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Re: (erielack) Hypothetical Question on The Southern Tier

- --- RJFlei_@_aol.com wrote:
> Someone recently posted about the possibility of the rebuilding of the 
> Poughkeepsie Bridge. 
> 
> If this ever happened, what might the affect be on Maybrook and the
> Southern Tier? anyone care to speculate?

I doubt the bridge structure is capable of handling today's rail cars with
286,000 pound gross loads per car.  When it was last used, car capacities
were about 200,000 pounds and trains were restricted to 10 mph.

The rail landscape has changed a lot since the bridge closed.  None of the
railroads that fed the west end exist except for the Southern Tier, and
that is 'easily' bypassed via Selkirk.  The only real advantage would be
for freight moving from the south to southwestern New England, some of
which goes by the New York Cross Harbor's car floats and then P&W (IIRC).

It isn't going to happen easily, if at all.  The right-of-way on both
sides of the bridge (west to Maybrook, east to Fishkill Junction) is badly
broken up, with most of the property sold and some developed.  On the east
side, the fill was removed in several areas and the properties have been
built up.

The bridge itself is owned by a non-profit group, WALKWAY ON THE HUDSON. 
Their intention is to open the bridge as a hiking trail.

Gary R. Kazin
DL&W Milepost R35.7
Rockaway, New Jersey

http://www.geocities.com/gkazin/index.html


		
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