
Welcome To the Roscoe
Ontario & Western Railway Museum!
7 Railroad Avenue, Roscoe, NY
The Museum is now closed for the Winter but if you would like to make an
appointment
to visit please contact Wilmer Sipple at
wilsip@frontiernet.net - 607-
498 - 4346

Caboose, shanty, semaphore and other items
on the grounds of the museum.
The
Roscoe O&W Railway Museum was established under the charter of the
Ontario & Western Railway Historical Society in 1984
and was first housed in a former Erie Railroad caboose. The first O&W
Railway festival was held in August of that year and has become an annual
event. In 1986 the museum board members approved
the purchase of the Wood garage for the purpose of expansion.
A new corporation, the Roscoe NYO&W Railway Association was formed
to purchase, operate, and maintain the museum.
During renovation of the building, siding,
slate and wood shingles from the abandoned
O&W Summitville Station were used to create an O&W facade. Additional
siding and wainscoating line the entrance way to the ticket window
and station master's office, which has an operating telegraph.
In 1998 the Board Members of the
O&W Railway Historical Society requested that
the museum board apply for its own museum Charter. The Society
assisted in the application process and will continue to support us
and work together. In 2000, the University of the State of
New York sent a new charter for the Roscoe O&W Railway Museum. All
assets of the Association were transferred to the
museum and the Society also transferred ownership of the Erie caboose.
The museum complex consists of the O&W
refurbished caboose on the site of the Roscoe
Station, the original trout weather vane and train signal, the Cooks
Falls and Roscoe watchman's shanties, The Beaverkill Trout Car and the
O&W station motif building. The museum now contains
O&W artifacts and memorabilia, other
railroadiana, and local history displays showing the impact
of the O&W on community life, hunting, fishing, farming, tourism and
local industries.

Photo manipulation by Bill Schneider
Trout Car Museum For Trout Town, USA
Update: 01/06/08
Final Review of Beaverkill Trout Car
Project
In 1984, the Roscoe O&W Railway Museum and Information Center was
established in an Erie caboose. Realizing the need for space to expand, I
became interested in a Trout Car Museum while assisting Joe Bux on the
Society's Acid Factory Book. He found references to trout cars used to stock
our streams and thought this would be a great addition for Roscoe-Trout Town
USA. I mentioned the idea to Kim Sprague, long time resident thought it a
great idea, He recalled the day the trout car arrived in Roscoe. His father
sent him to fetch a pail to get a few trout for their farm pond. Tom Quick
Senior, also a long time resident remembered seeing the the car parked in
front of the Roscoe Station.
In 1986, we sent in a grant
application for the trout car project which was rejected when our grant
request exceeded the funds that were available. Then in 1993, I learned that
the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, had a Stillwell coach
which they would donate to the O&W Society for our trout car museum. We
traveled to Little Ferry to examine the car and were disappointed with the
poor condition of the car. While there we saw a Lackawanna coach in good
condition.. I asked New Jersey Society President if they would sell the car
and he was able to get board approval to sell us the car for $5,000. He also
recommended Dick Hands of Associated Shippers Service to do the work. We
contacted Dick and he agreed to move it to Roscoe for $5500. However, this
bid was for the Stillwell car which was 2 feet lower and could be moved over
the Interstate Highway System. The Lackawanna coach would have to avoid
highway bridges and use secondary roads which would be much more costly and
difficult. Dick did not realize the change in cars until he started
preparing the coach for the move to Roscoe. At that time he said it would
cost more than $5500 but he never quoted a new price.
The Museum Board met with Town
Supervisor, Elton Harris to plan the project and select a site behind the
museum building. Soon after, I applied for and received an O'Connor
Foundation matching Grant for $8,000. A fund drive was very successful and
we were soon able to purchase the coach and receive title on January 10,
1994. The car was stored with other railroad equipment on the abandoned coal
car tracks at the PSE&G Power Station, in Little Ferry. Construction work
at the plant disrupted the access roads and Dick Hands of Associated
Shippers Service was unable to move the car for several years.
