Comments on: Tuesday Tour of the Hudson Line: Spuyten Duyvil

By: John Scanlan

John Scanlan — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 04:01:48 +0000

In reply to Jeff M.. 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"

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 23:45:29 +0000

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.

By: Al Cyone

Al Cyone — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:28:03 +0000

In reply to Doug Dray. Links, Mr. Dray, links!

By: Doug Dray

Doug Dray — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:37:53 +0000

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.

By: Backshophoss

Backshophoss — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:48:55 +0000

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.

By: Jeff M.

Jeff M. — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:51:15 +0000

In reply to Emily.

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.

By: Al Cyone

Al Cyone — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:45:24 +0000

In reply to Emily. Thonx! (with apologies to Ogden Nash).

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:46:23 +0000

In reply to Bob.

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

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:40:56 +0000

In reply to Jeff M.. 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.)

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:57:38 +0000

In reply to Al Cyone. FTFY. (fixed that for ya!)