Delaware & Hudson Railway

The Delaware & Hudson Railway survives today as a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway which purchased the D&H in 1991 from a federal bankruptcy court.  With the purchase, CP gained access to eastern US cities including Buffalo, New York City, Philadelphia and connections to the south via Harrisburg, PA.  CP operates much of the trackage by partnering with Norfolk Southern and Pan Am Railways [see Pan Am Southern].

But, the original D&H survived for a hundred fifty years as a “bridge line” hauling interchange traffic between Montreal, Quebec in Canada and Wilkes-Barre PA to the south, with several branch lines including connections into New England and a line that split from the PA route at Nineveh Junction, NY to interchange in Binghamton with other lines such as the Erie-Lackawanna and Lehigh Valley.

The Binghamton area was home to this photographer and from my earliest photographs in the late 1960’s to present, literally “everything” D&H has been interesting.  Growing up alongside a group of like-minded rail photographers, all the changes that have taken place in the region were another reason to lens those D&H trains.  The transitions brought changes in operations, locomotives and even operating personnel.  Those friendly old D&H employees have all retired.  The D&H’s Alco locomotives are long gone along with most of the lightning striped locomotives.  Trains no longer require “pushers”, nor cabooses.  D&H paint schemes kept changing, then the line became part of the Guilford system, then bankrupt and operated by the Susquehanna before finally getting purchased by the Canadian Pacific.  Today, most of the power are modern red GE’s.

But the railroad’s local profile remains the same with a long grueling hill climb north and east out of Binghamton through that ancient rail tunnel, over the high bridge in Harpursville and on the way to Mechanicville and points north and east.  It’s still a thrill to watch and follow a train up that hill.

To this photographer, those rails will always be the “D&H”.  And my friends, Doug, Roger and John will always be out there on a nice day, with fresh Kodak film watching that D&H roll!  Long live the D&H!

The Delaware & Hudson has some excellent resources devoted to its long and storied history.  One of the best railway societies in the country is the Bridge Line Historical Society with an unbelievable amount of D&H information, absolutely devoted to this line.  Passenger excursions survive on the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad operating on the branchline to Cooperstown, NY by the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society [NRHS].  The branchline in  Saratoga Springs now operates as the Saratoga & North Creek Railway with D&H-inspired equipment, full-length domes and excellent dining.  Trains roll year-round.                      
Again, long live the D&H!

There have been many magazine articles written that cover the D&H well.  The painting of the Sharks was inspired by a photograph that appeared in the Spring 1976 issue of Railfan Magazine [long out of print], now called Railfan & Railroad.  Article was written by Chuck Yungkurth and illustrated with the excellent photography of JJ Young Jr.  

Check out Yahoo Groups for an active D&H section, listed under "dandh", there are 992 members, all with an interest in this historic railroad.  Join the list to receive daily updates.