Bear Mountain, NY - Railfanning locations

I've been there a few times in the last few weeks - most recently Tuesday. There's usually lots of action - light is best in the morning until 1p or so. Several trains - sometimes there will be two or three in a row southbound. You might have a lull of an hour or two without trains. Earliest I've arrived there is 10:30 or 11 - can't speak to activity earlier. There tends to be a lull around 2 or 3p, but it picks up again before dark.

There's a passing siding that starts within (a long) view heading north - the signals in this pic from Tuesday are for northbounds approaching it. The cantilever in the background is near the turnout at the end, heading southbound.

There are autoracks, doublestacks, manifests and unit tank trains. I've seen BNSF and UP locomotives.

There's a parking lot on the west side of the tracks (in Mine Dock Park). There's no parking on the east side, closer to the water. Sometimes police check that area and ask people to move the cars to the parking lot. There's also a portapotty in the parking lot.

This is from on a rock cut Tuesday. Requires a little walk and scrambling.

David

Hi David,

Quick reply & nice photo, but looks like I'm a couple weeks to late for the peak foliage. That's a nice location for pictures though. As I mentioned, I had surgery a few months ago & have been getting around on one or 2 crutches, depending on the distance & terrain. Scrambling may not be possible. Anything to see from the parking lot?

I just got directions to Mine Dock Park. I'm not familiar with that area at all but my son might be. I actually may go up on Saturday to check out the location & follow up on Wednesday, when I have a day off. Have you ever been there on a weekend?

Thanks for the feedback!

Joe

Joe - The foliage really hasn't peaked - maybe it won't this year. I've been there one day a week for the last three weeks. On Tuesday, there was still a lot of green. To your question - the parking lot is only 25 or 30 feet from the tracks. If you park head-in, you're facing the tracks, which are broadside to you. There's a short tunnel to the right, as you face the tracks from the lot - but partly out of view. Not a long walk, though, to have a clear view. That rock cut that I was on is just to the left of the grade crossing that leads to the area with no parking - so you can see the trains come out of it, but there's a curve to the right on the far side of the cut, as you look from the lot - so your view from the lot is for only a few seconds. Well, I mean it doesn't take long for a loco to hit your view and disappear. 

Across the river are Metro-North and Amtrak trains, in sight. 

I've never been on a weekend. I hear Saturdays have more traffic (on the rails) than Sundays.

Hi David,

It sounds pretty ideal for train watching. I'd also like to check it out for fishing, which I love to do with my son & grandson.

Unless something I'm not aware of gets in the way, I'll probably go, & I'll post some pictures if I do.

Thanks again,

Joe

Joe -

The photo in your original post steered me toward Mine Dock Park, and I am enamored of the photos to be had there - but on the way home from work, I realized I had forgotten about Iona Island. Strictly in terms of CSX-watching, Iona might be better - or I'd recommend you at least hit both places. They're only a couple (railroad) miles apart, if that - maybe a 15-minute drive from one to the other.

As at Mine Dock, there's a parking area with a view of the tracks at Iona Island. There's a turnoff from 9W for the island. The road is paved but rough in spots, and there were a couple big potholes - not a high-speed road, so easy to avoid the craters.

There's plenty of videos on YouTube that would give you an idea - there's a longer stretch of open tangent (or nearly so) track at Iona.

David

Hi David,

You're right, that also looks like a good spot. Will have to check that out also.

Thanks!

ironman1 posted:

Hi David,

It sounds pretty ideal for train watching. I'd also like to check it out for fishing, which I love to do with my son & grandson.

Unless something I'm not aware of gets in the way, I'll probably go, & I'll post some pictures if I do.

Thanks again,

Joe

how are you Joe...nice to meet another forum member from Yonkers.....all the best...Joe

Hi Joe,

Lived in Yonkers my whole life, 62 years. Thanks for the welcome!

Joe

Joe,

I'm going to add a couple other suggestions, even though I realize you won't be able do them now. Perhaps others visiting, or you in future, would be interested. If they find this thread in a search....

There's a nice view of the Bear Mountain Bridge from the pedestrian walkway on the U.S. 9W bridge, north of the roundabout at the west end of the Bear Mountain Bridge.

The CSX bridge is in the middle, above, with the Bear Mountain Bridge behind. One can just see a bit of a pedestrian bridge in the foreground, crossing the creek. That can be accessed from a path that starts behind the visitors' building at Fort Montgomery.

Above pic is Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited, shot from the pedestrian bridge mentioned above. CSX bridge is in the foreground.

Southbound CSX crossing the bridge.

Then there's the bridge to/from the northern end of Iona Island:

I'm sure there are other spots I haven't found yet. Hope to head up a little further north along the line, too. Enjoy the visit, Joe.

David

Railpace magazine did a series of rail fanning articles on the West Shore Line. It details what routes to take and where to get some georgious shots!

Hi, I live in White Plains and I go to the Congers train station in Congers. It is the second exit after you cross the Tappan Zee. Route 303 North to Congers. The station has parking, their is a crossing. There is also a pizza place and deli next to the tracks. Great place to sit and watch the trains.

Another great suggestion, pizza & a deli are a bonus, thanks!

Went to Iona Island today with my grandson Hudson, luckily the weather turned out nice & we did get to see a southbound & northbound train within a half hour of each other. Got a few nice pictures & video.

ironman1 posted:

Went to Iona Island today with my grandson Hudson, luckily the weather turned out nice & we did get to see a southbound & northbound train within a half hour of each other. Got a few nice pictures & video.

Glad it worked out for you and your grandson - wait, Hudson? Nice place for him to go.

Cincytrains posted:

Hi, I live in White Plains and I go to the Congers train station in Congers. It is the second exit after you cross the Tappan Zee. Route 303 North to Congers. The station has parking, their is a crossing. There is also a pizza place and deli next to the tracks. Great place to sit and watch the trains.

Oooh. I see that pizza place has my favorite on the menu - white with broccoli. I predict a trip to Congers....

David

Hi David,

Shot by Mine Dock Park twice, but finally found it. It's easy to miss if you're unfamiliar with it's location. On the way up we caught the tale end of a southbound freight while driving through Haverstarw on 9W, at the old Haverstraw Station. Took a couple pictures of the caboose in the parking lot. Drove to Iona Island after & although not set up for a family outing, it does have plenty of area for parking & get up & close to get pictures & video.

My Grandson & I did have a great day & we stopped for pizza on the way home. Sure to go there again.

Joe

Seeing the caboose was a promising start, even if I did spend an extra hour trying to find Mine Dock Park.