Jaketown Road Brings Live Music Aboard the Arkville Train
by Robert Brune
ARKVILLE — The Delaware & Ulster Railroad added a musical twist to its scenic excursions over Labor Day weekend, welcoming Jaketown Road aboard for an afternoon of rock and blues traveling through the Catskills.
As the train rolled out of Arkville, the band performed a lively set that seemed particularly suited to the rhythmic chug and rocking motion of the vintage train. Music accompanied passengers as the railway traveled through the valleys surrounding Arkville and Fleischmanns, turning the scenic excursion into a moving Labor Day weekend concert.
Beautiful late-summer weather added to the experience, particularly for passengers riding in the railroad’s open-air cars. With clear views across the surrounding mountains and valleys, visitors could take in the Catskills landscape while listening to live music aboard the train.
The special excursion came during the Delaware & Ulster Railroad’s return to regular passenger service this summer, bringing visitors aboard the scenic railway once again after several years without regular excursions.
Labor Day, however, did not mark the end of the railroad’s season. According to the train’s conductor, excursions are expected to continue through the Saturday of Halloween weekend before the Delaware & Ulster Railroad concludes operations for the year.
For passengers aboard the Labor Day weekend excursion, Jaketown Road provided an appropriate soundtrack to one of the Catskills’ classic experiences: a train rolling through the mountains, open-air views and live music carrying along the rails.
