Updated 12/28/2011

S&NC Rwy to Purchase Tahawus Line

On October 25th, the Saratoga & North Creek Railway filed for a notice of exemption with the Surface Transportation Board in regards to operating the line to Tahawus.  They said that they would be purchasing the line from NL Industries "in the very near future."    Later they mentioned that it would be purchased in late November.  The terminus would be at milepost NC29.71 in Newcomb.

Environmentalists & DEC Question Proposal
(Glens Falls Post Star, 12/23/2011)

A local environmental group has challenged the companies petition and the state Department of Environmental Conservation is now expressing concerns of its own.  They both contend that the line is part of the Forest Preserve which surrounds more than 13 miles of it.

The Transportation Board denied the railroad's petition last month, citing inconsistencies in the filings.  The railroad claimed that they had no plans for running passenger service but a letter from NL Industries points to this possibility.

The environmental group Protect the Adirondacks wants the land returned to the forest preserve and argues that the railroad's bid for common carrier status is an attempt to circumvent state regulation of the Forest Preserve.  The Federal government superseded state law in the 1940's in order to reach the badly needed titanium at Tahawus.