West Side Freight Line in Manhattan

My April 27, 1930 Electric Division employee timetable shows 2 Monday - Saturday round trip passenger trains operating between Spuyten Duyvil and 30th St. What was the purpose of these trains 1900-1930, and what kind of equipment was used on the West Side passenger service ? Connections at Spuyten Duyvil with the Hudson Division trains would not encourage Hudson Division commuters to use the West Side service in lieu of going to Grand Central. Thanks in advance for any help with this.

SUBJ was remarked on the old site. Seems that the NYCHRRR ran this service primarily for employees to/from the 60th ST/33rd ST facilities. CHIEF TROLL or JACK SHUFELT may clarify.. LARRY BAGGERLY

I don't know for sure why NYC kept those passenger trains on the West Side up to the 1930's, but there were probably several reasons:

1. As Larry says, to carry employees down to 60th and 30th Streets, at least until the subway was put into service.

2. NY State Public Service Commission would not approve discontinuance.

3. Some U. S. Mail might have been handled locally, and maybe some company mail.

4. After they quit hauling passengers, and even into Penn Central, there were first class trains running between 30th St and Spuyten Duyvil for mail and express. No's. 3 and 13 went to Chicago, and the 800 series trains ran to and from Harmon with head-end traffic to and from the west.

One thing I do know, from a long-departed relative who lived there, the passenger train was nicknamed the "Dolly Varden." I don't know if there had been some unusual color combinations used on the equipment at one time, but that seems most likely.