Above: Unit ethanol train K682 passes Milepost 78 in the shadow of the Route 9W bridge. October 17, 2008.
RIVER SUB DVD -- Click For Details
The CSX River Subdivision
West Park 1 (of
1)
Added 11/2008. Copyright © 2008 Lewis Bogaty
From Highland Landing, the area of Highland along the Hudson River, the River Subdivision climbs what is probably its steepest, longest grade to West Park, where it bids the Hudson River farewell, and twists west and north through Esopus, Ulster Park, and Port Ewen. From there it crosses the Rondout Creek to the Kingston Yard, and on to Selkirk.
Getting there: From the New York State Thruway, I-87, take Exit 18, and follow Rt. 299 east to Route 9W north to West Park.
Above: Unit ethanol train K682 passes Milepost 78 in the shadow of the Route 9W
bridge. October 17, 2008.
In 2006 CSX completed a new, 4-mile-long "super-siding" from mile 76 to mile 80 with a cross-over at mile 78 in West Park. The new CP 76, toward the bottom of the steep grade from Highland Landing to West Park, is not readily accessible -- unless, of course, you're on a train:
Above: CP 76 as it looked in June 2009.
CP 78, however, is quite accessible in two places. As Route 9W crosses over the tracks, make an immediate right turn (east) onto Floyd Ackert Road, a dead end that winds down a hill to the tracks at milepost 78 and the south-facing signals. This is perhaps the best spot on the River Subdivision to photograph trains during a driving rain storm, protected under the wide Route 9W bridge. Prior to the construction of the siding, the road continued across the tracks to the house west of the tracks. But there is now no evidence of a road at all.
To reach the tracks at the cross-over and the north-facing signals, turn left off Route 9W onto Floyd Ackert Road.
On October 16, 2006, the finishing touches were being put on the newly active double track at CP 78, even as work had already begun on another new siding in Fort Montgomery. (Click to see.)
Above: Looking south toward the Route 9W bridge.
Below: Looking north at the crossover.
Above & Below: The workmen leave the tracks to
allow local train C712 to pass the
crossover and the signals (at restricted speed) on October 16,
2006.
As will be apparent from the more recent photos that follow, the south-facing
signal
was later moved to a position south of the Rt. 9W bridge.
Above & Below: With the new siding in its
second year of operation, Q118 comes around the curve
approaching Floyd Ackert Road
and passes
the CP 78 north-facing signals. May 6, 2008. (We caught up with this train later in West
Nyack. Click to see.)
Above: Q433 in the late afternoon shadows at Floyd Ackert Road, with Fall foliage at its peak, October 17, 2008.
Above: A New-York-Central-era whistle post
stands just south of the Route 9W bridge. October 15, 2008.
The new position of the south-facing signal can be seen in this view.
Above: Unit ethanol train K682, with UP
power, passes under the Route 9W bridge on October 17, 2008.
