Berkshire Scenic's Maiden Voyage Deemed Success For Adams
 The Berkshire Scenic Railway launched the Hoosac Valley Service last weekend. |
ADAMS, Mass. — Town officials said the maiden voyage of the Berkshire Scenic Rail through North Adams and Adams sold more than 750 tickets.
The Selectmen lauded the Hoosac Valley Service's soft opening Columbus Day weekend.
"I think they feel embraced by both communities and it has been a real pleasure to work with North Adams on this project," Director of Community Development Donna Cesan told the board on Wednesday. "It really has been a great collaboration with Berkshires Scenic Rail and the two communities. … This is a feel good story and I think this is going to just get bigger and better."
The partnership between the towns and the train museum was announced in 2013 but there were delays caused by legal and operational issues. Although the track is not yet complete, Cesan said all the materials are purchased to finish the last 7/10 of a mile to Hoosac Street.
Cesan said $4.5 million paid for all of the supplies and part of the labor and the railway must secure funds for labor to finish.
"We need to convey how great this is to the state so that they understand that this next 7/10 of a mile is just as important to realize the full vision of this and the full positive economic impact to both communities," Cesan said.
She said the state was impressed by the number of passengers and was told the number of tickets sold last weekend by far surpassed the maiden voyage of the scenic rail in Cape Cod.
Selectman Joseph Nowak said he was on the train's very first trip out of Adams and was excited to see children enjoying something from the past.
"Children are enamored with trains. They see them when they are little kids on TV and they were really excited," Nowak said. "It was nice to hear the whistles blow again because I can remember them quite a bit when I was youngster."
Cesan said the rail way is all new track and the ride feels less like a train and more like a "magic carpet."
She added this brand new line will be very attractive to industry who want to transport products by rail.
Nowak agreed.
"The rail is so important to business and other small business that come into Adams," he said. "It will allure them because we have the train in a place where transportation has always been a thorny issue."
Nowak also noted he was impressed by the educational aspect of the ride and even though some of the area the train passed was blighted, a historical lesson was given as it chugged along.
Selectman Jeffrey Snoonian said he thinks residents are coming around and he has heard from a few town meeting members who opposed the project who have had a change of heart.
"They were dead set against it, and they didn’t want to spend any money and thought the train was never going to happen," he said. "Now they are asking if we are going to extend it to the downtown."
Cesan said with the implementation of the bike trail extension to North Adams, Berkshire Scenic Railway showed interest in providing bike transportation so people could bike down and take the train back. She said it would be another little piece to make the area more welcoming.
Mazzucco said the train was the icing on the cake for a great weekend in Adams
"It was a fantastic weekend in Adams with the [Greylock] Ramble and Ramblefest," Mazzucco said. "Monday morning I walked out of my house and I heard the train whistle and I just smiled."
Tags: railway, scenic rail,
