Port Chester MU storage yard

[Otto Vondrak]

When was the Port Chester MU storage yard removed?

[Noel Weaver]

I believe it was early 1958.
Noel Weaver

[Otto Vondrak]

Thanks very much!

[Travelsonic]

If you look at not Google Earth but Microsoft Windows Live Local (http://maps.live.com/), you can get a great detailed view of the remains of an abandoned track in Port Chester, I think it was a yard if I remember from looking around here for while. I just hope this is the same one being discussed.

Looking East:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&c ... &encType=1

Looking West:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&c ... &encType=1

Looking North:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&c ... &encType=1

Looking South:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&c ... &encType=1

[H.F.Malone]

Travelsonic:

What you're looking at is the old Portchester freight yard and team track area. The MU layup yard was actually across the Byram River in Connecticut (RR designation "East Port Chester"). Follow the mainline and scroll along in that link you posted-- the large flat-roofed building just east of the mainline is built on that site. The yard site still existed about 1970, overgrown and with a few ties remaining. The building in the picture probably dates from the early 1970s.

[eotd]

I don't know about the MU storage yard, but looking at the aerial shots brings back memories.

This spur was last serviced for freight under Conrail for Straus Paper Company, who I believe still has a warehouse there. The last I saw service there was in '94 and I think they got boxcars and centerbeams. Back then there was no MN storage/MOW work area there, just a lot of junk, overgrown foliage, and an encampment of homeless people living to the east of the spur.

Seeing freight die off was sad, as this was the line that used to extend across the street and behind the neighboring Lifesaver Building, when they used to produce Lifesaver candies, up until the early 80s. I presume they were serviced with corn syrup. It was sadder still to see that once the MN work area was built, they removed the switch and paved right there, presumably to allow hi-rail trucks entrance to the mainline.

[Otto Vondrak]

Cheap pluig: my new book has photos and a map of the old Port Chester MU Yard (that was really across the river in Byram, CT).

http://nywbry.com/forgotten/

-otto-

[Clean Cab]

The old Byram or East Portchester Yard had a signal tower that controlled the entire area. I think it was NHRR signal tower SS 27.

Otto, I just paid a lot of $$$ to order your new book. From what I've heard its a good read. Thanks to you, Bob Bang, John Franks and George Kawanski.