There is so much to see in the U.S. state of New York. You have New York City, the most populated city in the United States of America famous for its numerous skyscrapers like the Empire State Building, The Chrysler Building, and One World Trade Center, and it is home to one of the most spectacular bridges in the world, the Brooklyn Bridge. You have the city of Buffalo, of which one of its famous suburbs, Niagara Falls is the home of one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls. You have many small towns in the state, and you have the region known as ‘Upstate’ that is filled with the Adirondack Mountains. The small town of Lake Placid hosted two Winter Olympics. One of the most famous rivers in the world, the Hudson River named after Henry Hudson who explored the region, flows into the Atlantic Ocean south of New York City. The river has many famous bridges to include the Staten Island Bridge and George Washington Bridge. As you follow the river north, you pass under many spectacular bridges. One of these bridges has gotten the name ‘Walkway Over the Hudson.’ Unlike most bridges across the Hudson River, this is strictly a pedestrian bridge. Walkers and hikers can walk from the city of Poughkeepsie on the east side to the west side of the river. As you walk across, be advised that you will see spectacular views not just of the Hudson River itself, but you will get spectacular views of the shorelines of each side of the river. Oh, this happens to be the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. Yes, as you walk across the bridge, you are traveling across history.
Some of you are saying, “That is cool. This is amazing. It would be amazing to walk across the Hudson River and enjoy the great views. However, there is a very big problem. This is a pedestrian bridge, not a railroad bridge. Therefore, you will not see me taking a walk here.”
You are right. It is a pedestrian bridge. No trains go across this bridge. Why would somebody who loves trains have any interest in visiting this bridge?
The Walkway Over the Hudson in a steel cantilever bridge that was built and opened in 1889.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! Great construction for a pedestrian bridge.”
It sure is. Why build a steel cantilever bridge for simple pedestrians? That would be a big waste of money. As you begin your walk, you notice a flat trail. It looks as if it was an old railroad bed. Well, that is because it was a railroad bed.
When the bridge was built, it was originally called the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge.
Some of you are saying, “Wait a minute. How does it get the name Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge?”
That is a great question. As mentioned, it is a steel cantilever bridge. Why build a steel cantilever bridge simply for pedestrians? The answer is that it was originally not a pedestrian bridge. It was a railroad bridge. The bridge had two tracks and brought the Maybrook Railroad Line, part of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad, across the Hudson River. For decades, you could watch trains, both passenger and freight trains, go across the Hudson River. Sadly, the bridge was damaged by a fire on May 8, 1974, and it never saw railroad service again.
The bridge saw new life on October 3, 2009, and it was opened as the Walkway Over the Hudson, and it is part of the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. Oh, the old railroad bed, it is now part of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail.
Walkway Over the Hudson is designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is owned by the New York State Bridge Authority and operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. It is also supported by the Friends of the Walkway. You can enter the bridge from either side of the Hudson River with parking on both sides. The bridge is wheelchair accessible, but please note that the elevators do not operate year round. The bridge itself is open year round, but it may close during inclement weather. As for the bridge, it is a very high bridge. Those who have a fear of heights will want to use caution. You can read more into the construction and history of the Walkway Over the Hudson and get information on directions and hours at Walkway Over the Hudson – walkway.org.
The Hudson River in the U.S. state of New York is a spectacular river to see. What better way to see it than to take a walk on the Walkway Over the Hudson.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 