Things were not going well in
Roscoe either. Elton Harris presented the site behind the building to the
board for approval, but the Superintendent of Water & Sewer objected because
of the sewer line in that area and the Highway Department Superintendent
objected because it was a snow removal area, so the Town Board rejected the
site. Now the search was on for a new site.
Then in 1995, the Sullivan County
plan to lease a three acre lot in front of Kohler's for 1$ a yr was rejected
by the Town Planning board after a public hearing. The officers of the
Roscoe Fire Department wanted to keep the site for copter landings and the
the area people wanted to keep it ?forever wild.? This was an ideal site
for Roscoe because the Trout car could be located near the river and there
was also room for a bandstand for community concerts. At this time, long
time RR Buff, Bob Grossman joined the search for a new site. As President of
the Roscoe-Rockland chamber of Commerce he was able to get approval for a
donation of $2500 for the Trout Car when it arrived. I was very pleased
with Chambers support but the cars arrival was delayed for so many years
that the board finally voted to revoke the donation.
The search for a site continued
and in 1996 Joe Roseo agreed to lease an area near his restaurant. Joseph
Horak, with the Town Board and Planning Board completed the rental
agreement. Work soon started with the help of volunteers; the Dunn's
provided the under lay to hold the river gravel, Harold Klinger spread and
graded the road bed and Olin Nead used his lowbed to pickup and deliver the
39 ft O&W rails. Bob Grossman joined me on a trip to the railroad storage
area at the PSE&G Power Station where our car was stored to get a load of
tie plates and spikes for the new track. Once the ties were delivered, the
work crew from the Sullivan Correctional Facility completed laying track.
After several years the car was
finally moved from Little Ferry to the movers plant in Greenwood Lake. The
Trucks were delivered to the Rockland House site and it was thought the car
would soon arrive but now highway bridge construction in the Wurtsboro area
delayed it for 4 years In the meantime the Roseo's decided they no longer
wanted the car, so we were asked to remove the track and roadbed. We were
able to get the prison work crews to dismantle the track. With a new
supervisor and board members we again asked approval for the site behind the
museum. When Dick came to check the route and site, he told us that the car
was too long for there. He recommended placing the car behind the caboose
and much to our surprise there was adequate space.
Fortunately, the Town Board and
Planning Board approved the site behind the caboose and drains were
installed with new gravel added. Then Ed DeRosia moved the ties and rail to
the caboose and cleaned up the old site. Many of the ties could not be used
so Tom Quick Jr. donated 40 hemlock ties valued at $600. which were stained
by volunteers . Once again the prison work crew laid the track to complete
the site for the trout car.
Last year, when it seemed the car
would soon arrive, our Town Supervisor , Pat Pomeroy suggested painting the
exterior of the car before being delivered. Installing the track at Roscoe
had cost us a great deal and we did not have money to hire professionals to
paint the car. However, Greg Goldstein and Alan Sorensen got us a $10,000
grant for refurbishing the car. The exterior was painted at Dick's plant in
June at a cost of over $6000. and the balance went for the interior fish
tank displays.
Our Mover, Dick Hands, President
of Associated Shippers Service has surveyed the route and the way is now
clear to move the car to Roscoe. I knew moving the Lackawanna coach would be
more expensive so he suggested meeting at the Roscoe Diner with the board
members to go over the revised costs. He is now requesting $10,000 to bring
the car in so I applied to the O'Connor Foundation for additional grant
money. After reviewing the history of the project, the Board approved an
outright grant of $8,000 to deliver the car. I still had $2000 in the
account and Dick requested this amount to start the moving process. When the
O'Connor check arrived, I sent Dick a cashiers check for the $8,000 balance
due. Dick Hands decided to retire and sold his moving equipment. He
recommended Dan Barclay who agrees to move the car soon and has quoted us a
fair price of $15,000. I am also asking for a one time donation to cover
this cost. Dan plans to move the car to Roscoe in January.
