One point about Mount Beacon (in the late Forties) is that I’d think you’d see the track of the inclined railway going up through trees. Earlier, much of that area would have been deforested – strange as that may sound to those who first saw it later. Soldier’s Fortune, at the top of the hill in Garrison, was surrounded by large and seemingly old-growth forest in the late Eighties. Family pictures as late as the early Thirties show cleared land in all directions and an unrestricted view of West Point across the river.
There is no question Mount Beacon and the narrow-gauge railway are on the east side; the Day Line went to the west side, and you’d have to take the ferry across. (The ferry was, the last time I was there a couple of years ago, still there and officially operated and scheduled by Metro-North)
The last time I went to Bear Mountain, I think we still lived on Manhattan (which would put it before mid-1959). To get there we crossed the George Washington Bridge, which at the time was still very much one deck, I think of six lanes, with tolls westbound, and ‘turned right’ although I don’t remember if we took the Palisades Parkway (which would only have been open a short time, if at all) – what I remember is colossal traffic jams on 9W. All this would certainly argue for Bear Mountain being on the west side.
I rode the Mount Beacon incline in the late 1960s. As I recall the wheels had double flanges, and the tread between the flanges was wide. There were gaps in the rails at the mid-point passing siding “switches”. No switch points, rather a series of short offset rails. The passing track was at a curve, so I am not sure if the cable pulling around the curve had something to do with guiding the car on to the right track.
I think you missed the post where Dave Klepper, who took the picture, identified the location.
In any case, there is no way you’d have that much water, with that much mountain across it, as a ‘northbound’ view from the Hudson River Line on the east bank. None of the views across the ‘estuary’ are anywhere near that ‘spacious’ to the east as the train runs across… see this map of the general area with the railroad causeway at bottom left.
I cannor recall any rides on the East Bank riding the rear vestibule. I did once ride in the obs of the Century, but otherwise was in a coach seat, at a dining-car table, or in a roomette orslumbercoach. But the rear vesribule rides up to Kingston and back are etched in my memory.
First guess: Mr Klepper’s pic of the 3064 was taken in the cut at 41.242N 73.9767W. Can’t see another place with that much rock between the track and the river. The problem is that between-track fence, suggesting he’s passing a station. There was a Stony Point station, but probably it was south of the cut, on Depot Place south of Tompkins Ave
I lived in Poughkeepsie from 1979 to 1995 when I moved to Toronto. I had no clue that there was a funicular railway on Mount Beacon. None at all. The late Pete Seeger lived on Mount Beacon, just out of interest. But I have to say about America’s Rhineland, that is as fine a country as any in the USA. You might know that I’m an old car guy and in any direction from Poughkeepsie there were all the finest country roads you could ever want to drive on. That is one thing I miss about the place.
I did once have the opportunity to drive on the Storm King highway that winds around the mountain of that name. Gorgeous views from that but parts of the road collapsed and it’s been closed for many years. You can see it from the east side of the river, but you can’t drive on it anymore.
And then there’s West Point- You have to do a football game there at some point in your life! The game is almost besides the point with all the high-end tailgate parties there on game days. Marquee tents! Professionally catered! Even live bands- Why bother going to Michie stadium with all that going on? But I digress…
I lit up the link Timz provided, it’ll give you an photo map of the general area. Reduce and scroll it up, and it looks like the location of David’s photo is the cut through Stony Point State Park. It lines up perfectly with the curve to the left and the view of Bear Mountain.
To the both of you who were rooting for Navy and Annapolis, when my ship was in drydock in Philly we could get into the 1976 Army-Navy game for free, being as we were in the Navy. Had to wear our dress uniforms to get in. We had a few beverages of an adult nature and smoked some exotic herbal cigarettes. We rooted for Army! Don’t remember much of the game but I guess we had a good time. We didn’t get thrown out of the stadium, I do remember that much. Fun times!
Well, that didn’t take long. I’m going to say that this book will be more to the liking of those who like photos. Sorry Overmod, your wishes were left at the station.