11 Responses

  1. Al Cyone says:

    I think it’s worth noting that the Brunel Awards are named for Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the famed builder of England’s Great Western Railway. He made his most recent appearance (portrayed by Kenneth Branagh) at the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics (with many Americans mistaking him for Abraham Lincoln).

  2. Backshophoss says:

    Nicely done!
    It’s a shame there’s NIMBYism for restoring the RR up to
    Millerton(Z). An active RR is better than a trail, and so it goes….
    Note: Milerton might have been a streach to add to MNR
    territory however.

    • Al Cyone says:

      An active RR is better than a trail . . .

      As much as I enjoy biking on the rail-trail that runs right past my house, and as much as I (and thousands of others) enjoy the Walkway Over the Hudson, I have to agree. I seem to recall that, years ago, one of the advantages touted for the conversion to rail-trails was that the right-of-way would be preserved in the event that rail service was once again deemed feasible. I guess that’s not gonna happen.

      • Backshophoss says:

        As far as Poughkeepsie bridge is concerned,the fire back in
        the Penn Central “era”” killed” off any chance of bringing that
        route back. I understand the trail idea was an attempt to
        “bank” the ROW for return to service in the future.
        What remains of the Maybrook line is “railbanked” for now
        by MNR.

        • Emily says:

          Realistically, I think there would be a lot of opposition of people that enjoy the rail trails. So in thought you’re saving the ROW, but in practice, not sure if it’d ever happen.

          I can’t really hate rail trails, though. At least it somewhat preserves the history that was there. Hypothetically speaking, had the Harlem Valley Rail Trail not been there, I don’t think the they would have extended that far anyway. There was enough opposition in the town, and definitely no room for a railyard, which was another key point.

          • Backshophoss says:

            If memory serves,just north of Millerton was the crossing
            and interchange with the Central New England RR,while
            a minor interchange point for NYCentral ,there was
            enough land to build at least the connecting trackage
            between the 2 RR’s,so a small 2-3 track yard was possible.
            Now there must be some sort of single family housing
            on the site.

  3. Very cool that you got the opportunity to do this interview, and you packed a lot in to a short time! Nicely done :)

  4. Ray J says:

    Great questions and interview – excellent perspective into Metro-North’s history and legacy!

  5. Al Brecken says:

    I have a set of signal prints titled ” N Y C RR– signal dept==Millerton Circuits — C N E R R & N Y C R R crossing —24 April 1935 ”

    Another set of signal prints has a dotted track-line with the dots IDed as follows—[No White Plains 239 ] –[ Valhalla 254 ]—[Kensico Cemetary 263}– [ Mt Pleasant 272 ]—[ Hawthorne 282 ]–[ Thornewood 298 ] ———[ Pleasantville 305 ]–[Chappaqua 323 ]—[Mt Kisco 366 ]–[Bedford Hills 391 ]—[Katonah 410 ]—- Goldens Bridge 391 ] ( a spur at Goldens bridge to Lincolndale and Lake Mahopac )— [ Purdys 461 ] — [Croton Falls 477 ]—[Brewster 519 ]—[Putnam Junction 523 ]–[Dykemans 547 ]— [ Ice Pond 562 ]–[Towners 570 ]—[Patterson 602 ] –[ Pawling 637 ] —{Wingdale 697]–[ Dover Furnace 724]—[ Dover Plains 766 ]—[Wassaic 813]–[Amenia 846 ]–[Sharon Station 877 ]—[ Coleman’s 890 ]—[Millerton 927 ]—[Mt Riga 958 ] —[ Boston Corners 997 ]—[ Copake Falls 1048 ]—[Hillsdale 1088 ]—[ Carryville 1116 ]—[Martindale 1154 ]—[ Phiolmont 1188 ]–[ Ghent 1248]—[ Chatam 1275 ]

  6. Al Brecken says:

    The Harlem Lines “neighboor” , the Putnam Div. , once featured ( for it’s time ) , an engineering marvel in the form of the Eastview Trestle”. Splendid research on this notable structure here————-

    http://archivesleuth.wordpress.com/category/railroads/

    JDR purchased the entire hamlet of Eastview when he paid to re-locate the line of the Putnam away from the front of his estate.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *