Any of you New Haven fans interested in viewing a few scraps of old paper? I have some Central New England RY flimsies that I'm thinking of scanning. Boxcab E50
The CNE bridged the NYC Harlem Division at Towners, NY, 5-1/2 miles north of Brewster. This is the line, later owned and double-tracked by the New Haven, that connected Danbury, CT via the Hudson River bridge at Poughkeepsie, NY, with the Lehigh & New England at Maybrook, NY. It would be interesting if you had flimsies for that portion of the CNE (NH). BTW, the CNE started life as the New York & New England (NY&NE).
New York & New England Railroad Company copied at Boston, Massachusetts, on November 1, 1892: Boxcab E50
New York & New England Railroad Company copied at East Hartford, Connecticut, on July 12, 1892: Boxcab E50
Ken, those are great flimsies, and in excellent condition for being 115 years old. I don't recognize the name in the first paper, but since it was issued from the Boston office, I suspect it's a location in MA, RI, or eastern CT. The NY&NE ran from Providence and Boston across the center of CT to Brewster, NY, also to the Hudson River bridge at Poughkeepsie, NY and on to Maybrook, NY. The first name on the second paper appears to be Hopewell (Jct., NY), about 15 miles SSE of Poughkeepsie. I can't make out the second name. It doesn't come close to any names I can locate within 50 miles either side of Hopewell along the NY&NE. It's interesting to note that the Hudson River bridge was opened to traffic in 1892, the same year these orders were issued. Pity Conrail couldn't afford to repair the bridge after it burned in 1974. Maybe CSX, or a well-funded regional will repair and use it, since it provides a direct link from northeast PA, north Jersey, and southern NY to the CT ports at Bridgeport, New Haven, New London, etc....?
I've also wondered if a day will come. That was a decent route. The L&HR seemed to be surviving. Until that fire. Hmmm. Would they have continued, if the bridge was still there? Or would the Big Blue have still swallowed them? Oh well.... The location on that first order sure looks to be "Hop River." Hey! I found it! In my 1916 Official Guide, shows as being the next station after Willamantic. Five miles further on. Somewhere, I have an NH System ETT.... Anyhow, I'll try to get my CNE stuff done soon. Maybe this evening. Boxcab E50
Ken, the Hudson River bridge is still there, but the 1974 fire burnt much of the wood. Sadly, the fire occurred at the same time as the breakup of Penn Central and creation of Conrail, so there was no management incentive to inspect the bridge for metallurgical damage. As time progressed, the bridge became forgotten and left without maintenance. There have been attempts by the Rails-Trails folks to obtain title, but Conrail, then CSX were not interested...so it vegetates. About 10 years ago, Metro-North ran an inspection train over a portion of that line up from New Canaan, CT, through Danbury, CT, and down to Brewster, NY with an eye to expanding NYC commuter service, but nothing came of it...so the line and bridge languish. Perhaps Peirce Behrendt could add more insight....?
Hmmm. Now I remember an article in Railfan Magazine. Would need to dig through boxes. Titled something like "Poughkeepsie Bridge Is Burning?" Hmmm. Maybe time to find that issue, and read it. Have my CNE all scanned. Just need to upload. Thread forthcoming. Boxcab E50
I just read a local (Poughkeepsie, NY) news article about a yahoo who crawled across the bridge last weekend. In passing, the article mentioned that a rail/trail group held title to the bridge and was raising funds to repair it as a walking trail. Well, so much for CSX re-opening the bridge. BTW, when the guy got off the bridge in Poughkeepsie, he was arrested and taken to a local mental hospital for "observation". :angel:
Well, if done properly, and via the Rails To Trails program, then it can go back to railroad again. If it was done otherwise, then there's a huge mess at best. Boxcab E50