Once the interior is decorated with
the displays and trout tanks, the Beaverkill Trout car will be a great
attraction for Roscoe "Trout Town USA".
Since the June 28th. Flood with 3 feet of muddy water
damaging the building, the Trout Car is now essential to move show cases
from the building to the car.
Respectfully submitted, Wilmer E. Sipple, Museum Director
THE MUSEUM IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT TAX
EXEMPT SOCIETY SERVING THE AREA
From the beginning, the Town of Rockland was a savage paradise difficult to
penetrate except by Indian trails. The most important was the "Sun Trail"
that ran from the Hudson River to East Branch on the Delaware. At the close of the Revolutionary War, scouts and land speculators from Massachusetts
and Connecticut followed this trail to the²Beaverkill area² and reported 10,000 acres of rich , level land covered with pine , hemlock and laurel.
Because of the troublesome Indians and narrow trails, only trappers attempted to pioneer the area. However, the news of rich lands to the west
soon prompted the Jehiel Stewart Family to leave Connecticut by ox sled loaded with household goods in 1789. After leaving the Hudson they followed
the narrow and difficult Sun Trail along the Lackawaxen, up the hills of the
Neversink, across the Town Liberty and the Beaverkill trail to the Big Beaverkill Flats, becoming the first settlers in Westfield Flats now known
as Roscoe. He purchased Lot 24 from John Livingston and built the first log cabin in the area. His farm extended from Stewart Avenue to School Street.
By 1800, most of the land in Westfield Flats was sold to friends and
relatives of the Stewarts. The villages of Livingston Manor and Roscoe in Western Sullivan were
isolated and slow to develop because of very poor roads. The people living in the area between the New York Central and Erie Railroads were incensed
that their towns were bypassed. Thus the time was ripe for Dewitt Littlejohn , dynamic speaker of the New York State Senate, to engineer the formation of a new railroad, The New York and Oswego Midland from Weehawken to Oswego.
On July 9th, 1873 , the final spike was driven at Whirling Eddy, Near Horton
on the Beaverkill. It was one of the finest fishing spots in the Western Hemisphere, but there was nothing to provide freight for the new railroad.
The nearest town was Westfield flats, which finally became Roscoe, one of the great hunting and fishing centers of New York State, but it was only a
sleepy farm village of only 28 houses. The next station was Livingston Manor with only 12 houses, but would soon become one of the great chain of
Catskill resort areas. The real gem of the Catskills was the 400 miles of trout streams and the O&W crossed the
Rondout, which John Burroughs said was one of the finest of all the trout streams, and then along the headwaters of
the Neversink, across Willowemoc Creek and ran along the Beaverkill, perhaps the most famous trout stream in the U.S. Prior to coming of the
railroad, Sir Isaac Walton, a famous early English fisherman, wrote about his fond memories of fishing along the
Beaverkill. John Burroughs published such essays as: The Heart of the Southern Catskills
which were marvelous descriptive writings, highlighting the country's rocky wonders and its
colds and turbulent rivers. In the words of Theodore Gordon, Father of American dry-fly fishing,
"it would be hard to find anywhere a more beautful
river." He made the land along the O&W known to discrimminating anglers all
over the world. Gordon settled in Neversink and spent 20 years as a contributor to the English
"Fishing Gazette." The charm of Gordonıs prose and
the description of the sport made the Beaverkill and itı s kindred streams
unforgetable.
