North River-Newcomb railroad returning

The old National Lead Industries railroad between Tahawus and North Creek, N.Y. could be running again, if Iowa Pacific Holdings of Chicago gets possession of it. Iowa Pacific wants to buy the 28-mile railroad line that goes from North Creek to the National Lead titanium mines in Newcomb's Tahawus hamlet, local media report. The railroad was constructed during World War II to transport titanium dioxide ore from the mines. It hasn't been used since the mines closed in the 1980s. Iowa Pacific intends to operate the short line as part of the Upper Hudson River Railroad, which runs from North Creek to Canadian Pacific Railway tracks in Saratoga County. Iowa Pacific Holdings President Ed Ellis said the company wants to buy the Tahawus line if it gets the contract to operate Upper Hudson, so it can move freight trains the additional five miles to Barton Mines in North River. Upper Hudson would then be able to transport garnet from the Barton Mines to market. Warren County owns the 39-mile-long Upper Hudson line from North Creek south to Antone Mountain Road in Corinth. The Essex County Industrial Development Authority currently owns the Tahawus railroad line but is preparing to transfer it back to National Lead. Newcomb Supervisor George Canon said the reopening of the line would be good for Essex County and Barton Mines. "The ownership of the railway is with the IDA. The reason is for tax purposes. But the paperwork is all signed to transfer it," Canon said. "They (Iowa Pacific) need that five miles for Barton. That's the important part of it. That would put that back on the taxes again." Warren County had sought proposals for operating the Upper Hudson River Railroad because its contract with the present operator expires December 31. The Warren County Public Works Committee has voted to endorse the offer from Iowa Pacific Holdings. The National Lead line runs through Essex, Warren and Hamilton counties, including the towns of Newcomb and Minerva in Essex. County supervisors had hoped to make a decision on a railroad operator this month, but the final Board of Supervisor meeting of the year is scheduled for December 17 and two board leaders said no vote on the issue is expected. Iowa Pacific and Pennsylvania-based Codorus Creek Railway were the two companies that made formal presentations to county leaders in November. Don Kress, president of Codorus Creek, said he has not heard anything from county officials. He said he has recently worked out a deal for U.S. Rail Corp. to operate freight trains on the line while Kress' group runs passenger trains.