Ask any railfan to describe their impression of today’s Metro-North, and they will most likely tell you that they are one of the nation’s business commuter carriers, and that they operate a fleet of similar-looking diesel and electric powered trains out of New York’s Grand Central terminal on three lines. Some are convinced that Metro-North only serves gritty industrial and urban centers, and that the line is akin to a rapid transit operation. Seasoned enthusiasts will tell you there is so much more!

Metro-North, a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, took over direct operation of the commuter trains operating out of Grand Central Terminal on January 1, 1983. In the twenty years since, MN has been steadily making improvements to the equipment and infrastructure, while growing to serve the demands of the region’s growing population. But how did we get to this point? First-time author Tom Panettiere captures the history of this scenic line in a fantastic collection of photography that should appeal to fans of all generations. Metro-North’s Hudson Line: Poughkeepsie to Oscawana is the first book in the new “Railroads Over Time” series from Depot Square Publishing. This also marks the first color book from Depot Square, the same folks that previously brought out the popular black-and-white “Scenes Along The Rails” series.

Panettiere’s interest in local railroads is a family affair. His late father was a fireman on the New Haven for a brief period after World War II. In the 1960s, a change of careers moved the family from Milton, Ct., to Yonkers, New York. It was here that Panettiere was exposed to the three New York Central lines that ran up and down Westchester County; the Hudson, the Putnam, and the Harlem Divisions; as well as the four-track electrified New Haven main line. He has turned his life-long love of trains into an interesting look at this region’s railroad operations over the years.

This book is unlike any other that ever attempted to document the history of railroading in the Hudson Valley. What began as a tribute to Metro-North’s FL9 fleet turned into a story about Metro-North itself. Due to an overwhelming flood of contributions, it was decided that this first edition would cover from Poughkeepsie to Oscawana on the Hudson Line. Panettiere’s research was assisted by local rail historians, as well as past and present employees of Metro-North. Future editions in the “Railroads Over Time” series are expected to cover the rest of the Metro-North lines in similar detail.

Metro-North’s Hudson Line: Poughkeepsie to Oscawana contains over 250 black and white and color photos throughout, many of them never before published in a single volume. Starting at Poughkeepsie and working south to Oscawana, careful attention is given to each station and major point of interest along the way. The scope of the book is not limited only to the modern trains of Metro-North. Nearly every era of operation is covered in this book- from the early days of the Hudson River Rail Road, to the famed stewardship of the New York Central, on through the dark and uncertain days of Penn Central, and the rebuilding process of Amtrak, Conrail, and Metro-North. Photographs are presented chronologically for each location featured, accompanied by detailed captions.

This book features photography from recognized contributors like Heyward Cohen, Gene Dauner, David Patch, Tim Wakeman, Walt Zullig, and many others. Many of Panettierre’s original photographs of modern Metro-North operations grace the pages of this book. Also covered are the seldom-documented freight operations on the Hudson Line- from NYC fast freights, to MN work trains, to the Conrail through trains to New York and New England. The vibrant color photography throughout this book is balanced by sharp black and white vintage views from private collections. While many familiar and classic locations are portrayed, the majority of the book contains many unique views and photo opportunities. The page layout is attractive and easy to read. The captions are written in a way that fans of all ages and experiences will relate to: from explaining basic railroading jargon, to the technical specifications of an FL9’s prime mover, there is something in here for everyone. Even if you are not from the Hudson Valley, the wide variety of trains featured in various paint schemes will be of interest. The reader is treated to a continuous display of cab units, road switchers, RDC’s and SPV’s, traditional and modern coaches, Amtrak trains of all kinds; as well as of Penn Central, Conrail, and CSX freight action. For those interested in NYC’s later steam era, beautifully composed vintage views of Pacifics, Hudsons, and Niagaras in action await your inspection.

While I have overwhelmingly positive feelings about this book, my list of negatives is short. There were a few photos that displayed similar-looking equipment from similar angles on the same page that I thought were a bit redundant (a Genesis is a Genesis is a Genesis, in my opinion). These instances were not repeated often in the book, however. As a collector of paper, I was very pleased to see that timetable covers and commuter ticket samples were used throughout the layout. However, there were some instances where I would have liked to have seen the vintage materials placed alongside some vintage photos for instance. One spread has black-and-white photos of New York Central steam charging through Oscawana, and the layout includes a full-color Hudson Line timetable from 1996. I would have tried to place the 1996 timetable next to some photos from 1996 instead.

Despite these minor complaints, I found this book to be an enjoyable armchair companion. I found myself eagerly turning pages just to see what was featured next. You will probably leaf through this book several times just to admire the photography before you take the time to sit down and read the well-written captions. The tone of the book is warm and friendly, making each trip down memory lane an enjoyable one. Not only will this book appeal to local rail enthusiasts, those beyond Metro-North’s service area will find it of interest as well.

About the Author
Otto M. Vondrak, 27, is RAILROAD.NET's Creative Director, and has been riding the Metro-North lines since age 4.

Metro-North’s Hudson Line: Poughkeepsie to Oscawana By Thomas V. Panettiere $39.95 list price Softbound, 160 pages. 11x8.5 Depot Square Publishing