Crisp fall days and cool nights are creating a colorful scene. My rainy six-hour drive from Rahway, New Jersey's Prog Stock 2018 revealed gorgeous color variety amidst the fog and drizzle along the I-87 corridor. Of course, my five day fall getaway was about more than symphonic progressive rock music. A very pleasant detour into the Catskills, visiting noted Adirondacks rail author Mike Kudish was also on the schedule. I enjoyed seeing the remnants of local railroads, having Oreos for breakfast (with Cheerios and walnuts), and sharing stories of rail authoring and mutual friends. In the 90s, Mike researched and authored the excellent RAILROADS OF THE ADIRONDACKS. His thorough coverage and networking efforts, of more than twenty years ago, are adding more pieces to the KAC&LC puzzle.

JIM SHAUGHNESSY was a friend and mentor. I will always cherish our road trips along the Rutland and D&H. Jim's Vermont outings were often based at my parents place in Burlington. Jim became a regular overnight guest of my folks, author Robert C. Jones and mother, Janet. A highlight was a "thank you gourmet dinner," prepared by "chef Jim" on the last evening of his stay. My first encounter with Jim Shaughnessy was, as a teenager, in the mid-1970s. His RUTLAND ROAD was my first railroad book, received from my dad in the Christmas of 1971. Unaware of his friendship with my father, I did a double-take upon seeing him in our living room! Jim was, at that time, the biggest celebrity I'd ever met. His visits became common, and we eventually also got to know his wife Carol, and son James. Fast-forward more than twenty years to 2007, and my RUTLAND REMNANTS documentary video series (TT-021 through TT-026) was gathering steam. The tables turned, and I became an annual guest at "The Shaughnessy Arms." These memorable visits meant a three hour drive from Burlington to their lovely home in the hills overlooking Troy, with a roughly 9:30 am arrival. More often than not, we'd soon be sleuthing the abandoned Rutland Railroad Corkscrew Subdivision, where he'd identify physical remnants for my video cameras to capture. Then, we returned to his home to discuss our observations, his recollections of the line before its 1953 abandonment, followed by dinner with Carol, the evening news, and more chit-chat. Jim and Carol's overnight guests were a virtual "who's who" of railroad celebrities, and it was an honor to occupy that spare room, across from the den, where so many of our interviews took place. Once the Rutland series was a reality, our focus shifted to the D&H and Battenkill. Our tradition was broken in 2016, as health issues interfered. Even the regular e-mails began to trail off. Imagine my surprise when Jim contacted me about getting together to discuss the 50th anniversary of his landmark 1967 book, THE DELAWARE & HUDSON, for my upcoming D&H release LIGHTNING STRIPE, RED AND WHITE (TT-059). Two years had passed since I'd last seen him, and this master of railroad photography was showing his age. I soon learned Jim was recovering from a health setback, and wanted to return to his normal routine. It had been six weeks since he'd been to his favorite diner, an unremarkable spot in downtown Troy. We made the fifteen minute commute, with Jim providing an impromptu history lesson as we passed the locations of the long forgotten street car lines. Jim directed me to a parking spot, directly in front of the family-owned eatery. Several colorful characters held court there, in what appeared to be a daily scenario. The middle-aged waitress, clearly a long-time employee, looked like she had seen a ghost! "Jim, it is so good to see you. I have been worried, as we haven't seen you in what.... a few months?" Jim matter-of-factly replied, "six weeks and two days. I've been under the weather. My friend, also a Jim, is driving." A few cups of coffee, hash browns and scrambled eggs followed. It quickly became clear that, in this environment, Jim Shaughnessy was just one of the guys. Two months ago, in August, it was I who broke the sad news of his passing to my parents. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as we recalled our modest friend. Rest in peace, dear friend. May those pearly gates lead to a train yard, and the great roundhouse in the sky provide eternal photo opportunities.   

Drum roll please.... our "latest and greatest" Tell-Tale Production. Dorothy, we're not in Kansas anymore! Our acquisition of a wonderful vintage-style music library transports you into an old dimension of sight and sound. I pinched myself, more than a few times, while assembling this over-the-top 101-minute adventure. Tell-Tale Productions has been a historic and creative outlet for me since the beginning. Reviving a subject, largely gone since 1924, has been one of the most satisfying productions of my career. There were times I found it incredible such a production was assembled on my desktop in Colchester, Vermont! 

KEESEVILLE, AUSABLE CHASM & LAKE CHAMPLAIN RAILROAD: Adirondack Mountain Gateway traces the Burlington, Vermont waterfront and rail connections before crossing the Lake by steamboat and ferry at its widest point, ten miles, to Port Kent. We visit the D&H, then enjoy a phantom ride over the KAC&LC, up steep grades, around a few tight curves, 158-feet above the Chasm, along the Ausable River to Keeseville. We have made a "Star" out of this 5.6-mile pint-sized standard gauge memory. This 101-minute adventure takes you from the first steamships of 1826 to the construction of the I-87 Northway. Tell-Tale Productions is proud of its role in contributing to the memory of this historic line, by assisting the Anderson Falls Heritage Society in providing documentation and details leading to the creation and installation of a roadside marker at the former train depot, along Route 9, north of downtown Keeseville. Visit this site, today's North Country Club Restaurant, when you are in the area. 
 
Thanks for coming along for the ride. We look forward to seeing you at the shows, or joining you in cyberspace. Warmest regards,
   
James R."Jim" and Marilee C. Jones
Tell-Tale Productions