In late April, Middletown’s Mayor declared an interest in rebuilding the fire-damaged O&W station in light of an estimated $1.5 million to demolish the building. He was hopeful that as much as $5 million could be raised from various governmental sources to fund the rehab.
On April 29, the crew on NS GP38-2 5610 performed an unusual chore as part of the H55 assignment out of Campbell Hall that day. They ran light to Port Jervis where they retrieved former Erie E8 833 and five passenger cars that were owned by the New York & Greenwood Lake and had been stored there for over a decade. The 5610 departed town with the E8 and then the five cars trailing. The E8 and passenger cars were set off at Campbell Hall. The removal of this equipment may facilitate the establishment of a railroad museum in Port Jervis by another party. Thirteen pieces of NYGL equipment formerly stored in Passaic are now owned by Operation Toy Train. They are stored in Hawley, PA.
In mid-May, the Times Herald-Record carried an article about a possible second rail trail in Orange County.
Orange County officials have proposed an $18 million project to create a ten-mile recreational trail on the abandoned Erie Newburgh Branch right-of-way from a connection with the Heritage Trail at County-owned Camp La Guardia in Chester through Blooming Grove and Washingtonville and pass under Moodna Viaduct in the Salisbury Mills section of Cornwall.
The County will seek $14.4 million in federal funds to build the planned Schunnemunk Rail Trail. New York State and the County each would contribute $1.8 million to cover the remaining cost. Land acquisition is pegged at $1.8 million. The nonprofit Open Space Institute has an agreement to purchase it. Orange County is collaborating with the Open Space Institute on the trail project. The Orange County Land Trust is providing additional support.