Snow Train: good news, not-so-good news

Good news: According to a recent Post-Star story, Saratoga North Creek Railroad’s ridership rose an estimated 60 percent this fall compared to the fall of 2011. Last fall, nearly 12,000 people took trains while this fall the number was close to 20,000, said Steve Torrico, SNCRR’s general manager. “In the month of October our ridership basically doubled and we were thrilled by it,” he said.

North Creek summer 2012 update

The Saratoga North Creek Railway recently announced their summer operating schedule for 2012. Daily passenger service will begin this Saturday, May 26 and continue through late October. SNCR and its parent company, Iowa Pacific Holdings, expect ridership this summer could approach 24,000 passengers – double last summer’s number - due to a longer season and expanded schedule.

Gore Mountain Snow Train: 02/11/2012

A dusting of snow at the Saratoga train station Saturday morning

When the Saratoga North Creek Railroad announced that they'd be running Snow Trains from Saratoga Springs to Gore Mountain this winter, we knew we'd have to give it a try. We set our alarm clocks to get up early Saturday morning, and arrived at the Saratoga Springs train station about 15 minutes before the 7am departure.

Coach and dome car at the boarding platform

Ski Train: January 1991, Winter Park, CO

The Saratoga North Creek Railroad's Snow Trains are set to begin rolling later this month, and recent press coverage (Saratogian, Times Union, and Post-Star) about the railroad's success during its first several months of operation prompted me to dig out photos from my January 1991 trip aboard the Denver to Winter Park, Colorado ski train. The combination of spectacular scenery with fun and relaxing travel (coffee and pastries in the morning, cocktails in the afternoon), plus a great day of skiing, was fantastic. The fact that I'm something of a train buff put the experience over the top.