Can someone recommend a book that describes the original construction of the NYC's water level route, especially that section between Westchester County and Albany, along the Hudson River?
Thank you.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
The original construction of the lines east would fall under books of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company, …..many books to choose from ….if you’re talking specifically about the “ Hudson Division “ that would fall under books in the Central proper, after consolidation occurred, and dividing into divisions occurred,…..it’s a weird railroad to follow its history as the NYC&HRR marched northwards and absorbed smaller roads in its quest for dominance ……so you’d need to be just a touch more specific on what you’re looking for?..are you looking for when it went to 4 track conveyor belt operations, or the humble beginnings of the 1800’s ….
Pat
Thank you for the interesting reply.
Over the past few years, I have travelled to the Albany area and enjoy taking Amtrak along the Hudson River. I have always been a LIRR/PRR traveler, using Amtrak over the past 40 years or so to travel on business and pleasure to Baltimore and DC. "Discovering" what the rest of civilization has enjoyed traveling along the Mighty Hudson has been a delight, compared to, say, the scenic vistas of West Philadelphia's backyards, junk yards and general urban decay.
I have noticed by looking out the windows and looking at maps, that there are many small shortcut segments of the Water Level Route, where it runs along man-made causeways, to allow a straighter alignment than would be required by strictly following the contours of the riverbanks.
These shortcuts seem to have created harbors, bays and creeks, often accessible only to the waters of the main river by the installation of small bridges. Obviously, in the days of the expansion of the NYC there were probably no environmental or legal hurdles to the railroad, in doing essentially what they wanted to do to get the straightest ROW possible. These days, OMG, the environmental issues would probably be insurmountable. They fascinate me from the engineering and the aesthetic viewpoints.
So, I am interested in seeing photographs (maybe from the late 19th, early 20th century?) of the "before and after" of these bays and creeks, and maybe photos of the actual construction, if such photos exist, along with reading the engineering analyses and reports of the project. I'm not sure what exact era it is that I'm describing, or even if such records or reports exist. I guess the straightening and widening of the ROW into the multi-track mainline that's there now, in the vicinity, for example, of West Point, Cold Spring, Ossining, Peekskill, etc.
Thank you for helping.
.
