THE MOST SCENIC RAILROAD EAST OF THE ROCKIES

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1 THE MOST SCENIC RAILROAD EAST OF THE ROCKIES The Catskill Mountain Railroad s Esopus Scenic Train is considered one of the most beautiful scenic rail excursions in the Northeast USA. Sections of the right-of-way that are currently inaccessible are even more spectacular. Tourists flock to the region, often by the busload, to enjoy our Fall Foliage trains. Almost 90% of our Esopus Scenic Train riders come from outside Ulster County, bringing over a million dollars in proven economic impact to Ulster County.

2 MOUNT TREMPER OPERATIONS ESOPUS SCENIC TRAIN The CMRR s Esopus Scenic Train provides tourist passenger service on a shortened 5-mile roundtrip between Mt. Tremper and MP 23.3 near Boiceville, New York. Before Hurricane Irene, our riders enjoyed a 1.5-hour ride along the Esopus Creek with views of the Catskills, and a stop at the Phoenicia station, home of the Empire State Railway Museum. In 2012, Esopus Scenic Train ridership was 8,359, over 25% more than the 6,684 for 2011, but still below our pre-hurricane Irene high of 10,211 in Our 2013 ridership was 10,283, exceeding our all-time high in 2010 prior to Hurricane Irene. TWILIGHT LIMITED On a Saturday evening in July and August, the CMRR runs twilight limited trains leaving Mt. Tremper about 8pm. The train features refreshments and live music by Earl Pardini and the Slide Mountain String Band. FALL FOLIAGE TRAINS A significant percentage of our ridership is realized during our fall season. Despite our shortened ride, people come to Mt. Tremper to take a trip on our Fall Foliage Specials to view the spectacular colors of the Catskills. October ridership was 4,217 in 2012, up 50% from 2,817 from 2011, but still down from the pre-hurricane Irene total of 4,783 in October 2013 ridership was 4715, 12% over October CHRISTMAS TRAINS Our operations for the season are concluded by our annual Christmas Train ride. This has been a longstanding tradition and a joint endeavor between the CMRR and the Empire State Railway Museum to welcome the community in the spirit of the holiday season. In 2012, several trains were run on December 16 th out of Mt. Tremper, and were offered free and open to the community as a gesture of good will at Christmas time. Harsh weather in 2013 prevented the operation of the Christmas Train in Phoenicia.

3 OVERVIEW OF THE ESOPUS SCENIC TRAIN The CMRR s Esopus Scenic Train operated up until 2011 from Phoenicia to Cold Brook, New York, a total of 5.6 miles. Because of damage from Hurricane Irene, the train currently operates currently on 2.5 miles of track out of Mt. Tremper, New York. The Esopus Scenic Train s clientele is nearly 90% from outside Ulster County. West End operations are seasonal in nature, starting Memorial Day and concluding at the end of October at the end of the leaf season. Almost half the ridership occurs during the leaf season in October of each year. Ridership on the Esopus Scenic Train Ulster County NYS - (Non-Ulster) Outside of NYS International The long period without revenues (November to Mid- May) makes this operation well suited for a volunteer employee base, and difficult for paying full-time employees. Fare before Hurricane Irene was $14 per adult and $8 per child; since Hurricane Irene it has been $12 per adult and $7 per child. Once the train is restored to run from Cold Brook to Phoenicia we plan to return the fares to their former levels, which will result in a revenue boost of over 10%. The 2013 economic impact of the CMRR s operations out of Mt. Tremper is now nearly $900,000, based on 89% of its 10,248 passengers coming from outside of Ulster County and spending $64.37 per day with a 1.52 multiplier (see Economic Impact section for references and details). This impact has significant benefits to local businesses in the Town of Shandaken, adding 12 jobs to the area and nearly $32,000 in sales taxes for Ulster County. 11% 3% 29% 57% RECENT RIDERSHIP AND REVENUE (ESOPUS SCENIC TRAIN) Year Adult Fare Child Fare Passengers Revenue 2008 $14.00 $8.00 7,155 n/a 2009 $14.00 $8.00 6,767 $74, $14.00 $ ,211 $110, $14.00 $8.00 6,684 $70, $12.00 $7.00 8,463 $82, $12.00 $ ,248 $95,722.00