The stocking of our Catskill Mountain streams by railroad is a part of our
heritage that is long forgotten. The New York & Oswego Midland Railroad began an aggressive campaign to open up the wilderness of Sullivan and
Delaware Counties. In 1878, the Midland began stocking the 400 miles of streams in the area with 1.5 million trout. In the beginning, baggage cars and box cars were used to haul the iced, trout filled milk cans to easily
accessible river crossings on the railroad. Once at the river site the cans were carried by the men to the stream and dumped. For sites more distant
from the railroad, the cans were loaded on horse back for the journey to the stream. There were often times when the train would stop on a bridge to dump
the trout directly into the river below. The railroad could also foresee a lucrative passenger business and ordered the Middletown shops to outfit
passenger cars as "Fishing and Hunters specials." Even after the bankruptcy and re-organization as the New York Ontario &
Western Railway, Superintendent Childs, continued the Midland policy of
stocking the streams as follows:
1880 - 85,000 trout 1881 - 96,000 trout 1882 - 120,000 trout
1883 - 155,000 trout 1884 - 310,000trout 1885 - 460,000 trout
1886 - 800,000 trout
Many of the trout came from the Long Island hatchery and the Bath Hatchery upstate. Then in 1891, The New York State Legislature approved the
establishment of a fish hatchery in the Catskills at DeBruce. The same year the New York Fishery Commission authorized the Gilbert Car
Company to build a special wooden fish car named the
"Adirondack" which was in service until 1927. New York City finally banned the use of wooden railroad cars in the
tunnels, so the Conservation Department of New York State ordered steel fish cars. The last fish car complete with aerated and temperature controlled
fish tanks was ordered from the American Car and Foundry Company in 1927. The Roscoe O&W Railway Museum has the blueprint and specifications which it
intends to use to remodel its early Lackawanna passenger coach No. 3451 The O&W also came out with the famous
"Summer Homes" visitors guide.which
was free for the asking. The 1881 edition; Summer Homes on the New York,
Ontario & Western Railway became a most popular listing for all
accommodations in the area until 1937.
For anyone wishing to build summer homes and hotels , the Railroad would
haul the lumber free of charge. The coming of the railroad would play a major part in the rapid development of the Catskills at the turn of the
Cenury.
Our interest in the trout car began while assisting Joe Bux in locating
material for the O&W Society ³Acid Factory book² He found references to trout cars being used to stock our streams and thought that a trout car
would be a great addition for Roscoe - Trout Town USA. I also mentioned the idea to Kim Sprague, a long time resident, and he not only thought it a
great idea but also recalled the day the trout car arrived in Roscoe. His father sent him to fetch a pail so he could get a few trout for their pond.
Tom Quick senior , also a long time resident, remembered seeing the trout car parked at the Roscoe Station. Trout Town USA used to have a fishing museum in the Theater building that
was visited by former president , Jimmy Carter. It was soon moved to its present site at the Van Achen farm on the Willowemoc Creek. The new
Beaverkill Trout Car Museum will now be located near the famous Beaverkill in Rockland. The interior of the car will be divided into several areas for
fishing artifacts, wall displays of our famous local fly tiers, and an area with fish tanks filled will several varieties of live trout.
The Beaverkill Trout Car has been moved from the storage track in Little
Ferry , New Jersey and is now stored at our mover's plant in Greenwood Lake. We were planning to prepare the site at the Rockland House in May for the
carsı arrival as soon as the NYS Highway Department approved the route to Roscoe. While I was away on vacation in April, Joseph
Roseo, owner of the Rockland House, informed us that after 5 years, the window of opportunity had passed
and he was no longer interested in the trout car. The site had become an eye sore for his business so he asked us to remove the trucks and track
promptly.
Upon my return I tried to get him to change his mind, but his
decision was final. I immediately reported the matter to our Town Supervisor, Patricia
Pomeroy and we began examining the original site behind the museum building. After consulting our mover, it was learned that the 86 foot car would not
fit so he recommended putting it behind the caboose. David Tucker, our building engineer drew up the new plans which were approved by the Town
Board and Planning board. Preparation of the site has begun but since the new road bed must settle, track laying will begin in the Spring of 2002
with arrival of the car at a latter date.
