Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge

[@vettebecker1]

I have been across the bridge, but still wish it was open to rail traffic! What a sight that would be, just imagine some of the steam giants still rolling across today❤❤

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Oh man!! You're a dreamer just like me! Haha!

[@helsleg]

Thanks for the walk, Russ! I walk the bridge every day in good weather but I'm not going out there in 10 degree temps! You're a better man than I am for sure.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Haha! I don't know about that! But, that was my only open free day to go there and film, so.....I froze! Thanks for watching the videos!! We appreciate it!

[@kevinsalsbury2118]

Fantastic video Russ! Nice to hear you mention the Lehigh and New England. We have a bridge down here in Slatington PA that is also called the Poughkeepsie bridge. It was part if the Pennsylvania, Poughkeepsie, and Boston. Would be abandoned in the teens when the Lehigh and New England built their new road into Tamaqu PA. It pales in comparison to the beautiful bridge you just walked us across. I love my job....especially when I'm not there 😊. Cool that you caught a train while you were up there. Have a great day.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

I might have to come down there and film your "Poughkeepsie Bridge!" Have a great day Kevin!

[@kevinsalsbury2118]

​@@lostrailbeds8289It would be Pennsylvanias honor to have you here sir.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

@@kevinsalsbury2118 Haha! I've never had my name and "honor" in the same sentence before Kevin! Thank You!!

[@billguider]

Very nice Russ! I've walked across that bridge several times but not in weather like that. You're tougher than I am.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Pheww! It sure was cold!! Thanks!

[@garykuipers2696]

I was a tower man for the EL when the bridge fire occurred. Rumor was the Penn Central started the fire as an excuse to close this bridge. PC favored their Selkirk connection. Once this bridge closed the operations at Maybrook took a dive. This caused the decline of the L&HRR which was a great bridge line operation. I lived near the L&HRR in Vienna/Great Meadows, NJ. You did a fantastic job on this video. Take care and God bless.😎🚂🚃🚃🚃✝

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Thank you VERY much! For watching, reminiscing, and the nice comment. Glad you enjoyed.....

[@1999jeep1999]

That was very interesting and entertaining great video

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Thanks....I did freeze that day! Brrrr!

[@kevincurtis6550]

Thanks for sharing, Russ. Great detailed history of the bridge and walkway.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Thanks Kevin!!

[@realmongo7565]

And yet I still have not walked across myself. Thanks Russ!

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Well, grab a beverage and some time for a trip across.....it is pretty cool. Do it when not too many others are out there. I've heard it can get crowded and Carnival-like. That's no fun!

[@KenK-mn3xc]

Thanks for sharing your wintry stroll, Russ -- I had to put on my sweater! I think you could have used a thermos of Stewart's for that day's walk. Cheers from the Big Gritty. ----Ken K.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Yes, I should have gotten a large coffee that morning! Thanks!

[@wallycox4579]

A great look at the bridge at a time when it was as empty as I've seen it. Always good to hear your perspective of local RR history.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

It was empty that day.....I wonder why? Haha....Thank You!

[@jdhinckley1954]

I love this bridge, it's history, and the fact that it still exists for all to cross. I love walking across it, even though once I was hit with a totally unexpected attack of vertigo! Soon went away though, and I continued on. Thanks for the video!

[@lostrailbeds8289]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching....yes, really great that it wasn't scrapped!!

[@anthonymaida5718]

Great Video Russ I walked that bridge beautiful!!!

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Thanks!! I would have much preferred trains to have continued running it, but....it is a very cool and enjoyable piece of History for folks to enjoy.

[@train5974]

I walked it back in 1987 from highland to Poughkeepsie at midnight. 😮

[@lostrailbeds8289]

@train5974 That must have been a Doozy of a hike!

[@ELWtrains]

Cool thanks for sharing my wife has been over it many times she has told me lots of stories about the bridge glad you shared some history that me or her did not know about I just subscribed to you and Thanks for sharing 👍

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Glad to have shared my cold-weather jaunt across the bridge with you all! And thank you for subscribing!!

[@nickcef]

Wow, great walk and vid! I don't know if I'd like to be on that bridge when it's crowded! Kinda scary. LOL.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

It's really high up there!

[@danielfarley1118]

Ross good afternoon I'm sorry I missed your video but today is Sunday did watch it awesome job I do believe that was the total demise of the New York New Haven and Hartford

[@lostrailbeds8289]

It sure was a major blow to the NY NH& H.........

[@LawyerCalhoun1]

When that bridge closed to rail traffic in 1974, the Campbell Hall rail yard on the west side was no longer connected to New England and all freight rail traffic in and out of New England had to move to the crossing near Albany. Many short lines in New Jersey which connected to Campbell Hall lost all their traffic and ceased operations.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Correct! The bridge fire devastated rail connections East/West.

