by Dieter
As I write this, tomorrow, Thursday, January 31st, 2008, will be the 40th Anniversary of the final day of operations on the New York Central.
40 years is a long time.
40 years is how long the German Democratic Republic existed, and it was a good thing when that ended in 1990. 40 years following the demise, I still wish there was a New York Central Railroad to ride, and watch. The merger of the Central was NOT a good thing, and even people not versed in transportation could see that at the time.
Though a little weatherbeaten with time, the surviving stations still look as distinctively "Central" and classy as ever, some of the electrical towers in 3rd rail territory still stand, and yes, we still have a 3rd rail and that network expanded in post Central years. I do miss the creosote smell from the old wooden platforms though, and I smile when I recall the Conductor's call in the station of "New York Central ON TIME".
I rode along the Hudson River tonight, looking for remnants of one of my favourite Railroads, I saw many places reduced to mere platforms with plexiglass shelters, but the spectacular view is unchanged.
The ROW is active, the telegraph poles are gone, but the killers of the Central were wrong. What was once the Central, is now more vibrant with traffic than ever.
The Central will never die.
D/
40 years is a long time.
40 years is how long the German Democratic Republic existed, and it was a good thing when that ended in 1990. 40 years following the demise, I still wish there was a New York Central Railroad to ride, and watch. The merger of the Central was NOT a good thing, and even people not versed in transportation could see that at the time.
Though a little weatherbeaten with time, the surviving stations still look as distinctively "Central" and classy as ever, some of the electrical towers in 3rd rail territory still stand, and yes, we still have a 3rd rail and that network expanded in post Central years. I do miss the creosote smell from the old wooden platforms though, and I smile when I recall the Conductor's call in the station of "New York Central ON TIME".
I rode along the Hudson River tonight, looking for remnants of one of my favourite Railroads, I saw many places reduced to mere platforms with plexiglass shelters, but the spectacular view is unchanged.
The ROW is active, the telegraph poles are gone, but the killers of the Central were wrong. What was once the Central, is now more vibrant with traffic than ever.
The Central will never die.
D/