Wilmer E. Sipple, Musuem Director
Museum Director
MUSEUM GETS RARE
O&W CABOOSE TRUCKS
by Wilmer E. Sipple,
Museum Director
When the
O&W ceased operations in 1957, the "Old Woman's"
rolling stock was in as poor shape as the physical plant, after
years of deferred maintenance with the exception of the newly
acquired diesel locomotives. The rolling stock was too run down
or antiquated for interchange and were worth little more than
scrap value.
Most of the O&W's cabooses
of the 8300 series fell into this category. All of the 8300 cabooses
were built by the O&W at their Middletown car shops. The
first group, 8300-8340 were built in 1916 and 1917. Between 1924
and 1935 another 19 were built, 8341-8359 and in 1936 the last
one, number 8360 rolled out of Car Shop 2. This was not only
the last caboose but also the last from the car shop because
it burned shortly after. The 16th. and the last of this class
also has the distinction of being the only one built new on tender
underframes cut and spliced together. As more of these frames
became available when older steam power was scrapped, more of
the 8300 class cabooses were fitted with stronger foundations.
By the time the end came for the
O&W, some of the cabooses had been sold to "short lines"to
replace their own aging equipment. The 8323 was sold to the Unity
Railways Company , a short line east of Pittsburgh. In general,
these cabooses passed into oblivion with the end of the lines.
The 8323 is an exception since it is now located in the Alden
Trolley Museum at Washington, Pa. Just prior to the demise of
the railroad, five cabooses were sold to the Long Island Railroad
which was always short of equipment.
However, after the demise in 1957,
the rest of the O&W hacks or crommies, ended up on a spur
at the old Army base at Orangeburg, New York, where vandals and
the elements took their toll. As late as July 1969, seventeen
cabooses were still sitting there waiting for a call that never
came. With the possible exception of caboose , 8340, believed
to have been sold, all were finally burned for scrap.
The five surviving cabooses sold
to the Long Island RR were painted in orange and gray which added
to the odd assortment of motive power and non-revenue cars that
gave the Long Island's freight traffic, its distinctive flavor.
Their use on the LIRR only lasted 5 years until replaced by newer
equipment. The 8301, renumbered LIRR 73, was sold to the Empire
State Railway Museum at Middletown, N.Y. in June 1963 and ran
on the tracks of the Middletown & Unionville. In 1966 the
Museum moved its equipment and operations to the Valley Railroad
Company at Essex, Connecticut where the 8301 was restored to
its original appearence. The 8304, renumbered LIRR 70 and then
75in 1962, was sold to the Walkill Valley Railroad at New Paltz,
N.Y. It was there until it was sold again to Mr. J. Maher of
Mapleton, Iowa It was trucked to its new home where it was re-sided
and retored. The 8306, renumbered LIRR 72 was burned and scrapped
at Long Island City in April of 1963. The 8308, renumbered LIRR
71, was burned in a fire in 1962, and was finally scrapped at
Holban Yard, Hollis, Queens, in June of 1963.
From its beginning, the 8360 has
had the most interesting career of all. Renumbered LIRR 74 ,
it was burned in the same fire as the 8308, in August of 1962
A new steel bay-windowed body was built on the original frame
and trucks still bearing the casting mark "5-39 NYO&WRR"
at the Morris Park shops. Repainted in orange and blue and renumbered
LIRR C-80, then repainted in the yellow and blue of the Metropolitan
Transit Authority and continued to ply the rails of the LIRR
until 1980 Shortly after, the caboose was offered to the O&W
RHS but the Society declined the offer because they were already
involved in many projects and it also required finding a site.
In 1993 the MTA decided to scrap the caboose body and the O&W
trucks were offered at no charge to the Phillipsburg RR Historians.
They gladly accepted them and planned to mount them on a freight
car body. Later, it was discovered that the journal brass was
missing and they were no longer serviceable.
Then in 1998 the O&W Society
learned by e-mail that they would offer them to the O&W for
the scrap value since they were only good for display.purposes.
