Closing the Gap

On the way to visit my Mother, I stopped for a short road bike ride on the last section of the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail that I never rode.

I started at North Chatham and rode to Nassau Lake. I was a nice day and a pleasant ride.

Nassau Village

Nassau Lake 
I turned around here

Hi-rez 
- Click to read historical info -

Back at North Chatham
Looking North

Super Short one-handed video

North Chatham - South on the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail

On the way to a special lunch engagement in Troy NY,  I decided to start early and ride a bit more of the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail. This time I only had time for an hour ride so I just rode from North Chatham to Valatie and back.

Unfortunately it was a cloudy, gloomy day and the weather was FREEZING!!! Thank God I brought my winter coat and winter gloves because they were needed!

I started at the lovely old Trolley Station at North Chatham,

There were a few informative kiosks along the ride

Most of the ride was fairly flat and I tried to keep up a brisk place...

At Kinderhook Lake, there was a great kiosk about the amusement park that was here ages ago.

I arrived at Valatie (the arrow is pointing to the old station) and spent a bit of time exploring the old mill ruins just north of the Station.

Wild's Mill

Google Map aerial of dam and mill ruins

On the way back...

Further Info

Wild's Mill - Valatie, NY

• Waterpower in Valatie
• Wild's Mill Complex

Electric Park - Kinderhook Lake, NY

• 1905 Electric Park – Kinderhook Lake
• Electric Park: A Hudson Valley Amusement Park

North Chatham (the long way home!)

After a lovely couple of days upstate (bike riding and partying at a high school reunion) I headed home via North Chatham.

My first destination was the lovingly-preserved North Chatham Trolley Station. I was debating whether to ride again but it was still freaking cold and windy so I just sniffed around the station and opted instead to drive the "back way" home.

North Chatham Trolley Station

This was on the Albany Hudson line - now a rail trail.

It was closed but the views through the windows were great!

Now a private residence 

At Chatham, I was blessed with a CSX freight train - I think there were four locomotives (I forgot to count)!

The Long Way Home

As mentioned, I didn't jump on my bike at North Chatham but decided to enjoy the autumn colors on a longer but charming way home...

NY - Spencertown, Austerlitz

MA - Egremont, Sheffield

CT - North Canaan, Winsted, New Hartford, Farmington, etc.

...it was gorgeous!

At Collinsville, I snapped a photo of the old railroad station as I drove by.   I will revisit his area to ride the Farmington bike path and sniff around to document it's rich railroad history. 

Albany-Hudson Trolley Trail - Schodack to Nassau Lake

On the way up to the Schenectady area, I stopped to ride a bit more of the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail. This was a former Trolley line. It was more hilly than expected but it was blast to coast down a hill for 5 minutes after pedaling up for 10 minutes!

I rode from The trailhead on Miller Road to Nassau Lake and back. It was windy but sunny...

At the Miller Road Trailhead

Remnants of the old trolley bridge

At Nassau Lake

The kiosks were lovely!

Ob the way back...

Perhaps a former industry serviced by the trolley?

A lovely Rock Cut

Albany-Hudson Electric Trail - Valatie Southward...

On Wednesday, I rode a section of the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail.  A former trolley line that ran all the way from Albany down to Hudson, it often paralleled the scenic Kinderhook Creek. Its fairly flat and an easy ride. I parked on Main Street right in downtown Valatie and rode the trail down to the Rossman Falls vicinity before heading back.

Basically "where I rode"

Downtown Valatie 
(Google Street View)

Valatie Depot

Mills Park Depot

Wildlife :-)

Scenic!

Chittendens Falls
(Now known as Rossman Falls)

Further Info

The Albany-Hudson Electric Trolley corridor runs from Hudson to Rensselaer in New York State. An electric trolley ran on the corridor for 30 years before closing in 1929. 

Albany-Hudson Electric Trail

Lots of good history info here:

Trolley Rail Line History, Electric Trolley Depots, Mohican Homelands, etc.

The Albany Hudson Fastline

Great History Stuff Here