UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - In 1980, Utica was the starting point for a ride to the Olympic Games in Lake Placid. Now, 30 years later, those same tracks are being used by the Adirondack Scenic Railroad with a great deal of success.

In 1980, it was known as "The Adirondack Railway," a private company that ran two trains from Utica to Lake Placid. That track, connecting to the two, had 13 stops along the way. However, for two weeks in 1980, it was a direct route for the Olympic games.

Dave Link, of Camden, drove one of the two trains, and said that back in 1980, nearly 12,000 people hopped on a train in Utica and took that direct route right to Lake Placid and the 1980 games. Link said shortly after the Olympics, the Adirondack Railway folded.

Today, there is the Adirondack Scenic Railroad which uses the same track. They have been in business since the early 1990s, taking passengers through parts of the Adirondacks most never get to see.

"The roads don't go anywhere near there, but the tracks are right along side this beautiful beautiful property," said Adirondack Scenic Railroad Board Member Gene Falvo.

However, the beautiful scenery eventually ends because most of the track beyond Old Forge is in need of repairs.

"The tracks are there, the ties are there, the corridor is there and ready to go," Falvo said.

The one thing not there is the money.

Falvo estimates it will take $30 million to repair the rest of the track - money he said the Department of Transportation has yet to secure.

However, Falvo believes one day it will happen, and the same trip that was made in 1980 will be made again.

"I talk to people who reminisce about that trip and just can't wait for us to reconnect the dots," Falvo said. "I am confident it will. It wont be easy and it won't be this year, but were working toward it. We are hoping to add sections of track regularly and my goal is to be one of those passengers who boards here and gets off in Lake Placid sometime soon."

Full trip or not, the Adirondack Scenic Railroad is having success. Falvo said this year, the one millionth passenger will ride the train.