Can anyone point me in the right direction to find more information and especially photos of the Central’s West Side Line and especially the construction of the High Line and its operation?
I’ve Googled but so many of the sites deal with the remaining sections which converted to greenspace, walking paths, etc. Most of the photos seem to be the same few dozen that are found all over the web.
This is such a fascinating strech of railroad I’m certain that there must be at least one book dealing with the subject!
Histories of the NYC railroad and of New York City…old TRAINS and RAILROAD Magazines…that should start you in the right direction…Also, don’t know where you are,but also NYC libraries.
I’m not aware of a book specifically just about that line. If you broaden your search a little bit, to books on the railroads of New York City, you might find something. Seems to me Morning Sun has a book called something like “Trains around Manhattan” or “Trains around New York City”.
The New York Central System Historical Society’s website has some links to some online forums that specifically deal with the Central, posting this question on one or more of those might get some results.
I don’t know about any books but there was an excellent eleven-page article by Bob Hart on this subject in “Railfan”, October 1991 (pp. 59 - 69), titled “The West Side Freight Line”.
wjstix may be thinking about a Morning Sun book called “Trackside Around New York City with Bob Malinoski”. I’ve got it, and it’s OUTSTANDING in every way, however the West Side Railroad’s not in it. However, just about everything else is. It’s one of the best Morning Sun titles out there, so if you see it don’t pass it up.
The site for the NYC High Line has a few fotos of the construction, which you may have found already. If not, go there. NYCity’s archives may have some stuff too that were part of the cache that they used to populate the High Line site
I have a pretty extensive New York Central library and many issues of the NYCHTS Headlights and as you all know Westside Highline information is sparse. I’'m fascinated in its modeling possibilities since it incorporates so many neat visual features i.e. an elevated railroad through a modern building, etc.
Helmut, thank you! I will look for that issue of Railfan.
I would think that Arcadia publishing would have something since they seem to feature unique neighborhoods and industries.
I’ll keep digging and let you know if I’m successful… Thanks again.
You’re welcome. Last I used the book was to compare the photos to current ones you can see on the web. As I recall there were quite a few links to photos on Google Earth.