Comments on: Thoughts on Minneapolis’ Stone Arch Bridge, and the Hiawatha Line’s Downtown East – Metrodome station

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:42:13 +0000

Thanks! I’ll have to fix that map.

By the way, that shot of the Northstar crossing the Mississippi is pretty brilliant. That takes dedication :)

By: Nick Benson

Nick Benson — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:30:08 +0000

And, while I’m offering suggestions about the Minneapolis / Mississippi map, it’s worth noting that the Canadian Pacific bridge, which is just beyond the northern extent of the map, is notable as it serves as the northern end of navigable waters on the Mississippi, at least when there aren’t severe draughts screwing things up down south:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottergoose/7559777822/

By: Nick Benson

Nick Benson — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:22:36 +0000

The map of bridges crossing the Mississippi in Minneapolis is brilliant, although “Dartmouth” should actually be “I-94.” It’s also worth noting that the “High Line” bridge is still in service – it’s how the Minnesota Commercial reaches all of the grain elevators along the Hiawatha Line, and, coincidentally, how Metro Transit receives delivery of their LRVs.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottergoose/4227613656/

For the heck of it, it’s also worth showing off this shot of Northstar crossing the Mississippi:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottergoose/4651612018/

I look forward to more coverage of the Twin Cities – love your perspective.

By: Al Brecken

Al Brecken — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:41:51 +0000

http://www.gribblenation.com/papics/eng/tunkhannock.html

By: Emily

Emily — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:29:29 +0000

In terms of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, there are two main pieces. First part runs from Wassaic to Millerton. After an 8-ish mile gap, the trail picks up near Boston Corners and runs to Copake Falls. The total length, two parts combined, has to be around 14 miles – so not even close to the full length of what the Upper Harlem was. Their goal always was Chatham, but that isn’t going to be reality anytime soon.

You’re perfectly welcome to link whatever on here to “the railroad site.” I suppose it would be an interesting conversation – though I’m fairly certain Jaap has gone on record quite vocally against having trails right next to the existing rails due to the safety issues you mentioned. I suppose this is somewhat relevant, as the HVRT was looking to extend southward – to whatever the “village” area of Wassaic is. I’m not sure if they ever got the “go ahead” to do this, but I remember there was talk about it.

By: Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 15:29:23 +0000

This is where my preoccupation with the Beacon line comes in. They’ve allowed most if not all of it (at least the Beacon to Dykemans portion) to have a trail alongside it. Although the line still has rails, it is OOS. I guess you could say in a way it’s been “railbanked”. This is the term CDOT uses for the lines it’s purchased in CT, but are OOS with rails still in place.

There’s been talkin of continuing the trail north of Dykemans along the Wassaic extension. I’m not familiar with how this would work, but there have been train-ped fatalaties up there, so I would assume they’d need additional land and fencing. This presents safety issues to trains and passengers in case of mechanical breakdown, fire, etc. and the ability of passengers and crew to evacuate and rescue crews to reach the train.

North of Wassaic (AMENIA!) is the old ROW, now a rail trail. I think this must run all the way to Chatham, or is close to doing so. I don’t knokw who owns this ROW. The rails to Millerton were extant for a while after the MNRR takeover and I guess there was freight service up there for some time. Has the title been transferred, or is the ROW “land-banked”, to use another railroad/CDOT term? That gives the “right” to restore rail service. But as you’ve said, it would be extremely difficult to restore service along a popular trail.

Which brings me lastly to the North/South County trailway on the old Put division. Clearly, rail will never run there again, as I’m sure it’s abandonment pre-dated rail trail laws. There are only stub tracks/wyes left at each end. But could Putnam county decide it wants a rail trail to connect from the top of the North County trailway to the Dutchess rail trail via Dykemans? Pretty tough with the yard right there.

Ooh, I’m in “blog” territory here. Perhaps this will be my second blog when I get my site up! In the meanwhile, this is a very interesting discussion, one I hope you don’t mind I will link to the railroad site.