By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
CATTARAUGUS — It’s a Pop-Up Weekend for Revolution Rail and RocketCup Coffee in the village of Cattaraugus.
Revolution Rail is offering rail bike rides on a three-mile section of the former Erie Railroad north of the village for a unique view of fall foliage and upper Zoar Valley for the next three weekends.
The RocketCup Revolution Rail Fest weekend coincides with RocketCup Coffee’s second anniversary at 18 N. Main St., and the first anniversary of its first floor roastery and speakeasy, said Tom Cullen, the Rocketcup Coffee CEO.
The unique railbike ride through a mostly wooded area is the result of more than a year’s worth of rail and construction work to re-open the section of rail that has been closed since 2008 when heavy rains caused local flooding, landslides and washouts. Some parts of the line consisted of rail hanging 150 feet in the air from a washout, Cullen said.
The idea for a rail bike operation in the village originated about three years ago with John Willard, who was born here and took a ride on Revolution Rail’s North Creek line in the Adirondacks. He thought it would make a nice attraction in his hometown and notified Cullen, his longtime friend.
Cullen returned to this area in 2020 to run St. Bonaventure University’s Entrepreneurship Center. He also helped his father, the late Patrick Cullen, longtime president of the Bank of Cattaraugus, and his sister, Colleen, who was then bank president, with preserving the village’s historic buildings. The crown jewel is the Crawford Hotel, which the Historic Cattaraugus Corp., plans to restore as a destination hotel.
Cullen said since he opened Rocketcup Coffee two years ago, there have been 10 new businesses open in the village. A second RocketCup Coffee shop opened last year on West State Street in Olean.
The rail line is owned by the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency, of which Cullen is a member. He saw the Revolution Rail operation could attract a lot of people and be a catalyst for new development.
Last month Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the Village of Cattaraugus had been awarded a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant. Last month it was announced that a new business would open in the former SetterStix plant on South Main Street.
The Cattaraugus County Legislature bought into the development opportunity for the rail bike operation, providing the IDA with $120,000 to fix up the rail line. “The county legislature, IDA, Village of Cattaraugus and Town of New Albion all contributed to make this happen,” said Cullen.
Rob Harte, founder and CEO of Revolution Rail Co., was in Cattaraugus Thursday to oversee the first pop-up this weekend. He was a teacher in Vermont when he developed the idea for rail bikes on shortline railroads.
Ironically, Harte became interested in Western New York after seeing a large number of 716 area code calls for reservations at the Rev. Rail operation in the Adirondacks.
This weekend’s popup and the two following weekends will be just right for peak fall foliage, Cullen said. He feels people will be drawn to this unique new way of exploring an area that is both beautiful and somewhat remote.
Harte said in his opinion, the rail bike operation in Cattaraugus could draw between 5,000 and 10,000 in its first year.
The tours include three four-seat bikes and three two-seaters. The bikes have been named after surrounding Cattaraugus County communities.
As a former teacher, Harte said Revolution Rail Co. likes to include local history in its tours. Each of the seven existing sites are based on this model. Harte said he is already learning some local history and the rail line is very historic.
A tour leader will be on the lead rail bike. The bikes will start out together, but will become separated by 50-75 feet as the ride progresses.
There is a colorful canopy in the trees overhead. At a few spots, you can see where the tracks were washed out and repaired. One washout was about 150 feet deep, which had to be filled.
At the end of the line, a final washout is still visible and over 100 feet deep. The steel rails still hang above the 150-foot long breach, some with railroad ties still attached.
At this point, the tour guide will explain some of the history of the area, and turn the rail bikes around for the return trip. The line is mostly flat, with a few gentle inclines and a couple of areas where you can glide. It is great for all ages.
The bikes are light with aluminum frame and specially cast polymer wheels that grip the rails. There’s a brake and seatbelts for safety.
Harte said Revolution Rail Co. hopes to start on Mother’s Day or earlier next year — depending on the weather.
Saturday’s rides at 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. are already booked, Harte said.
To book one of the weekend pop-ups, go online to Revrail.com. The six-mile trip over a leaf-covered landscape lasts about an hour and 45 minutes. The cost is $100 for the double car (not per person) and $180 for the quad car. Tickets that have not been reserved will be available at RocketCup Coffee.
The anniversary celebration at RocketCup Coffee starts at noon Saturday. There will be wholesale pricing on coffee, craft beer and coffee tasting, food and drink. Two bands will play: Nothing to Lose and Blue Mule 2.
