Looking at the Harlem River on Google Earth from the Metro North Bridge to where it connects to the Hudson River at Spuyten Duyvil, there was no evidence of commercial boat traffic or barges tied up. It appears the area has been largely de-industrialized. The new freight connection between the Hudson division and the Hell Gate line was partly built on piers just off the shore which further isolates the shore from the river. There does not seem any reason for a large boat to go up the river.
There was a drawbridge on the Hudson line, at Wappinger's creek, south of Poughkeepsie. There was some pressure on the Metro-North by boat owners and developers (who were drooling over waterfront land with access to the Hudson) to restore the bridge which would slow down rail traffic. MN welded the bridge shut and scrapped the lifting machinery. In view of how many people ride the train every day and how many people have boats, it was the right thing to do but a lot of people in Poughkeepsie were upset anyway.
I have been commuting since 1980, and I have never been delayed by an open drawbridge over the Harlem River. At Cos Cob, maybe once a year or so, usually only for a couple of minutes.
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