Favorite Put Memories

Here is a link for a nice web page by photographer/author Rob Yasinsac who covers interesting architecture in the Hudson Valley.

The link has to do with the Alexander Smith carpet factory that in its heyday was the Put's biggest customer.

http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.o...c/hvarch/smith1.html

 

My wife's mother worked there as did my wife's aunt.

 

Tom

My family has  lived in Mahopac my entire life. Our house was built by my grandfather in 1930. I remember going to the station with my father on Friday nights to pick up my other grandfather coming from NYC.  The sight and sound of a steam engine  chugging up the hill from Baldwin Place is one of my fondest memories.  We live about 2 miles from the old Mahopac Mines.  My father used to tell me about the Putnam Division spur that serviced the mines and the turntable that was located there.  Joe Schiavone's books about the Old Put are the best.  I met him at the first Mahopac train show, 3 years ago.  A very nice gentleman.

 

Peter,

 

Just noticed your question. I believe the bridge was removed around 1960.

 

Jim

 

 

Jim,

That seems to fit...the Transit Authority discontinued service on Aug. 31, 1958.

 

Tom

The Shuttle ended operation August 31 1958. The city pushed the TA for discontinuance as the needed to align the roadway for the ongoing reconstruction of the Harlem River Drive at that point. The stone piers of the structure to the bridge where in the way and had to be removed. Thus they were the first to go. The bridge was left in the open position and in 1959 or 60 it was demolished.

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 25, 2015, at 11:15 AM, O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

A few more I came across - all circa 1905:

 

The first bridge in the background is the Putnam Bridge. Note the old semaphore signals and what appears to be a unique double tank work car on the left.

 

 

Now from the opposite direction showing more of the Harlem riverfront area. In the background is the Highbridge Aqueduct when it was still all stone, with the Washington Bridge north of it.

 

The area along the river between the two bridges is where we would go to watch construction of the Major Deegan Expressway in the early 50s.

 

 

While not of the Put, this is a photo of the construction of the 153 St bridge across the New York Central Mott Haven coach yard. The bridge would connect Morris Ave on the far side with Mott Avenue where the photographer is standing. Mott Ave would later become part of the Grand Concourse.

 

To the right of the photo is where the Hudson Division would separate from the Harlem/New Haven line. The Hudson Division trains would head toward the Harlem River and then pass through the area shown in the first two photos.

 

I'm sure Tom would be interested in knowing that just to the right of the photo is what would become the location of Cardinal Hayes HS .

 

I'd take the Morris Ave bus down to 153rd and walk across the bridge over the train yard to school everyday.

 

 

Jim

In the news...The New York Times on Aug. 20, 1958 ran a story entitled, 155th St. Shuttle Will Halt Aug. 31., Last El in Manhattan to Be Discontinued to Save $230,000 a Year.

Here are some tibits:

• The facility, a remnant of the old Ninth Avenue Elevated Line, the first line in the borough, connects the 155th Street station of the IND Concourse line with the 167th Street station of the IRT Jerome Avenue line in the Bronx.
• Charles L. Patterson, authority chairman, said discontinuance of the mile and a half shuttle was decided because of declining passenger revenues and the high cost of rehabilitating the forty-year-old structure. It will be turned over to the city on Sept. 15 for eventual demolition. He said the shuttle now serves only 1,200 passengers a day on the two-car train being operated. This reflects a 56% decline in the last six years, Mr. Patterson explained. Continued operation, he said, would require the expenditure of  $140,000 to $200,000 for repairs to the bridge, tracks and third rail. By terminating the operation, the chairman reported, the authority will save $230,500 a year. 

Tom

     

Great picture Bob.

 

Jim, same for you too, but you had to mention Cardinal Hayes High School...

 

Tom

Couldn't help myself, Tom!

 

Jim

Great photos, thanks for sharing.

Tom.....that is fascinating........makes perfect sense and it would not have been hard to do......

 

Peter

I did some more digging and came up with another article about the Put which was published by the Times. This one's dated September 13, 1981 and talks about the book written by Dan Gallo and Fred Kramer which was being released then. Steve Bogen's Quadrant Press published the book. I have many good memories of visiting Mr. Bogen's office on 44th Street. His building also could accessed from 45th Street so we used to hit the Model Railroad Corporation, Roundhouse, Red Caboose and then his place all in one shot. Having four train places on the same block made for some great memories which I treasure to this day.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/1981/09...the-putnam-line.html

 

Bob 

Found some cool pics.  The first one is Highbridge Yard with some of the Putnam cars in it  The second two are Sedgewick Ave Terminal

 

 

Ben,

   Nice photos. I've seen #1 and #2 before but not #3 which gives a great perspective.

 

Tom

Great pics, Ben!

 

Peter

Hi Bob,

  Pretty sure the second image is Mount Hope. I think the first one may be the previous bridge at Gray Oaks/Old Saw Mill Road (Yonkers). 

 

Thanks for keeping the post going.

 

Tom

Is #3 Sedgwick Ave? 

 

Tom

Hi, Tom.

 

I believe that's University Heights. Just north of University Heights station, the right of way curves slightly to the west. You can see what appears to be that curve in the background of the image.

 

Bob 

Great new pics.......you know, the picture of the old Millwood Station kind of looks like the new "built up" Menard's is offering.

 

Peter