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ADIRONDACK RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY INC
UTICA, NY · EIN 223074470 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · adirondackrr.com
revenue
$2.7M
expenses
$2.8M
net assets
$1.5M
employees
76
volunteers
25
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE IS PROMOTING, PARTICIPATING IN AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE REHABILITATION, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE ADIRONDACK CORRIDOR.

profile · synthesized from sources

Heritage railroad operating scenic passenger excursions through the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Offers themed train rides, including fall foliage and beer/wine experiences, departing from Utica, Thendara, and Tupper Lake. Focuses on historic rail preservation, tourism, and community economic development. Operated by a nonprofit organization that relies on volunteers and carries tens of thousands of passengers annually.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Adirondack Mountaineer
Round-trip train ride from Utica to Tupper Lake with a layover for exploring local attractions and businesses
Beer & Wine Train Series
Evening excursion from Utica to Remsen featuring curated beer and wine tastings onboard
Fall “Gateway”
Seasonal foliage train ride from Utica to Old Forge, highlighting autumn scenery in the Adirondacks
Group Charters and Private Events
Custom charter services for groups, weddings, corporate events, and fundraisers using vintage rail equipment
The High Peaks Limited
11-hour round-trip excursion from Utica through the Adirondacks, including a stop at Thendara and Tupper Lake
The “Gateway”
Round-trip scenic train ride from Utica to Old Forge with a layover, allowing passengers to explore local attractions and shops
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Visitor Information and Trip Planning Services 2 activities
    • Operate scenic passenger train excursions in the Adirondacks
      Operates round-trip scenic train excursions from Utica to destinations including Old Forge, Tupper Lake, and Thendara, providing public access to natural and community attractions in the Adirondack Park. These include regular seasonal services, themed rides like the High Peaks Limited, and special event trains such as the Beer & Wine Train Series.
    • Provide shuttle transportation and on-board amenities during excursions
      Offers complimentary shuttle transportation in Old Forge and Tupper Lake with stops at local attractions such as The Wild Center and Raquette River Brewing during layovers. Operates café cars providing food and beverage service, including light meals, snacks, and select ticketed excursions with included continental breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, and alcoholic beverages.
  • Railroad and Canal Heritage Preservation 1 activity
    • Restore, maintain, and preserve historic railway infrastructure
      Engages in the rehabilitation, maintenance, and preservation of the Adirondack Corridor rail line and historic sites such as the Thendara station, ensuring operational and historical integrity of the heritage railway system.
  • Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
    • Support multimodal outdoor recreation access via rail
      Allows passengers to bring bicycles, kayaks, canoes, camping gear, and other outdoor equipment on board at no additional cost to facilitate seamless access to outdoor recreation in the Adirondacks.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Mobilize volunteer labor for railway operations
      Coordinates over 15,000 annual volunteer hours supporting heritage railway operations, including car hosting, gift shop staffing, railbike assistance, and fleet operation; has contributed over 400,000 total volunteer hours since 1992 to expand services.
    • Offer group and private charter train services
      Provides group excursion options for parties of 25 or more with discounted rates, and offers private charter services for individual railcars or full trains for events such as weddings, corporate outings, and fundraisers.
    • Operate retail and informational services for passengers and members
      Runs a gift shop at the Utica Train Station (321 Main Street) and provides public information through FAQs, member newsletters (Adirondack Railroad Crew News), and open board meetings for paid members.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.71M
Contributions & grants$228K8%
Program service revenue$2.34M86%
Investment income$3K0%
Other revenue$142K
expenses
Total expenses$2.76M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$983K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.79M
Cash$407K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.25M
Net assets$1.54M
Liquid reserves1.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +8.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 10
  • AL HEYWOOD — VICE PRESIDE
  • ALLEN DUNHAM — DIRECTOR
  • CAROL SCHOCH — DIRECTOR
  • FRANK KOBLISKI — PRESIDENT
  • JAMES ELLIS — DIRECTOR
  • LUKE IRVINE — DIRECTOR
  • MARK LANDGRAF — DIRECTOR
  • NEAL BAUMANN — TREASURER
  • PAUL MAROUN — DIRECTOR
  • STEVEN POTTER — SECRETARY
relationships · 11

Who they work with

  • Adirondack Railroad Partner — Collaborates on operating scenic train rides from Utica to Old Forge.
  • Adirondack Railroad Partner — Operates in coordination with the Adirondack Railroad, providing passenger rail service and related information.
  • Adirondack Railroad Partner — Operates the gift shop at the Utica Train Station in partnership with or under the branding of Adirondack Railroad.
  • Adirondack Railroad Partner — Operates train service that the organization supports or collaborates with for rail preservation and public excursions.
  • Adirondack Railway Preservation Society Partner — ARPS operates the Adirondack Railroad, preserving and restoring rail service in the region.
  • New York State Department of Transportation Partner — Partnered with ARPS to expand railroad operations since 1992.
  • Next Stop! Tupper Lake Partner — Collaborating with ARPS on the return of excursion rail service to Tupper Lake, including use of their replica depot.
  • Raquette River Brewing Partner — Designated stop for the Adirondack Railroad's complimentary Tupper Lake shuttle service.
  • The Wild Center Partner — Designated stop for the Adirondack Railroad's complimentary Tupper Lake shuttle service.
  • Thendara Station Partner — Departure point for Adirondack Railroad excursions.
  • Utica’s Union Station Partner — Departure point for Adirondack Railroad excursions.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Heritage Tourism with Economic Development Integration
    methodology: heritage_tourism_economic_development
    By combining historic rail excursions with partnerships in local communities, the organization promotes regional economic development and environmental education, because linking tourism to local business access and educational content amplifies community impact beyond recreation.
  • Integrated Rail and Trail Access for Inclusivity
    methodology: inclusive_access_model
    By designing integrated rail and trail transportation options, the organization expands access to remote areas of the Adirondack Park for diverse populations, because combining rail infrastructure with accessible trail connections enables participation across age and physical ability levels.
  • Scenic Rail Tourism as Experiential Access
    methodology: scenic_rail_tourism
    By offering scenic rail excursions with curated experiences, dome cars, and destination layovers, the organization increases public appreciation of the Adirondack region, because immersive, visually rich travel fosters deeper connection and engagement than passive tourism.
  • Volunteer-Operated Preservation Model
    methodology: volunteer_operated_preservation
    By relying on community-based volunteer labor to operate and maintain the heritage railway, the organization ensures both organizational sustainability and high-quality excursions, because volunteer engagement fosters deep stewardship and cost-effective operations.