About ARPS

The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society (ARPS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and operating the historic Adirondack Railroad, a former New York Central Railroad line located in upstate New York within the Adirondack Park.

ARPS was informally organized on October 13, 1988, in the Big Moose Moose Mart by Sally and Paul Smith (owners of the Moose Mart), Nancy and Harris Dexter, Spartacus "Spot" DeLea, Mark Kavouksorian, and Doris and Bruce "Mac" MacDonald. Mac, who lived in Beaver River with Doris, would later become the railroad's dispatcher. The organization's original mission was to preserve the former Adirondack Division rail corridor so it could remain viable for future railroad operations.

ARPS played a critical role in helping the Utica & Mohawk Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society launch the Adirondack Centennial Railroad, which began operations on July 1, 1992. At the time, the Utica & Mohawk Valley Chapter held 501(c)(3) nonprofit status while ARPS did not. On August 25, 1993, ARPS officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Following the conclusion of the 1993 operating season, the Utica & Mohawk Valley Chapter chose to relinquish operational control of the railroad. Effective January 1, 1994, ARPS assumed responsibility for the railroad, and the Adirondack Centennial Railroad was renamed the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.

Since 1992, the organization has developed the railroad into one of New York State's premier heritage tourism attractions, operating on track owned by the State of New York. In 1996, New York State committed to restoring the rail line, with the goal of reestablishing service between Utica and the internationally recognized destination of Lake Placid. In 2020, the state converted the segment between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid into a recreational rail trail while simultaneously completing the restoration of the remaining 108-mile railroad between Utica and Tupper Lake, creating the longest tourist railroad in the United States.

Since its inception, ARPS has remained committed to preserving the state-owned Remsen–Lake Placid Travel Corridor. Volunteers and staff clear brush, inspect track, maintain switches, manage beaver activity, and operate the Adirondack Railroad throughout the corridor. The organization has also helped preserve the historic stations at Thendara and Tupper Lake as functioning pieces of railroad history. As part of its mission to promote a multi-use recreational corridor, ARPS partners with local businesses to provide visitors opportunities to hike, bike, paddle, and experience remote areas of the Adirondack Park that are rarely seen by the casual traveler.

The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society remains a volunteer-driven organization. Together with its professional staff, volunteers have donated approximately 300,000 hours toward preserving the historic railroad and enhancing tourism throughout the Adirondack region. Their efforts have helped the railroad grow from a four-mile excursion operating near Old Forge into a heritage railroad carrying more than 74,000 passengers annually on hundreds of trains operating from Utica, Thendara, and Tupper Lake. Since operations began, the railroad has welcomed more than 1.5 million passengers.