The CSX River Subdivision
Scenic Highlights (1 of 1)
Added 11/2009 Copyright © 2009 Lewis Bogaty
We hope you will wander along the tracks with us for the entire length of the River Line as we explore mile by mile from the gritty industrial towns of New Jersey through its leafy northern suburbs, and through New York's Hudson Valley, winding along the west shore of the Hudson River, to the mountains and farmlands further north. To follow the train line from south to north, just click on the link at the bottom of this page and each succeeding page, or use the chapter list at the top of each page. The chapters run in geographic order from south to north.
But if you have only time enough for the scenic highlights, this present page will point you to them. Here you'll find our personal list of the top ten most scenic spots on the line, ranked in our own quite arbitrary order. Click on a picture to be directed to that chapter. To return to this page, simply use your browser back button or the chapter list on the top of each page.
1. Iona Island and Bear Mountain
Whether from the top of Bear Mountain on the west, or from the overlook on the east shore of the Hudson River, or from the various vantage points on the south or north ends of the island, Iona Island is surely a consensus number one on any list of scenic highlights of the River Subdivision.
2. Fort Montgomery
With a tunnel, a trestle, three bridges, a Revolutionary War battlefield, and the Hudson River, Fort Montgomery is only just slightly behind Iona Island, if it really is behind at all. Maybe it should be #1. This much is for sure, it is not to be missed.
3. The Walkway Over the Hudson & Highland
Just opened to the public on October 3, 2009, and immediately vaulted into the number three position, the Walkway offers a variety of train views with the river and Mid-Hudson Bridge for backgrounds. Ground-level views from Highland and views of the Walkway from the Mid-Hudson Bridge round out this selection.
4. Catskill, NY
Catskill is surely the highlight of the upper River Sub, featuring the Catskill trestle and a nineteenth century train station.
5. Kingston, NY
The massive Wilbur Trestle places Kingston on the list. And adding on a train yard, a tunnel, and two control points doesn't hurt its ranking.
6. Marlboro & Milton, NY
The stretch of the Hudson River from Dock Road in Marlboro through CP 66, MP 68, and CP 69 in Milton is some of the prettiest shoreline along the river, and throw in a nineteenth century freight house.
7. Stony Point & Jones Point
More Hudson River vistas, and CP 35 in the Stony Point Revolutionary War Battlefield, along with the defect detector and signal at the Anchors monument, with the Indian Point nuclear reactor looming across the river, put this section of river right behind Milton on our list.
8. Highland Falls
Highland Falls boasts a train station, an iron bridge, and some beautiful river views.
9. Ridgefield Park
The very popular CP 5 makes the list mostly for the view of the Overpeck Creek, but also for the action on the Susie Q, which runs side by side with the River Sub here. And then there's the train station just to the north.
10. Storm King Mountain
Most often back-lit, with the tracks blocked by shadows and shrubs, and the road closed to traffic more often than not, Storm King Mountain is nonetheless too spectacular to leave off the list.
