EDIT: This post is from April and I've already taken the trip - you can answer the question asked on the next page by someone else recently, but mine has already been answered and the trip was a success.
I'm headed off to the Big Apple for a photo shoot next weekend, and since I have some control over where we go (for once!) I'm wondering what locations you would recomend. I'm headed into the city in the railfan's seat of a Metro-North MU set (right by the glass door with an engineer's view) in mid-afternoon, staying the night, and heading home the next day.
Locations already on the list are short at the moment, just Grand Central Terminal, but I have considered the Hell's Gate Bridge and a couple others.
Any suggestions, tips, or comments?
You have asked a lot because there is a lot to see and do! How much time do you have in the city, when are you arriving, when do you have to retreat? Subway rides, like the 7 train will give you great views of Sunnyside yard, the W and R trains will, too, from the opposite side. But be careful taking pictures as there is a paranoid and uneven security system in effect...you may get lots of pictures with no problem, then all of a sudden be clipped by some authoritative person. So be cool: No pics around GCT or Penn stations, be discreet and careful elsewhere.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
Well, not actually all that much time can be devoted to railfanning... Perhaps two or three different locations, max.
And Grand Central Terminal - what do you mean no photos? No photos at track level or in the main concourse? I'm supposing you mean track level (the main concourse's balconies are elbow-to-elbow with tourists snapping photos) and that makes sense to me. I will snap off just one photo, but I definetly won't linger.
What I'm looking for is good old fashioned above-ground (underground is fun too, but also cramped, dark, and impossible to be discreet) railfanning on the right side of the tracks. Lots of action (read, busy mainline) from a safe, friendly position.
Depending on how much time you have, a trip to Jamaica on LIRR would definitely be a good option. There isn't a whole lot of variety (I enjoy suburban operations), but the volume is tough to beat.
Yes, I had been considering that, and Henry6 also brought that up in an email to me. I thik that's what I'll aim for.
Any good, safe, locations around there that can be accessed by walking from a subway stop or similar form of public transportation?
Unfortunatly the railfan view is no longer available on a lot of Metro North and LIRR MU trains as the M7s have full-width cabs. However there are still some M3s running but not a lot. You may also want to check out the old West Side Frieght line. Fort Tryon Park in the Indwood section of Manhatten allows awesome views of the Amtrak line into Penn Station. Also the web site has a lot of neet information on the subways and railroads of New York: http://www.forgotten-ny.com/SUBWAYS/Subways%20homepage/subways.html.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
If I were in NYC, I would like to see the Oak Point Yard. Or is this a neighborhood that should be avoided?
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
Acela in the patch of daylight west of 9th Ave. A skyscraper will be built there soon enough.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=233057
Definitely get off a southbound Metro North commuter train at 125th Street, go to the south end of the platform, keep your camera hidden, and just before the right time whip it out and photograph a whole bunch of various trains going toward you and leaving south of the station on the four-track line, with the skyline as the background. The very best spot to photograph communter passenger trains in the NY area. Just plan on taking one good shot, put your camera away, and reboard a southbound train to Grand Central. DON'T LINGER!!! If the conductor asks you for a ticket, the stup or receipt of the ticket you bought to catch the train you got off will normally be sufficient. I f he asks for a $5 cash fare, the photo will have been worth it.
The best way to insure an engineer's view in riding into New York is to board a Poughkeepsie - New York dual-mode push-pull. You won't have a seat for an engineer's view, but you can stand next to the cab, unless they have changed these cab-cars to full width. They were built with corner cabs and I hope they still have them. The diesel is usually (always?) on the north end. Of the three Metro North lines into NY, the line along the Hudson is the most interesting, and you can occasionally see CSX freights on the River LIne across the Hudson River.
The No., 7 line and its view of Sunnyside Yard is a good bet for the morning. Then, get off at Woodside and go downstairs to the outbound main-line LIRR platform and then ride out to Jamaica. I think there should be a ticket machine on the platform. Go upstairs at Jamaica to the passenger bridge across all the platforms and enjoy lots of tracks and lots of trains. Diesle push-pull as well as electric mu.
One front window ride still available and worth the money and time is PATH between Journal Square, Jersey City, and Newark. This is undoubtadly the fastest subway-like operation in the New York area.
If you had more time, the ferry boat ride to Staten Island with its view of Ms. Liberty and the opportunity to ride the ex B&O-owned Staten Island Rapid Transit to and from Tottenviille, with its interurban-like characteristics, grade crossings, etc. is worthwhile. Freight service used to be provided by a some of the few B&O camel-backs. Front windows are still available on subway-type mu-cars used.
And yes, take the 1, 2, or 3 subway to Broadway and West 72nd Street, walk west to the Hudson River and Riverside Park (though a good and safe neighborhood) and wait for Amtrak in either direction with the sun coming from the west for good pictures.