Allan Seebach, Board Chairman contacted Bill Terp, president
of the Phillipsburg Society and offered to buy them. When I learned
that Allan Seebach was trying to purchase the trucks , I assurred
him that we would be very happy to display them at the museum.
Later when the deal was closed he asked me to make arrangements
to move them to Roscoe. Fortunately, Phil Francis, an O&W
member had volunteered to deliver the Trout Car Trucks to Roscoe,
so he was glad to move the O&W trucks. The trucks were loaded
at Phillipsburg and arrived after dark . The next morning we
planned to unload them in front of the museum building but the
wrecker I arranged for had too short a boom. Bill Gayron was
there with his cellular phone and called Sam's in Liberty. Once
he arrived they were quickly unloaded and stored on ties next
to the Roscoe Shanty. This proved to be a big mistake because
the Town Board soon sent a letter requesting us to remove them.
Each truck weighs 3 and 1/2 tons but several men could have rolled
them across the street if they had been placed properly. With
the assistance of a work crew from the Sullivan Correctional
Facility work was started laying the track to display them in
front of the museum. Once finished, Tiny's tilt truck was able
to haul them up and lower them on the track so they can be easily
viewed by all. Plans call for painting them and dressing up the
display area for the 1999 tourist season. The only improvement
for O&W buffs would be an exact replica of an 8300 O&W
caboose body mounted on the trucks!
This article was compiled of
information from the O&W Technical and Historical Society
Magazine
O&W Self-Guided
Tours:
The O&W Sites
near Roscoe
Trip 1 Itinerary
Milepost:
0.0 Your trip
begins at the museum with the site of the O&W Tracks buried
under the highway behind the caboose. As you leave the museum
on Railroad Avenue, turn left on Stewart Avenue, pass under the
highway and make a sharp left turn to enter Route 17, the quickway,
traveling east.
2.9 Exit at
the rest stop to view the historical markers. On the right side
of the comfort station walk toward the rear of the dog walk area
to view the original O&W bridge abutment. Enter the quickway
and continue to Livingston Manor and take exit 96.
5.9 Turn right
at stop sign and continue to next stop sign.
6.1 Turn left
on old 17, county road 178 and cross the Willowemoc River bridge.
6.3 Turn right
on Main Street, county road 149 and continue through stop light.
6.7 Park at
the Telephone building on the right. The Livingston Manor O&W
freight station is located in the rear
on private property. The footings for the
water tank are located near the left side of the station. Continue
on Main Street to Church Street and turn left.
6.8 Park on
the left side in front of Shaver's warehouse. This is the original
Livingston Manor Midland station which was moved when the new
O&W station was built. Return to Main Street and turn right.
6.9 Turn left
on Riverside Drive: The O&W tracks were on the right.
7.1 At the bridge
observe O&W abutments supporting town bridge on the right
of way. Cross brook, pass houses built on the right of way, and
stop at the intersection.
7.6 Turn right
at intersection and stop at bridge over O&W right of way.
This was the site of the 1939 coal train wreck which demolished
the bridge. The creosote plant was located further to the left.
Train No.10 struck a rock slide and before the train could be
stopped it struck the switch for the creosote plant on Mott's
flat and plunged down the embankment. Continue on the road, pass
under the highway, cross the Livingston Manor Covered Bridge
built by John Davidson in 1860 and stop at the intersection of
old Route 17.
8.4 Turn left
on old route 17, county road 178 and continue to the Fly Fishing
Center.
9.3 Drive across
the bridge and park on the O&W right of way in front of the
center. This is the infamous White House Curve; the location
of the disastrous derailment which claimed the lives of engineman,
Rube Vandermark, and fireman, Les Dougherty in 1906. Siding from
the wrecked cars was used on the barn and other out buildings.
Return to highway.
9.5 Turn left
on old Route 17 and stop at the intersection at the top of Hazel
Hill. Observe the tall chimmey of the abandoned Hazel Chemical
Plant.
