Last week’s Hurricane Ida brought massive winds and torrential downpours from Louisiana on up to the northeast, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. In New York significant flooding adversely effected our entire transportation system—making highways and railroads resemble something more like waterlogged canals. Stuck vehicles were abandoned up and down the Bronx River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway, and the entirety of Metro-North service was suspended.

Although the Harlem and New Haven Lines were able to successfully recover after a day of downtime, the Hudson Line was more seriously damaged. Significant landslides covered the tracks in mud, and severe flooding washed out the ballast under several areas of track. With employees working at a frenzied pace throughout the long weekend modified service was restored this morning, though two tracks remain out of service.

Yesterday afternoon at Dobbs Ferry I watched some of the work going on, as well as some of the first test trains to operate ahead of the service restoration. CSX had apparently been champing at the bit to get back to it (gotta get that garbage!), and was one of the first trains operating along the line. It was a nice surprise to see, as I don’t think I had ever photographed a daylight freight on the Hudson in good light.

Beside the track crews, workers were also visiting each station to set up bridge plates to bypass the tracks that remain out of service. Much work remains, but everyone that toiled throughout the long weekend to get the line to this point is to be commended for their endeavors.