12 Responses

  1. Jeff M. says:

    That 1958 photo shows the line was electrified. I always thought that didn’t happen until the MTA took over. Was Hudson electric but not Harlem?

    • Bob says:

      I believe they were both electrified when the current Grand Central was built, Hudson as far as Croton Harmon and Harlem as far as North White Plains. Electrification of the Harlem was extended north (west) of North White Plains when Metro-North took over. I think the power station at Glenwood provided power to both lines. (I’m speaking from memory of what I’ve read on both of these though.)

      • Emily says:

        Glenwood power station was completed in 1906, I believe… so the line was at least electrified up to that point (which is past Spuyten Duyvil). Not sure if electrification extended all the way up to Harmon that early though…

        Paging Otto Vondrak – come out of lurker mode for a moment :P

        • Jeff M. says:

          Of course…I should have remembered there was electrification up to North White Plains on Harlem (and some comparable point on Hudson). Must be suffering from brain freeze.

          Never Mind, as another Emily (Latella) would say.

    • John Scanlan says:

      What’s also remarkable about the 1958 photo is that the train shown belongs to the New York Central Raliroad, which was still in business at the time. This is also the train line used in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 masterpiece film, “North By Northwest”

  2. Al Cyone says:

    Great pictures.

    Though I have to say I was a bit disappointed that no mention was made of the fact that this station is in The Bronx (land of my birth). I’m also not sure I would characterized the Circle Line boats as ferries. But those are mere quibbles.

    Great job (as always).

  3. Backshophoss says:

    The tower you mention was DV,controlled the W30th street branch
    where most Mail,Express,and all freight traffic for Manhatten
    was sent. 3rd rail extended down to at least to the yard at 60th st.
    from the yard, tracks extended to the “Highline” and to many ware-
    houses and piers along the way. There were 4 Mail/Express trains
    that started on the branch back in 1957 heading west,all were daily
    except sunday+monday.
    The W3oth st branch survived into the Conrail era,with very few
    customers left, then Amtrak,under “orders” to consoladate
    their NY City operations bought the branch from Conrail,
    rebuilt the branch and the swing bridge for passenger operations
    in+out of Penn Station/Sunnyside yard.
    The actual connection from Penn Station was built at the same time
    LIRR built their west side yard.

  4. Doug Dray says:

    According to the New York Central Historical Society page on the Hudson Division, electrification began in the early 1900’s and was completed at Croton in early 1910.

  5. Joe says:

    Love the site and have been following for a while but this is definitely a station where a “Part 2” is needed. I was hoping to read a lot more. Here are some potential topics: Trackage – one pic shows 3 tracks that seem to go further EAST than now (almost up to the rock cut), the still visible wye track, the rock cut itself, information on the man made creek and how it effected railroading, the odd topography of the station area, effects if any of when the highway bridge opened, info on the West Side line trackage could be a bonus also. This could also very well be the most scenic on all the railroad also.

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