- Harlem River and Port Chester Railroad
Infobox SG rail
railroad_name=Harlem River and Port Chester Railroad
logo_filename=
logo_size=
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locale=New Rochelle, NY tothe Bronx, NY
start_year=1873
end_year=
old_gauge=
hq_city=The Harlem River and Port Chester Railroad was a branch of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , upgraded to main line status in 1917 with the completion of theNew York Connecting Railroad and itsHell Gate Bridge . It is now part ofAmtrak 's high-speedNortheast Corridor .History
The Harlem River and Port Chester Railroad was chartered
April 23 ,1866 to build from theHarlem River at the north end of theHarlem Bridge (now the Third Avenue Bridge) to Port Chester at theConnecticut state line. Instead, only the part south of New Rochelle was built, merging with theNew York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad there. The line opened onNovember 23 ,1873 , and has provided freight service to theHarlem River Yard . Local commuter service ran on the line connecting the Harlem River terminal and five other stations in the Bronx to the main-line communter service at New Rochelle until 1931.The
New York, Westchester and Boston Railway , a high-speed, electric commuter rail line, opened in 1912, paralleling the HR&PC just to the west, south of the crossing of theBronx River . Until 1924, when a new combined station was built, the shortWillis Avenue Spur of the elevatedIRT Third Avenue Line ran to the Harlem River terminal of the HR&PC and NYW&B.In 1917 the
New York Connecting Railroad opened for passenger service between the HR&PC at Port Morris and thePennsylvania Tunnel and Terminal Railroad atSunnyside Yard . This allowed NYNH&H trains to run over the HR&PC and intoNew York Penn Station , though most continued to serveGrand Central Terminal untilAmtrak took over intercity operations in 1971.On
January 1 ,1927 the HR&PC was merged into theNew York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad . The NYNH&H was merged intoPenn Central in 1969, and in 1976 Penn Central became part ofConrail . At that time, the former HR&PC was sold toAmtrak , which now serves as part of theirNortheast Corridor , hosting the high-speed "Acela Express " as well as several other services.ee also
*
List of New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad precursors References
* [http://www.earlpleasants.com/search_1.asp Railroad History Database]
* [http://www.prrths.com/PRR_hagley_intro.htm PRR Chronology]
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