NYC in New York City

[Flatsguide]

Way back in time,the mid 1940's I would play around in a railroad yard that ran steam switchers. I'm remembering back over sixty years so please forgive me my lack of details. I lived in Manhatten close to the George Washington bridge, 177th & Wadsworth. I remembered crossing over to the Bronx around High Bridge and playing in the RR yard, even being invited up onto the switcher while it was being worked. That would never happen today. Does anyone know where that yard was and what kind of engines were in use? I know from research that there is a big yard in the south Bronx but I would not have gone way down there. Also I would take the 7th ave. Subway north to Van Cortland park and watch the steam engines there.

Thanks for reading this and any help you may offer.

Regards, Richard

[daveklepper]

Until about 1953 the New York Central operated the Putnam Divison passenger service from Brewster, following a route about half way between the Hudson and Harlem Divisions, south to 161St and Sedgewick Avenue in the Bronx.   Before about 1908, the line continued across a swing bridge to a joint terminal with the Ninth Avenue elevated at the Polo Grounds Stations, 155th Street and Eighth Avenue.  At one time through trains were operated from that point to Boston via the Putnam line and a connection with the New York and New England at Brewster, partly over what became the New Haven's Maybrook line and partly over the route of the famouse White Train through Willamantic and Blackstone.   The popularity of the Shore Line New Haven operations ended that operation, and then the Swing Bridge was taken over by the IRT to extend the 9th Avneue Elevated to a connection with the Jerome Avenue elevated extension of the Easst Side Lexington Avenue Subway.

 

About four or five commuter trains powered by 4-6-0's ran down to Sedgewick Avenue every morning.  After June 1940, when the elevated south of 155th Street was discontinued, one could take the Polo Grounds shuttle to a free transfer to the 8th Avenue subway at 155th and 8th or to a same station different platform connection with the Lexington Avenue subway at 167th Street and Jerome Avenue.  Or one could transfer to one of the regular Hudson Division commuter trains at High Bridge Station.   Some off-peak, reverse commute, and Saturday service was provided but no Sunday service.   Coaches were the arch roof commuter cars similar to those in Boston and Albany Boston commuter service and in wide use on the Chicago and Northwestern in Chicago commuter service.

 

There was a daily peddler freight powered by a 4-6-0, taking just about all day and night to make a round trip.

 

The line was dispatched by train orders, and all switches were hand-throw.   The only signals other than at switch stands were at High Bridge, the Sedgewick Avenue terminal (two tracks with a center low platform) and at Brewster.   The wye at Brewster is still in place, and there is an industrial siding north of the Hudson Div. tracks bend to the west that is on the old Putnam roadbed.

 

And there more to tell, including the short-lived electrified Gettys Sq. Branch, the previous use of tank engines, etc.

[daveklepper]

I should also have mentioned that the Major Deegan Expressway pretty much wiped out any traces of the old Putnam right of way where in paralleled the Hudson Division.   Traces of the old yard south of High Bridge where you enjoyed yourself do remain as extra electrified storage tracks (or perhaps only one extra track) off the regular electrified Hudson Division tracks.

[Flatsguide]

Hi Dave,

Thanks very mich for the information. I sure enjoyed playing there. When I would get home I'd catch it from my mother; " You've been playing at the RR yard again..Your filthy...Wash up"  Fun times.

Thanks,

richard

[daveklepper]

More memories.  I never saw any locomotive other than the 4-6-0's on the line, so I suppose they were used as switchers as well as road power.  The line was double-tracked (at least for some time) between Sedgewick Avenue Station (161st-162nd St.) and Van Courtland Park Junction, in the middle of the Park, where formerly the Getty's Square Branch turned northwest to a two-track stub terminal at the southeast corner of Getty's Square, Yonklers.   This was before my time, but I was told the this short line had been electrified with the standard NYC unerruning third rail, including the tracks down to the Sedgewick Avenue Terminal, and service was provided by short two and three car trains of standard NYC mu equipment.  But, again, no through service to Grand Central.

 

Also, not all the commuter runs started from Brewster.  About 2/3 or 3/5 up the line there was a small yard north of the Lake Mahopack Station, with a small turntable, and about have the commuter fleet started there in the early morning and ended there.   No signals here that I remember, just hand throw switches with targets. 

 

Do your memories include the single-track Sedgewick Avenue streetcar that ran near the yard you visited?   (Although its actual location was on Ceder Street near the yard.)   Was one of the lightest of the Third Avenue system, at the end one car every half hour.

[Tom Curtin]

Also, not all the commuter runs started from Brewster.  About 2/3 or 3/5 up the line there was a small yard north of the Lake Mahopack Station, with a small turntable, and about have the commuter fleet started there in the early morning and ended there.   No signals here that I remember, just hand throw switches with targets. 

Not exactly.  The place you're thinking of (and describing correctly) is Yorktown Heights, not Lake Mahopac

[daveklepper]

Thanks for the correction/