Mohawk/Hudson Rail Trail - April 25, 2010
I spent a short weekend in upstate NY (visiting my parents) and rode a rail trail on my XC mountain bike. My son Greg stayed in Stamford and, although I originally planned to bring the Cannondale road bike, he insisted upon using the road bike so I took the fat tired one instead!I was a blast but could have been a lot easier on the skinny tires. What's worse is Greg didn't even use the road bike. ARRRGGHHH!
I started the ride from the Niskayuna Little League Park and went as far as the Cohoes Falls. At Manor Ave I rode down the hill to get close to the Falls for photographs. (See Map)
(click to enlarge)
Photos
Niskayuna Train Station (Mohawk River behind)
View up river
Riding under the Northway Bridge
The trail begins again (across from the train station in previous photo)
Approaching Route 9 tunnel/culvert
A tempting mountain bike trail offshoot
(part of the Colonie trails)
End of line for me: Manor Road, Cohoes
(Falls at bottom of the hill)
Cohoes Falls
Barge Canal in Foreground.
Mohawk River and Cohoes Mills in background
About the Railroad
The Schenectady & Troy Railroad, later known as the T&S Branch, was originally owned by the City of Troy. It was the only steam railroad built and owned by a city.
These trains stopped at numerous stations along the way: Aqueduct, The Knolls, Lock No. 7, Niskayuna, Mohawk View, Dunsbach Ferry, Crescent, Manor Avenue, Cohoes and Green Island. Passenger service ended in 1942.
In the 1950s, nuclear waste was hauled from the Knolls Atomic Power Lab complex. The boxcars had signs warning anyone from getting under the car.
Google "Troy & Schenectady Railroad" for further info