LENOX - If you think you have a hard time packing for vacation, imagine getting a herd of bison together and coaxing them down to Grand Central Station to load on a wooden train for the Berkshires. In the era of the "gilded age" rich, this was not unusual. William C. Whitney, in fact, regularly brought his cattle along to his October Mountain cottage.
The cottage is gone, but great views of the mountain - and a bit of history - can still be glimpsed from the Berkshire Scenic Railway, which has its station just off Route 7 at Housatonic Street and Willow Creek Road in Lenox.
"The Berkshires is full of history, yet there is no one place to learn about it when someone gets here," says William C. Sexton, a long-time volunteer with the all-volunteer railway and museum. By next June, a converted railroad car will try to fill that gap, according to Sexton, as the railway opens its "Gateway to the Gilded Age" museum.
"The Lenox station is one of the only artifacts from the period still serving its original function," says Sexton. His narrative on the ways of the rich who built the station accompanies the train ride, which, while short in distance, is long on enjoyment. The railway museum currently displays railroad memorabilia and a prototype for the new museum inside the station. Rebuilt after fire in 1906, the station, complete with working fireplace, is a National Historic Site.
Men who love trains power the non-profit organization that runs the museum. Engineer Lee Hammel, also president and CEO of the Berkshire Scenic Railway, engaged in extensive training, following a career as music director for Lenox Schools, to learn to drive the train. Conductor Peter Paoli said that his son's interest in "Thomas," the train character of book, video and wooden train fame (he has a theme park as well) rekindled a childhood interest in trains. "They used to kick me out of the Pittsfield Station," he chuckled, recalling his early adventures. The Pittsfield train station was razed during the mid-to late 60's urban renewal phase, and the Big Y supermarket stands at the site today. Sexton also said he traces an early love of trains.
Between 1984 and '89, the Berkshire Scenic Railway took a leisurely run from Lenox to Great Barrington, stopping at stations in Lee and Stockbridge. A change in ownership of the line that owns and maintains the track ended that ride - one that Sexton said showed spectacular Berkshire vistas not visible from anywhere else. Only very slow-moving freight trains now travel on the track, which is no longer safe for passenger travel.
Though lobbying at the statehouse continues to try to induce the Housatonic Railroad to repair the tracks and allow the scenic railroad to run again, the museum decided five years ago to increase their educational offerings.
Funding was obtained from the Massachusetts Council on the Humanities, as well as a grant from the federal government. The museum car will feature a photographic and text display of the Berkshire cottages and lifestyle during the Gilded Age - when some trains featured luxurious coaches, with highly decorated parlors and bedrooms - as well as an audio-visual area in the rear of the car. According to Sexton, most of the materials are completed; restoration on the car is ongoing. The museum already has created a self-guided tour of many of the legendary cottages in the form of a brochure, which provides a map and a short description of each.
Museum admission is free. The short train ride is a kick, especially for children, and costs $1 for children and $2.50 for adults. Kids are encouraged to enter the cab after the trip and pull the horn - two toots for forward and three for reverse - and ring the bell. Adults were treated to more technical information about the inner workings and capacities of the engine. For more information, call (413) 637-2210.
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Winter Storm Warning Issued for Berkshires
Another snowstorm is expected to move through the region overnight on Friday, bringing 5 to 8 inches of snow. This is updated from Thursday's winter weather advisory.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has posted a winter storm warning for all of Berkshire County and parts of eastern New York State beginning Friday at 4 p.m. through Saturday at 1 p.m.
The region could see heavy to moderate snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, tapering off Saturday morning to flurries.
Drivers should exercise caution on Friday night and Saturday morning, as travel conditions may be hazardous.
Saturday night should be clear and calm, but warming temperatures means freezing rain Sunday night and rain through Monday with highs in the 40s. The forecast isn't much better through the week as temperatures dip back into the teens with New Year's Eve looking cloudy and frigid.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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