4 HURRICANE IRENE Prior to Hurricane Irene in August 2011, the Scenic Train ran 5.6 miles from Phoenicia to Cold Brook (Boiceville), New York. Hurricane Irene devastated the railroad, washing out track in the Phoenicia yard and several other areas. The railroad resumed operations on September 10 th, 2011, along a shortened 2-mile ride, which was extended to 2.5 miles in August 2012 by the railroad. The Boiceville Trestle, out-ofservice before Hurricane Irene, was completely washed away by the storm. Luckily, $2.3 million in FEMA funding was approved in November 2012 to make all repairs needed for the line from Phoenicia to Cold Brook, and also to replace the Boiceville Trestle, allowing the CMRR to access the views of the Ashokan Reservoir for the first time and restore track to our new planned terminal in Shokan. However, Ulster County has not yet released this funding, which is entirely paid for by Federal and State sources. Despite this, the CMRR is using its own resources to return service to Phoenicia. But restoring the line to Cold Brook will require the repair of a major washout needing the approved FEMA funding, which is being withheld for now. BOICEVILLE TRESTLE Replacement of the Boiceville Trestle, for both rail and trail use is imperative for the CMRR to reach its fullest potential on the west end. The scenic views of the Ashokan Reservoir start only 1/2 mile east of this bridge, and are the natural destination for the train. Since the emergency funding for repairing the bridge has been awarded through FEMA at no cost to Ulster County, we ask that work on this bridge start right away - even though it has been 2 and a half years since the Hurricane occurred.

5 THE FUTURE OF THE ESOPUS SCENIC TRAIN Almost half of our Scenic Train s ridership occurs in October of each year for fall foliage. In order to increase ridership to October levels in the summer months, we have planned to extend our ride to reach the stunning vistas of the Ashokan Reservoir which are just as beautiful in June as they are in October. We also have planned to move our eastern terminal for the Scenic Train to Shokan, New York, 9 miles closer than Mt. Tremper to Kingston and the Thruway, allowing the Scenic Train to run an optimal 11.5 miles between Shokan and Phoenicia. It also places us within the 15 mile radius needed to put a CMRR logo panel under the attractions sign for exit 19 of the Thruway. The closer distance will cut driving time to the railroad by ten minutes, and therefore increase the number of visitors. For many years, the Ashokan Reservoir and Shokan were unreachable because of a bridge needing repair called the Boiceville Trestle. This bridge was completely washed away by Hurricane Irene on August 28, However, FEMA approved funding to repair the bridge in November 2012, but is on hold pending release by Ulster County. If the funding is deployed and the Bridge is restored, the increased distance and view from the train will allow us to raise our fare to $20 per adult and $12 per child, which will result in an increase of revenue of over 20% not counting additional patronage. PROJECTED RIDERSHIP AND REVENUE (ESOPUS SCENIC TRAIN) With a plan to return to Phoenicia in 2014, to Cold Brook in 2015, across the Boiceville Trestle to milepost 19 in 2016, and Shokan in 2017, we predict the following ridership and revenue: Year Terminal Adult Fare Child Fare Passengers Revenue Economic Impact 2013 Mount Tremper $12.00 $ ,248 $95, $900k 2014 Mount Tremper - Phoenicia $14.00 $ ,273 $126, $1.0 million 2015 Cold Brook - Phoenicia $14.00 $ ,400 $139, $1.1 million 2016 Ashokan Reservoir - Phoenicia $16.00 $ ,880 $193, $1.3 million 2017 Ashokan Reservoir - Phoenicia $16.00 $ ,856 $232, $1.6 million 2018 Shokan - Phoenicia $20.00 $ ,427 $346, $1.9 million This assumes a modest growth of 10% in passengers when we reach Phoenicia again and another 10% when we return to Cold Brook. 20% growth is shown after we reach the reservoir and Shokan. However, with the Ashokan reservoir as a destination filling our trains in June to September, the ridership numbers could be much more extensive. These projections assume a lease renewal by Ulster County past SUMMARY Our Scenic Train currently operates on 2.5 miles of track out of Mt. Tremper, New York. Hurricane Irene severely damaged the line in 2011, reducing the ride from 5.6 to 2.5 miles. FEMA funding for repair of the line was awarded in November, 2012, but has been held back by Ulster County. If the FEMA funds allotted to the rebuild of the Boiceville Trestle are ever released by Ulster County, the CMRR will attain its long-term goal of extending the Scenic Train to the Ashokan Reservoir and Shokan. This will allow the CMRR to reach its fullest potential as a summer/fall seasonal tourist train operation by increasing ridership from 10,248 to 21,400 or more. This will more than double its economic impact on Ulster County from almost $900,000, generating 12 jobs and nearly $32,000 in sales taxes to $1.9 million with 26 jobs and over $67,000 in Ulster County Sales Taxes. Revised 4/7/2014

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12 MP MP ' x 24' Footprint 100 Existing Ditch Location 19.5' x 15.5' Tracks on 16' centers. Parking Spaces 12' x 19' Revised No By Date Signature Catskill Mountain Railroad General Site Plan

13 Shokan Terminal Ashokan, NY Not to Scale Mar 2011 Dwg GP-L-1 Sheet 3 of 4 N