[@tonyroman1569]

Russ how funny they built the new yard in Selkirk and things got redirected put 2 and 2 together change of the guard.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

SO many conspiracies floated around after the fire.

[@mikegross6107]

I wonder if there is extra stress on the bridge with all that concrete, rails, elevator shaft hanging onto the side! Has it been inspected lately for stress fractures and/or rust?

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Not sure....glad I hadn't thought about that BEFORE I went over!

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

As noted, it was built for two tracks and had two for many years. However, at some point the railroad obtained steam engines that were heavy enough that engineers decided to single-track the bridge and center the track to distribute the weight better on the ancient span. I don't think I would have cared to run steam over that bridge, although diesels probably weren't too bad since they didn't have those thrashing side rods causing extra vibration on the structure.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Agreed! 212 feet up plus the height of the engine...yup- you're up there! Thanks for the info!! Appreciate you watching...

[@lawrencelewis2592]

Interesting- my ex-wfe's late father, Clayton Laffin was the fire chief for the Town of Poughkeepsie and he was involved with the fire. He said that Conrail didn't want the bridge and the fire was started by a passing train. Conspiracy? Maybe. He also said that he rode over it on a troop train during WW2 and said that you could feel it sway. Also, is Andy's restaurant still open? They had excellent chili.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Wow! Thank You for that interesting back-story! COOL stuff! I think Andys is closed.

[@gaildrumm4082]

Everything is fine....except the Pokeepsie RR bridge is burning.. Big thanks!

[@gaildrumm4082]

Poughkeepsie that is

[@lostrailbeds8289]

1974.....seems like yesterday, but...it wasn't!

[@srfurley]

Finally found out how to pronounce the name of the place.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

Cool !! Po-Kip-C ?

[@johnsalomone5101]

I think HE PICKED HIS FEET IN Poughkeepsie

[@lostrailbeds8289]

I know this is a reference to something, but????

[@shepaug]

The last of railroad freight in Connecticut. A major classification yard in New Haven Connecticut. The freight from the west. Penn Central was forced to take over the New Haven Railroad and badly did not want to. Very soon this bridge burned. Unknown cause to this day but guess ? Studies were done by Connecticut government and the Governor etc. It was fine to re-hab and put back to usage. Governor left office and next ? Nothing. I have my questions with todays larger rail cars and weight etc. Now any freight comes trickling down from Massachusetts. The line from Connecticut now is being turned into a bike trail and good-bye any rail access to the west for freight. I-95 and I-84 are parking lots now literally and worse by the day and surrender a railroad mostly parallel ? Housatonic Railroad the owner now does not have the money to support it BUT the millions of dollars by the bike crowd aimed at anti-Housatonic Railroad ? Tax dollars and the new contracts for a bike trail ? I am nuts ? Follow the money !!!! Politically freight railroad ? o--wonderful bike trails !!! check years later and how many use them... Usually mostly motor bikes. Why a hiker wants to walk on a paved mini-Interstate ?

[@shepaug]

o--ps..when I talk about rail to the west from Connecticut part of this rail line went to Beacon NY where in 2024 still connects the CSX line..and Canadian Pacific..(? on later) No bridge involved.

[@lostrailbeds8289]

@@shepaug I'm with you on the operating rail lines VS. walking trails.

[@train5974]

Many old railroad workers told me the fire was arson by Penn Central.

[@shepaug]

A new crazy comment. The Hospital Branch. I was once was trying to follow this branch. It still had some customers. I walked walked and eventually got swooped on like it was World War III. Grabbed my camera and deleted everything. They held me for almost 38 years. (a joke) All the security and the brains never thought of people coming in via the abandoned rail line and was inside that BIG psycho hospital there. Hey !!! I can say I was a resident of ____________- psycho hospital...

[@lostrailbeds8289]

I delivered oil and diesel to that hospital for years, as well as many others in the region. I always left kind of saddened by watching folks just rambling around the grounds.

[@train5974]

There were 6 customers. A mattress shop. Hudson valley psychiatric center. J c paper Co. Shatz federal bearing. Washington growers. And western printing. 😮

[@shepaug]

Ah...thanks for reply...I have to give a boost to anti-bike-trail BS.... hey..a bike trail is wonderful !!!! no thought of the wonderful operating railroad....I'm down in SW Connecticut now and rail trails have popular sections but mostly nobody using them except motor bikes. Crime becomes a problem as the crooks eye a place to catch affluent people and out in nowhere ? Almost every town in the USA once connected by a railroad and 2024. Places like Los Angeles vent about why the old transit/trolley system was abandoned !!! Terrible need to rebuild transit !!! costs trillions !!

[@shepaug]

If link works en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Electric#/media/File:Relief_map_Pacific_Electric_Railway.jpg upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Los_Angeles_Railway_%28Yellow_Cars_streetcars%29.svg Ever been in LA ? Grid Lock Freeways. I know 'out of area' but an example