11.7 Turn left
on Hazel road, pass under the highway, and cross the Willowemoc
River bridge.
11.9 Park at
the Angler's Parking Area. The plant was operated by the Thomas
Kerry Chemical Company until the end of
World War II. (See Society book on the Wood Chemical Industry
for details) Railroad abutments on river mark route of the O&W.
Return to old Route 17.
12.2 Turn left
on old 17 and stop at the abandoned white gas station on the
left near the river.
12.8 Park on
the left side of the gas station. Several bridge abutments can
be seen on the river meander. Continue toward Roscoe.
13.0 Stop at
the retaining walls on the right to observe the abutments and
bridge support in the Willowemoc River. Continue to the stop
light.
14.5 Turn left
on Stewart Avenue, left on Railroad Avenue and park at the museum.
O&W Self-Guided Tours:
The O&W Sites
near Roscoe
Trip 2 Itinerary
Milepost:
0.0 Your trip
begins at the museum with the caboose occupying the site of the
Roscoe Station. As you leave the museum on Railroad Avenue, turn
left on Stewart Avenue and pass under Route 17, the quickway.
0.1 At the Willowemoc
River bridge turn left on Cottage Street and park at the wooded
area near the no trespass sign. Hidden in the woods on private
property are three 3,000 series O&W box cars. Return to the
bridge and cross it.
0.6 At stop
sign turn right on county road 92 and follow river to the Y intersection.
0.9 Bearing
to the left takes you past the old Louis Sipple dam and cooperage
mill on the left. Behind the mill is the old Fremont road leading
to the former site of the covered bridge called Sipple's Crossing.
Drive to the Riverview Cemetery summer house for a spectacular
view of Junction Pool and the O&W right of way now occupied
by the highway. Return to county road 92 and continue to the
intersection with the Tennanah Lake Estates sign.
4.8 Continue
straight ahead on county road 93 to the entrance of the Tennanah
Golf & Tennis Club.
5.7 Enter and
bear to the right to arrive at the golf course pro shop. Park
here and observe the two O&W water tanks on the hill. Both
tanks were purchased from the railroad after dieselization. One
came from Cook's Falls and the other came from Ferndale. Both
were used for the fire system but only one is now in use. Observe
the O&W logo on the turnbuckles of the straps holding the
tank together. Return to the museum by the same route.
O&W Self-Guided Tours:
The O&W Sites
near Roscoe
Trip 3 Itinerary
Milepost:
0.0 Your trip
begins at the museum. The station motif has been created with
materials removed from the abandoned O&W Summitville Station;
slate shingles for the canopy and siding for the front. As you
leave the museum on Railroad Avenue, turn right on Stewart Avenue
and continue to the stop light.
0.1 Turn left
on Main Street and at the blinker\ light turn left on county
road 179A. Cross the Beaverkill River bridge and park. On the
left is the famous Junction pool and the site of O&W bridge
152. Continue on 179A and after passing under the highway notice
the O&W right of way across the river.
3.9 Stop at
the Red Rose Restaurant. Bridge 153 is visible from the river
side.
4.4 Continue
to the sharp curve ahead and look for a left turn off to the
O&W right of way leading up to the bridge.
The bridge is privately owned and located
on private property.
4.5 Return to
the highway and follow the river into Cook's Falls. As you pass
under the highway observe the O&W right of way across the
river.
6.0 Stop at
the parking area on the left before the bridge. Across the river
is the remaining O&W plate deck bridge.
6.1 Cross the
bridge and park next to the cliff. On the left behind the fence
are the foundations for the creamery and ice house; further on
is the plate deck bridge, all on private property. On the cliff
is a modern home built on the water tank foundation. To the right
is the privately owned O&W Cook's Falls station. Further
on is an O&W section house. The O&W Watchman's Shanty
is now located next to the Order Board Signal at the museum.
Return to the museum by the same road.
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