Wanswheel: I've ridden through that spot, and would like to photograph there if I can't wrangle a trip out to Jamaica. Is it easily accessible, and do you have more information on it?
Dave: 125th street would yield some great photos, but I'm not sure I want to take the risk... Getting arrested or hassled isn't a good way to start any trip, and convincing my parental unit (who I'm traveling with) to do that might not work well... Is there a location nearby to get similar shots without being specifically on a station platform? I'll try for a shot out the front of the MU car, and it won't be the same, but it sure beats getting arrested...
I'll check about PATH as well. Perhaps I'll ride it out to Newark and watch trains in Newark itself.
All things to think about... We'll see what gets approved for the money and time...
Stay away from the Oak Island Yard. It is in an area even I as a native New Yorker avoided as much as possible. It is a VERY dangerous place to be.
Are any of the other stations on the MN Hudson line - say, north of Spuyten Duyvil or Yonkers - worth stopping off at for a few photos ? I'm pretty sure that some of them - such as Cold Spring ? - have overhead walkways that cross the tracks and may permit some good photos. Or, are there public streets nearby that would afford a similar good persepctive ? Any with a good cafe, coffeeshop, or park, etc. nearby for Ty's companion to kill a half-hour or so while waiting ?
- PDN.
Most definitely each offers its own opportunity. But when you are working against a clock, you've got to pick and choose very carefully. But that is a thought...I wonder if....lv. GCt, get of 125th St...then get on.....get off.....get on...which month would you arrive at Wassaic or Poughkipsee? Great pics though!!
Really liked the Acela shot. BTW is that neoclassical white building atop the tunnel an old entry into Penn Station? - a.s.
Post Office Building
davekleppertake the 1, 2, or 3 subway to Broadway and West 72nd Street, walk west to the Hudson River and Riverside Park (though a good and safe neighborhood) and wait for Amtrak in either direction with the sun coming from the west for good pictures.
And while you're in the area, see if you can find the Alco Switcher (alas, stuffed and mounted) in Riverside Park South (scroll down that page, or search for 'Some big kids playing train' for an image)
wanswheel Acela in the patch of daylight west of 9th Ave. A skyscraper will be built there soon enough. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=233057
Interesting photo - thanks for the link !
Also interesting to read the caption for the info and about how the photographer - apparently a French citizen ? - was hassled by an MTA employee for taking the photo - from a public street ! - in April 2008 ! but stood up for his rights nevertheless. A lot of the comments responded to that.
I wonder if the Post Office ==> Moynihan Station project will get funded or underway as a "stimulus" project ? Anybody heard or read anything about that ?
- Paul North.
al-in-chgo Really liked the Acela shot. BTW is that neoclassical white building atop the tunnel an old entry into Penn Station? - a.s.
The above ground portions of the old Penn Station was torn down years ago to make room for the current Madison Square Garden. That neo-classical building that you see is a US Post Office.
Irv
If you want to see M-N action while not on a platform, I'd go to 97th St.and Park ave, which is where the tracks transition from above ground to below ground.
I'd also recommend taking a M-N train to Croton-Harmon, where you can check out the M-N yard...they may even have some FL9s in storage there.
If I remember correctly, Croton-Harmon has a public street overpass not far or even directly at the station that gives good viewing and photographic opportunities.
The mezzanine of the subway station, one level below the tracks, has good photo oppotunities for the LIRR main line. But it is MTA property. Roosevelt Avenue (or Road) directly below crosses the tracks with a sidewalk on each side. If I remember the neighborhood, the locals are mostly Chinese and Vietnamese and Thai immigrants, and don't present any problem. And yes, 94th Street, where the tracks emerge, looking north, can give some good photos, easily reached by the No. 6 Lexington Avenue subway to East 96th Street and Lexington, one block between Park and Third. Be sure to look at the Mosque at 96th and Third, a gigantic and very beautiful building, gift to the USA from Kuwait. Some of the other stations have pedestrian overpasses, Irvington for one, if my memory is correct.
GP-9_Man11786 Unfortunatly the railfan view is no longer available on a lot of Metro North and LIRR MU trains as the M7s have full-width cabs. However there are still some M3s running but not a lot. You may also want to check out the old West Side Frieght line. Fort Tryon Park in the Indwood section of Manhatten allows awesome views of the Amtrak line into Penn Station. Also the web site has a lot of neet information on the subways and railroads of New York: http://www.forgotten-ny.com/SUBWAYS/Subways%20homepage/subways.html.
GP-9, I've been to the Inwood Park area.
Can you really get good shots of the Amtrak trains and the Hudson at Fort Tryon park?
Are there pathways/ overlooks that show the tracks and the river?
This map makes it look like one could walk from the Inwood Park parking area in nearby streets to the Fort Tryon park.
http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/M029/map/ft_tryon_map.pdf
I've railfanned NY but haven't been to this particular area. Any adivce would be helpful. Thanks.
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