Another trip to upstate NY on the Taconic gave me a chance to check out a couple of vintage railroad remnants.
Martindale, NY
The Martindale Bridge is right off the parkway. This was the ROW for the New York Central’s Harlem Division. The ROW looks like it is still well traversed by ATV -- it might be fun to bike!
Sourced from the ITO Historic Railways Map
Chatham, NY
Chatham at one time was a bustling railroad center and the lovely railroad station reflects its importance in the past. Here the New York Central 's Harlem Division met with both the Boston and Albany (now CSX) and the Rutland Railroad.
Sourced from the ITO Historic Railways Map
The Lovely Circle
Chatham is still a charming small town. Up the street a bit is their own brewery and a little further: a lovely traffic circle. The Old Hotel on the left of the 4th Photo has a lovely restaurant...
I was traveling down the Glenville Hill in April on Johnson Road and decided to sniff out any Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville (FJ&G) Electric Railway remnants nearby. Sure enough, right off Route 5, there were bridge abutments over Washout Creek,
On my way to road bike a section of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, I decided to snap a few photos of the old train stations in the vicinity.
Far removed from any railroad tracks, this station exists on Rt 7 near the Orem Diner. Info gleaned from the Tyler City Station website (Scroll to Wilton1) details its original location. Old Photo >
Cannondale
I had visited this station quite a few years ago and remember there being a Coffee Shop inside. Sadly, it has been long gone...
But I did get to snap a couple of interior shots thru the window,
I decided to re-visit the Abandoned Railroad Bridge over the Merritt Parkway, but this time trekking in from the north. (Feb 2015 snowshoe visit >). I was joined by three friends and it was an easy hike to the bridge even though we were somewhat stymied by overgrowth.
We continued on south after crossing the bridge as I wanted to show them the old foundation I had seen previously. The embankment was easily discernible but barberries were everywhere!
The foundation...
Heading back...
Sadly, a dead wild turkey was spotted on the Merritt from the bridge :-( [In Montana this would be dinner for some - ROADKILL Yum yum!]
I then toured the Broadway Woods area with my excellent guide John Lauria (the Trumbull historian), who pointed out some old railroad ties just west of the cut...
It was a long day -- I had mountain biked up in Old Mine Park before our hike and I headed over to the Valley after my second hike with John! This old man needed a nap when I finally got home mid afternoon but it was a fun day for sure.
Due to my numerous web postings on railroad history, I was contacted by the Danbury Railroad Museum for a tour and chat with a few of the active members. The weather was still cool but sunny and my visit was excellent. What an amazing array of railroad cars, indoors exhibits and most importantly - congenial kindred spirits passionately dedicated to preserving an often forgotten (and misguided) era of our heritage.
The museum occupies the former Danbury Railroad Station as well as a good sized railroad yard brimming with a wide variety of rolling stock and engines.
Of course, historical maps detailing the regions railroad lines graced walls of the former station and I was enthralled!
My Tour Guides
My "tour guides" were: Pete (a retired engineer and avid storyteller), Phil (a multimedia specialist AND a knowledgeable mechanic for the many of the locomotives), John (an active tour guide at the museum) and Bob Boothe who initially contacted and invited me on this tour (he is building the steam locomotive shown below).
As mentioned, behind the museum is a yard full of trains: passenger cars, diesel locomotives, cabooses, both a Sperry car and a Sperry bus, and to top it off: a glistening steam engine. I was overwhelmed - it was a gold mine!!!
Most of the cars and locomotives are open and visitors are encouraged to get inside and learn and explore. I was double lucky to have four super knowledgable guides to give an amazing in-depth, hands-on adventure through it all!
Budd Car
One of our first stops was a refurbished Budd Car repainted in the exact NH colors. Pete used to drive this and we saw the cab and heard stories on the folks he knew personally on his runs.
B&M Steam Locomotive
Next was Bob's "baby" an amazing Mogul B&M steam engine. He took me right inside the cab and explained the inner workings of this amazing machine. Back in the glory days of steam, the trains ran a lot faster and these steam engine could really fly!
Caboose(s)
The next stop were a couple of cabooses (did someone say "cabeese? :-) ) and it was really cool just to sit up top and see the view. Bob graciously snapped of photo of me grinning.
GM Diesel
Next we ventured inside a big diesel and saw close up the engine and electrical system. We sat in the cab and listened to Pete tell his stories of exactly what is was like to drive this monster locally back in the day... He had a million fascinating vignettes from yesteryear. I--of course--had a million questions and the discourse was enlightening and entertaining for sure!
Yard Abundance
As mentioned, the yard was chock full of a wide array of trains. Most of it was well documented with signs, etc.
The crane was huge--but think about it--it's job was to pull up train cars after a wreck--that would have to be a big bruiser!!
Every car had a story to tell and to have the foursome chatting around me was a thrill.
Sperry bus
There is even a working forge on the grounds where blacksmithing occurs.
Mail Car
But I saved the best for last. This restored mail car was unbelievable. A long time before the "conquest" of car and planes, railroads provided speedy and efficient service delivering mail all across the country. Mail bags were simply placed on a hook and snapped up by the train whizzing by then sorted enroute within a mail car just like this.
I captured Bob explaining this in a short video. The bits about guns and a stray dog are great!
What's Next?
I will be assisting the organization with interactive presentations and my extensive digital experience. Stay tuned >> interactive history maps are "a comin'" :-)
