Poughkeepsie RR Bridge Arson?

[Bernard Rudberg]

There is one big reason why it was not scrapped. They discovered that it would cost almost twice as much as the walkway just to tear it down for scrap.

Bernie Rudberg

[RussNelson]

IMHO, you will see fur growing on trout before you see this walkway go; there isn't enough money in the world to make this happen. l

Fortunately, sir, you have been proven wrong.

[RussNelson]

In Sunday's (10-4-09) Kingston Freeman celebrating the opening of " Walkway Over The Hudson ", there is mention ( and picture ) of the last engineer that crossed the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge. It states... " I've made a thousand trips over this bridge, so I know what it is "- John May, Wallkill engineer on final train to cross span in 1974.

You mean THIS John May? We were pulling our water quality test platform, B1 (visible in the background) out of the Hudson at the boat launch in Newburg, and I saw a fellow with a Walkway Over The Hudson hat. Asked him if he'd been across and he said "once on foot, on opening day, but many times on a locomotive. I drove the last train over the bridge" and went on to explain about dragging brake shoes throwing sparks and starting fires. I practically started jumping up and down and ran to get my camera so I could have my photo taken with him.

Me and John May

john-may.jpg (371.9 KiB) Viewed 2123 times

[Jeff Smith]

There is one big reason why it was not scrapped. They discovered that it would cost almost twice as much as the walkway just to tear it down for scrap.

Bernie Rudberg

I figured that. I'm just glad that it was salvageable.

[nysw3636]

Yes Russ, that would be THIS John May. I would have enjoyed a conversation with him about the bridge ( and Maybrook Route ) as well. Thanks for sharing the picture...

[Gilbert B Norman]

Related posting:

viewtopic.php?f=91&t=68552#p811225

[gawlikfj]

Sam Christiano was also on that last train over the Poukeepsie Bridge . I believe Sam passed away in 2009 .

[joseph]

to russ nelson: is that the Johnny May who was a NH/PC/CR/MTAMetroNorth locomotive engineer? if it is, i worked with him some years ago and glad he is alive and well.

[RussNelson]

Yup, I believe there's only one Johnny May.

[joseph]

thanks for the response, Russ. Johnny is a good man. i enjoyed the talks we had on the job together.

[Noel Weaver]

Yup, I believe there's only one Johnny May.

Negative on this one. John's father (John SR) was also in engine service on the NHRR, Shore Line Roster fireman out of New York. Never made it to engineer, they found him dead on an engine in Penn Station one day of an apparant heart attack.
Noel Weaver

[shlustig]

IIRC, wasn't there a brother -- Tommy May?

[Noel Weaver]

IIRC, wasn't there a brother -- Tommy May?

Yes, and a cousin Gary who hired out firing on the NHRR at the time I did in early 1960. He ended up on the Long Island Rail Road as a result of Award 282 and I almost did too. Tom has been gone for quite a few years now and I suspect that Gary is
probably retired from the LIRR for some time too. I haven't seen Gary in many, many years.

Noel Weaver