Railfanning Selkirk Branch

Okay, so I am finally getting around to now railfanning South of Albany. I have already hit north (D&H main), west (D&H, CSX at Rotterdam Junction) and East (B&A CSX main). I have seen on a seperate thread that the bridge over the yard is closed. Providing I was willing to get up early to be in place by around 8:00AM, where should I go on the Selkirk Branch to see as many trains as possible (assuming normal traffic conditions... I am not asking you to read minds!)

Can someone tell me what the Selkirk Branch is? Is it actually a branch line, or a connecting line from Albany to NYC or Binghamton or something? Is it just the yard connections between CP's Kenwood Yard and CSX's Selkirk Yard?

I am hoping to maybe go this Saturday. From people's experience with this line, are weekends worse for watching trains or better? And, for that matter, would Monday be a bad day because it is a holiday?

According the "Northeast Railfan Timetable" issued in 1992, the Selkirk Branch began at MP124 on the Hudson Line (10 miles north of Hudson NY), runs to Selkirk Yard (MP14.0), then west through Unionville, Voorheesville, Guilderland Center, Fullers, Rotterdam Jct (MP39.5) to CP169 (Hoffman's) on the Chicago line. However, some later material seems to indicate that CSX calls it the Selkirk Subdivision which seems to start at MP14.50 in Selkirk Yard and runs west to Hoffmans. I am not very knowledgable on railfanning in that area, so perhaps other posters will be of more assistance on specific railfanning locations.

Dick

The Selkirk Branch is a very busy piece of railroad that connects the Chicago Line to Selkirk and the Boston & Albany.

The traditional Selkirk Branch runs between the Hudson Line at CP-125, near Schodack, N.Y.,on the east bank of the Hudson River, and the north bank of the Mohawk River (ex-Chicago Line at CP-169) near Hoffmans, N.Y., The branch is a remnant of the Pennsylvania Railroad's foray into New York Central territory, the New York, West Shore, and Buffalo railroad, what we remember today as the "West Shore" and, in the Hudson Valley, today's River Line.

See also: http://members.localnet.com/~docsteve/r ... _branc.htm

See also: http://members.localnet.com/~docsteve/r ... e_info.htm

The signature shot is in the morning at the "twin bridges" at Guilderlands:

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=294935&nseq=0

Others:

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=293126

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=132239

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=42794

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=27326

Otto Vondrak wrote:The signature shot is in the morning at the "twin bridges" at Guilderlands:

Is that location a place you park and hike to? I would love to set up Saturday morning there and try and get some pictures, but Saturday morning is not the time to drive around with a map hoping to find the right path to get there.

Also, for railfanning the Selkirk branch, I usually go to Hoffmans/Roterdam Junction along route 5. Are there better places to do it? The park in Amsterdam is also nice and my wife would probably like that, but I am wondering if there is any place close to the yard. Now that the bridge over it is closed, is it possible to see the yard LEGALLY?

Benjamin Maggi wrote:

Otto Vondrak wrote:The signature shot is in the morning at the "twin bridges" at Guilderlands:

Is that location a place you park and hike to? I would love to set up Saturday morning there and try and get some pictures, but Saturday morning is not the time to drive around with a map hoping to find the right path to get there.

Ben, the web site I linked to above gives turn by turn driving instructions to follow the Selkirk Branch.

http://members.localnet.com/~docsteve/r ... _branc.htm

The shot at Guilderlands (also called "Fullers"), you drive pretty much right up to it. From Crossgates Mall, take US 20 WEST to Frenchs Mills Road. Park off the road, you'll see its a popular spot.

-otto-

Otto Vondrak wrote:Ben, the web site I linked to above gives turn by turn driving instructions to follow the Selkirk Branch.

http://members.localnet.com/~docsteve/r ... _branc.htm

The shot at Guilderlands (also called "Fullers"), you drive pretty much right up to it. From Crossgates Mall, take US 20 WEST to Frenchs Mills Road. Park off the road, you'll see its a popular spot.

-otto-

Um, wow! That is quite a comprehensive site. Thanks.

Benjamin Maggi wrote:Um, wow! That is quite a comprehensive site. Thanks.

You're welcome... I actually discovered some new things on there that I'm going to have to try soon!

-otto-

Regarding this Saturday (of a holiday weekend), would you guys expect the "normal" amount of traffic, more (to compensate for Monday's holiday) or less (because it is a holiday weekend?)

I don't mind only seeing some trains, but my wife is coming and I want to have an idea of what we will see.

Most likely rush in the morning, rush in the evening, dead at mid-day (10am-2:00pm). She should probably bring a book.

The trestle at fullers is best shot in early morning hours.

Drop your wife off at the Rotterdam Mall. A very nice small shopping center to do to and she can also take a movie in while you are railfanning.

BobLI wrote:Drop your wife off at the Rotterdam Mall. A very nice small shopping center to do to and she can also take a movie in while you are railfanning.

NO no no! She keeps bugging me to TAKE her. She doesn't care if it will mean sitting in a cramped car all day reading. However, as her first "real" sitting experience (we have chased trains before, as well as explored ROWs, and also ridden and photographed steam excursion trains) I want to at least see SOME trains with her!

Sarah and I went railfanning Saturday afternoon/evening and it was great. A little slow at first, but 9 trains total in the span of about 4 hours. Most were mixed (which meant colorful consists) as opposed to TOFC/COFC trains, and a few had some surprises. We started off in the yard but ended up in Voorheesville near the old diamond. Which brings up some questions:

1. What line crosses the current CSX main line, and when was it pulled up/abandoned? With a double track line crossing a single track line, an interchange track AND a road crossing all piled into one, it must have been a busy place. Below is one picture of where I am talking about.



2. The first train we saw had a strange unit covered in a black tarp. It probably is an export unit. My picture isn't great because I was just getting set up. Any ideas as to what it is? It could be a GE Class 66 bound for Britain, or maybe a Chinese engine. Anyone else see these recently?



3. We saw one train pulled by a single engine. Is this a local that works the area, or a yard transfer job? It was heading INTO Selkirk Yard, so I am not sure where it would have originated. Considering all of the trains we saw, I am surprised they didn't just tack the cars onto another train. It was quite long for a single engine train... probably 25-30 cars.



There were tons of lumber cars on all of the mied trains. I think out of the 9 trains we saw 6 were mixed. I hope that all the lumber traffic means that the economy is picking up. The spot we stayed at was great... out of the way, lots of shade, not too much automobile traffic, and nearby to restaurants and stores. What a great evening.

Glad you had a productive visit Ben. A non-holiday weekend may produce even more traffic. Now for your questions.
1. The Diamond in Voorheesville, was a little used CP/D&H branch to the Port of Albany. It was removed by Conrail in '98, just prior to the CSX take-over, when what traffic remained was rerouted.
2. The covered engine is most likely as you figured a GE export, headed to a port to be loaded on a ship.
3. The single engine train may be the Q632. It departs Syracuse, NY in the morning, with a train for Rotterdam Jct.. After dropping it's train there. It proceeds East to South Schenectady and picks up the outbounds from there and then to Guilderland Ind. Center and Picks up their outbounds. Then heads for Selkirk yard where the cars will be classified. This traffic has been moderately lite 40- 60 cars and can be easily handled by the single CW44AC #440 in your picture.

See also, "The D&H in and around Albany" on that same web site I linked you to earlier:



http://members.localnet.com/~docsteve/r ... m#Alb_Main