The NYO&W Bridge

Erie Lackawanna 447 (Ex Erie 447) pulls the "Newburgh Haul" over the former New York, Ontario and Western Right of Way. This is the only known picture of this bridge with a train, but the bridge still exists and looks the same as here. Photo from the Denis Carpenter collection.

The Salisbury Mills Flats

A shot of the Newburgh Local at the flats in Salisbury Mills, 1972. It would not be even ten more years when the last freight would travel over the Newburgh Branch and just over ten years before the last piece of railroad equipment would travel over the branch. Credits to Russ Hallock.

The Ski Trains

This is a "Ski Train" (as they were called) standing just short of the Moodna Viaduct. This is usually where the train unloaded, then ran into Newburgh to be turned and serviced. Engine 2753 is a K-4b Pacific (built by Badlwin in 1923 as a K-4a, rebuilt by Hornell in 1929 as a K-4b. These are not USRA Pacifics, they were the K-5's); note it has received a secondhand Berkshire tender. The date is March 10, 1940 and the photographer is Bob Collins.

Mantrap at Salisbury Mills

Probably the most iconic picture on the Newburgh Branch, this shot shows Erie Lackawanna 8431 (Ex Lackawanna 8431) pulling the 1964 rail fan trip over the Orrs Mills Rd. crossing in Salisbury Mills NY. There are many other shots similar to this but none are as great as this one. Credits to the Russ Hallock collection.

Central Valley Square

A look at town square in Central Valley NY just after the Graham Line was completed. You can see that the station has now been moved up the hill and a concrete wall takes it's place. Today, the scene looks the same except for the tree in the center which was recently removed. Credits to the Woodbury Historical Society.

The Dupont Branch

Here is a shot of Erie Lackawanna RS-2 829 midway on the Dupont branch in Newburgh NY. This was called the Dupont branch because it once served the Dupont plant at the other end of Newburgh. At it's height, the branch serviced about 13 industries in northern Newburgh and the last one closed in 1988 leaving the siding intact but abandoned. Photo refits to Russ Hallock

437 and 438 at Newburgh Yards

A shot of Erie Lackawanna 437 and 438 coming i to Newburgh's Water St. yard to conduct switching in the winter of 1973. Today, only one track remains compared to the many of that time. Photo credits to Russ Hallock.

Wreck Train at the Renwick St. Bridge

An Erie railroad wreck train moving over the Renwick St. Bridge in the 1940's to assist a wreck in West Newburgh. This bridge has hardly changed from this picture and still strands today. Credits to Robert McCue for the photo.

Last Coal Car at Salisbury Mills

This car shown here was the very last coal car to serve the coal dealership at Salisbury Mills on the Newburgh Branch. Today, the former post office sits to the right of this. Credits to Dennis Carpenter.

Night Haul out of Water St Yard.

Here is a shot of Erie Lackawanna 437 (formerly Erie 437) pulling a freight consist out of the Newburgh NY Water St. yard. This is most likely the night haul train on the Newburgh Branch. Credits to Robert McCue.

Train at Salisbury Mills

Viewed here is an Erie Lackawanna short freight passing behind the Salisbury Mills Post Office. It is about to cross Clove Rd. Credits to Robert McCue.

Freight at Central Valley NY

An Erie Railroad freight with a distinct Vanderbilt tender hits the crossover in Central Valley NY on the Shortcut. Credits to the Woodbury Historical Society.

Highland Mills Before the Graham Line

An overall view of the station at Highland Mills NY taken before the Graham Line was built. Credits to the Woodbury Historical Society.

A Train at Smith Clove Rd.

An early view of an Erie Camelback crossing the Smith Clove Rd. bridge in Central Valley NY. Credits to the Woodbury Historical Society.

The Central Valley Station Being Moved

A view of the station at Central Valley NY in the process of being moved. The station was moved because when the Graham Line was built in the background, the station found itself way below the tracks. Credits to the Woodbury Historical Society.

Sperry Railcar #119 at Vails Gate Junction.

Last summer, Sperry Railcar #119 came up onto the Newburgh Branch at Vails Gate NY for repairs on it's trucks. In this photo, the station would be to the left and Rt. 300 is in the background. This is technically on the Newburgh Branch because the shortcut split about 500 ft. ahead of this train.

A passenger train at Central Valley

Here is an unusual view of the Erie Railroad station at Central valley NY with a passenger train pulling in. This station was located on the Newburgh Shortcut. Credits to Google Images.

East Leg of Greycourt Wye

The pathway to the east leg of the wye at Greycourt NY. Both lines were torn up in 1983 by Conrail. Credits to Robert McCue.

The Old Iron Bridge with Tracks

A view of the old iron bridge in Washingtonville NY when it still had tracks going over it. This bridge still exists today. Credits to Robert McCur and the late E. J. McLaughlin.

Washingtonville in the 1920's

An early view of Washingtonville in the 1920's on the Newburgh Branch. The station burned in the 1990's. Credits to Robert McCue.

Work on the Woodbury Viaduct

Work on the Woodbury Viaduct as of 2013. This is part of an ongoing project to upgrade the Graham Line or as most people know it as the Port Jervis Branch. The Shortcut had a bridge directly beneath this viaduct.

Grecourt, 1981

Greycourt, 1981. The bridges on the branch can be seen three poles ahead of the trackcar. The branch is already out of service and time is growing short for both the branch and the Erie main. Credits to Joyce Sternitzke.

The Highland Mills NY Station

Here is a great view of the Highland Mills NY station along the Erie's Shortcut. Although this building has been gone for many years, the foundation along with the steps can still be found today. Photo credits to Woodbury Historical Society.

Bridge Deck of the Old Iron Bridge

A view of the bridge deck of the same bridge as in the last post. This bridge is the most sound of all the bridges remaining on the Newburgh Branch. Photo Credits to Rich Martin.

The Old Iron Bridge

A picture of one of the original six-foot bridges remaining on the Greycourt Branch in Washingtonville NY. Photo credits to Rich Martin.

Vails Gate Railroad Crossing

A view of the Rt. 94 railroad crossing for the Erie's Shortcut in Vails Gate NY in 2012. Five miles of this track was kept from Newburgh to Vails Gate. This location is almost at the end of the line. Photo credits to Rich Martin.

Woodbury Trestle Then and Now

In this view The top picture is 1947, Woodbury trestle. The second is as close as I could come to a modern redo. Photo credits to Robert McCue

The Last Ride on the Newburgh Branch

The Opening ceremonies for the branch were held in Jan. of 1850. The date on this picture is Washingtonville Jan 7 1984, almost 134 years to the day the branch opened.The tracks starting from Vails Gate was taken up in fall of 1984.
This would be that last time any Railroad Equipment would run on the branch
Ttrackcar is an Ex ERIE Fairmont M19 Trackcar
This car made 9 trips on the branch from 1981 to 1984
Joyce D. Sternitzke.

Writing and Picture credits to Robert McCue.

Erie Railroad Station at Woodbury Falls NY.

Here is a view of the Erie Railroad station at Woodbury Falls NY. The trestle in the background is the Graham Line and the bridge in the foreground passes over Rt. 32. Today, Rt. 32 has been re-aligned and sits on top of the station site. Photo credits to Robert McCue.