#breakneckridge

[minister-erik]

COLDSPRING (view from Storm King State Park) - Composition Monday

© Erik McGregor - [email protected]

[railwayhistorical]

Metro North at Breakneck Ridge This is a northbound Metro North train at Breakneck Ridge on the Hudson Line, not far from Cold Spring. Storm King Mountain can be seen (vaguely due to the humidity) in the background camera right. The train is being pulled by a pair of EMD FL9s. These were built in 1960 for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad; the rail line pictured here was formerly the New York Central. One image by Richard Koenig; taken August 1988.

[-dani-x-elle-]

tried my hand at some climbing today...

[of-the-soull]

beauty is everywhere || insta: gingersherry

[railwayhistorical]

Along the Hudson River This is simply a wonderful spot on the face of the earth—we’re north of Cold Spring, New York, along the Hudson River, at Breakneck Ridge. Metro North still stops here, mainly for the benefit of hikers who want to explore the rugged landscape in this area (known as the Hudson Highlands). The “station” stop is just south of where the first photograph was taken with a few trains making stops each way, each day on the weekend. The land mass visible behind the southbound train in the first image is called Pollepel Island, and the structure thereon is called Bannerman Castle. The second photograph was taken the same afternoon at the same location—but looking south. It shows a Metro North commuter train headed north, most likely headed for Poughkeepsie. Also visible in the image, across the river, is the dramatic and massive form of Storm King Mountain. The model of locomotive, seen in both photographs, is interesting as well—the EMD FL9 was a unit designed specifically to be used for New York’s Grand Central Terminal—the destination for these trains at the time. [I believe all Amtrak trains traveling the water-level route currently end up at Penn Station now.] This unique engine is diesel-electric but also has a pick-up “shoe” for the electrified third-rail. This way the diesel prime-mover could be shut off or at least idled when in the tunnels under Madison Avenue and in the bowels of the massive terminal itself. Two images by Richard Koenig; taken in August of 1988.

[minister-erik]

BREAKNECK RIDGE (from little stony point) - Composition Monday

© Erik McGregor - [email protected] - 917-225-8963

[railwayhistorical]

The Maple Leaf from Breakneck Ridge

This is simply a wonderful spot on the face of the earth—we’re north of Cold Spring, New York, along the Hudson River, standing upon Breakneck Ridge.

Trains of Metro North, on the Hudson Line, still stop here on the weekend, mainly for the benefit of hikers who want to explore the rugged landscape in this area. [The train pictured here, the Maple Leaf, is courtesy Amtrak, and is being powered by a single EMD FL9. The line was formerly the New York Central.]

The prominent land mass visible behind the northbound train is called Pollepel Island, and the structure thereon is called Bannerman Castle. That’s most likely New Windsor, New York, on the other side of the Hudson. Not seen in this image is the dramatic and massive form of Storm King Mountain—which is out of frame to the left.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken in July of 1989 while the photographer was hiking Breakneck Ridge itself, looking for birds.

[railwayhistorical]

Castle Rock Estate

This wonderful estate is near Garrison, New York; the area is known as the Hudson Highlands. I have two images here when I visited the main house in the early 1990s some some event or party.

When standing on the veranda of the main house (seen in image one), one can take in a fantastic view (image two) of the Hudson River with West Point as well as the gap between Storm King Mountain and Breakneck Ridge—sometimes called the “wind-gate”.

When I lived in the area, I had no idea this was built by a railroad tycoon, William H. Osborn, who held the position of president of the Illinois Central Railroad, along with other achievements.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken in the early 1990s.