The River Subdivision crosses the border from Northvale NJ to Tappan NY at Andre Avenue, a block south of Milepost 19.
Getting there: Route 303 is your main route for following the River Sub tracks from Tappan all the way to Haverstraw. In Tappan, from Route 303, take Oak Tree Road west as it twists a bit. Turn left into Tappan Road. Then turn right into Andre Avenue to the tracks.
Above: Q409 crosses into New Jersey at track speed on October 28, 2005.
Once on the straightaway south of Orangeburg, the trains really move.
Above: A mixed freight crosses into New York on February 25, 2008.
During the American Revolution, British General Henry Clinton sent his adjutant, Major John Andre, to Haverstraw to meet with Benedict Arnold, who was preparing to betray his country by helping the British plan the capture of West Point, a plan that was doomed to fail. On his attempted return to the British lines, Andre was captured in Tarrytown and eventually taken to Tappan where he was tried and convicted of spying. George Washington refused his request to be shot like a gentleman, and instead ordered him hanged. Several blocks west of the railroad tracks, you will come upon Andre Hill on your right, a quiet residential street that widens into a circle with houses around it before descending the other side of the hill. In the center of the circle is a monument on the spot where Major Andre was hanged.
Above & Below: Andre Hill, photographed on February 25, 2008 and March 13, 2004.
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Below: Southbound across Andre Avenue into New Jersey on October 28, 2005.
Above: Northbound into New York, led by a Conrail Dash8 40-CW, on September 19, 2005. For the first half decade of CSX ownership of the River Line, engines in Conrail paint were as common as CSX colors. But by late 2004 they were quickly becoming scarce. In late 2005, this engine was a rare sight.
Below: Even rarer than a Conrail engine on the River Subdivision in 2005 was a Norfolk Southern engine.
This one led Q439 south on October 28, 2005.
A block north of the border, Old Tappan Road crosses the River Sub tracks at Milepost 19.
Above: A view of the Old Tappan Road grade crossing on February 25, 2008.
The Tappan train station stood where the Chase Bank is now.Below: The Tappan train station was built in 1883, designed by the New York, West Shore, and Buffalo Railway and constructed by James H. Banta from Sparkill, NY. The Blauvelt, Orangeburg, and Tappan stations all followed "station plan #5," although the Tappan station was the mirror image of the other two. Thanks to Allan F. Seebach, Jr. for photo and information.
Below: Q118 crosses Old Tappan Road, passing the New-York-Central-era milepost. February 25, 2008.
