engine has an issue and needs further inspection to determine a fix.
Thanks to a local glass company both broken windows were re-glazed and we reinstalled them. Another volunteer, a lock smith is working on having keys made for the doors. He had to order blanks from overseas as none were available stateside.
We are fortunate to have long time Society member, Patrick Stapleton, working on the locomotive. Patrick is from Virginia and owns Precision Locomotive Services, LLC. He and young son have driven up in his service truck and guide us in what to do. We also have a volunteer who will be graduating from Johnson College as a diesel mechanic. He has worked alongside our other mechanics and is a huge asset to the restoration.
Most work sessions have been one day events but over the Easter Holiday weekend we had a two day session. At that time both engine hoods were removed along with both radiators. This was a tedious job as there are a lot of bolts and nuts, wires and hoses to remove first. It was determined that both auxiliary oil tanks are leaking and will need to be replaced. The Steamtown mechanic that has been assisting us feels that new tanks can be fabricated in house. We just need a volunteer or two that can handle that task. We will be looking for a source that can flush, clean and test the radiators now that they are off the engine.
We need to replace the battery box floor and material to do so has been donated.
A new reverser has been fabricated and air brake handles have been located and donated as well.
The throttle contacts have been cleaned and most of the electrical contactors have been checked and any parts missing replaced. Some brushed have been replaced but a few others need to be located and installed. We are working on a source. The cab floor needs to be replaced and while not ready to do so we are looking for a source that may donate the proper materials.
There are three big ticket items that will be need fairly soon. They are batteries; we need 8 of them, along with two 55 gallon drums of lube oil. We will also need 100 gallon of diesel fuel.
Also of note both air compressors have been checked and the lube oil replaced. The oil was donated.
Our volunteer team has been very generous donating their time and we are open to bring more volunteers on board. There is a lot of prepping and painting of parts that were removed to take the hoods off. We want then like new before reinstalling.
We can have the 105 running by the end of the year if not earlier if we have enough hands-on help and of course a sufficient flow of money for parts and supplies. Please consider making a donation(s).
PROGRESS (See photos at end of article)
Article and photos provided by NORMAN BARRETT
Since the arrival of O&W 105 at Steamtown much progress has been made. Initially all the graffiti was removed with a lot of elbow grease. The cab interior was cleaned up and windows washed so the locomotive looked somewhat presentable. The undercarriage and trucks were painted black and over last Labor Day weekend the locomotive was displayed in the Steamtown Core Complex.
After the Railfest event the 105 was moved to the east end of the shop. There have been numerous work sessions and a lot has been accomplished. A young diesel mechanic from the local Cleveland Brothers CAT dealership has volunteered to work on the diesel engines. He inspected both and found the one is in very good condition and will be easily repaired and fired up. The second engine has an issue and needs further inspection to determine a fix.
Thanks to a local glass company both broken windows were re-glazed and we reinstalled them. Another volunteer, a lock smith is working on having keys made for the doors. He had to order blanks from overseas as none were available stateside.
We are fortunate to have long time Society member, Patrick Stapleton, working on the locomotive. Patrick is from Virginia and owns Precision Locomotive Services, LLC. He and young son have driven up in his service truck and guide us in what to do. We also have a volunteer who will be graduating from Johnson College as a diesel mechanic. He has worked alongside our other mechanics and is a huge asset to the restoration.
Most work sessions have been one day events but over the Easter Holiday weekend we had a two day session. At that time both engine hoods were removed along with both radiators. This was a tedious job as there are a lot of bolts and nuts, wires and hoses to remove first. It was determined that both auxiliary oil tanks are leaking and will need to be replaced. The Steamtown mechanic that has been assisting us feels that new tanks can be fabricated in house. We just need a volunteer or two that can handle that task. We will be looking for a source that can flush, clean and test the radiators now that they are off the engine.
We need to replace the battery box floor and material to do so has been donated.
A new reverser has been fabricated and air brake handles have been located and donated as well.
The throttle contacts have been cleaned and most of the electrical contactors have been checked and any parts missing replaced. Some brushed have been replaced but a few others need to be located and installed. We are working on a source. The cab floor needs to be replaced and while not ready to do so we are looking for a source that may donate the proper materials.
There are three big ticket items that will be need fairly soon. They are batteries; we need 8 of them, along with two 55 gallon drums of lube oil. We will also need 100 gallon of diesel fuel.
Also of note both air compressors have been checked and the lube oil replaced. The oil was donated.
Our volunteer team has been very generous donating their time and we are open to bring more volunteers on board. There is a lot of prepping and painting of parts that were removed to take the hoods off. We want then like new before reinstalling.
We can have the 105 running by the end of the year if not earlier if we have enough hands-on help and of course a sufficient flow of money for parts and supplies. Please consider making a donation(s).
WHAT’S NEW – 105 UPDATE
Before and after photos of O&W 105 radiator. Returned from restoration at local radiator shop on October 25, 2019 Next to arrive are the two auxiliary oil tanks. Afterwards re-installation on the locomotive can begin.
