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THE UPPER HARLEM LINE - 1997
Photographs by Jeff Sumberg

THE DAYS OF LUCIUS BEBE'S "MIXED TRAIN DAILY" ARE LONG GONE. Rural single tracked lines with frequent passenger service are a rarity. Photographer Jeff Sumberg took a day off to relax on the closest thing to Petticoat Junction, Metro-North's upper Harlem Line. He also did some exploring north of the Dover Plains terminus, where the pieces are in place to restore service after a quarter of a century. 

Many thanks once again to Jeff for sharing his fine photographs.

You can click on the thumbnails to download the larger picture.

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Passengers transfer from M-series electric trains to the FL9-hauled shuttle at Brewster North.

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A look inside the cab of an FL9. The red light on the speedometer is a cab signal indication. The selector knob above the throttle is used to select diesel or electric operation.

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Dover Plains shuttle gets ready to head north. The engine is on the south end to permit easier fueling at Putnam Jct.

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Cab car 6117, built by Bombardier in Barre, Vermont, gets ready to head north at the Brewster North Station.

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The rails are barely visible at the old Wassaic station.  The road crossing is Furnace Bank Road.

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FL9 2003 is ready to head south at Dover Plains station, 77 miles from Grand Central terminal. The siding on the right is part of the yard limits now in effect at Dover Plains.

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Metro-North's Wassaic Extension to the Harlem Line near Tenmileriver. Notice the welded rail ready to be installed.

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Looking north, about two miles south of Wassaic at Sinpatch Road. This will be the site of the Tenmileriver station.

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North of Wassaic, the rails are gone but the roadbed is intact. The new station will be about a mile north of here.

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Just north of the connection with the Beacon Line is the ice pond at Towners. Wildlife includes turkeys, bears, birds and beavers (who like to build dams that can flood the tracks).

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The old New Haven Maybrook Line (now the Metro-North Beacon Line) crosses over the Harlem Line tracks at Towners, NY.

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The rails are long gone three miles north of Wassaic where a path remains for hikers and bikers.

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Last updated November 10, 2010

 

  • Photographs on this page are copyright © Jeff Sumberg and must not be used 
    without his permission except for personal enjoyment.