NEB&W Guide to Troy, NY - River Street to the Hudson River

Last Update: 2009-08-20

Troy Table of Contents
Photo Gallery Table of Contents

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Overview

• The track plan c. 1928.
  • [Map.]

Looking North Toward the Railroad Crossing, West Side of River

• Most buildings on the west side of River Street had doors at each floor on both the front and rear, for loading and unloading between wagons and boats. The doors were always centered. Note the slate three-"lane" crosswalks and the machicolation cornices on the c. WWI photo, courtesy Rensselaer Country Historical Society.]
  Our model scene is very much under construction. But we certainly have more than does the prototype today. This is now the site of the parking lot of the former Castaway Restaurant's, just off the Green Island lift bridge.
  • [Postcard view pre-1895. (The utility poles were taken down in 1895 and the wires placed underground.)]
  • [Another pre-1895 postcard view, taken from further back.]
  • [Prototype view c. WWI.]
  • [Prototype view c. 1933. Note the train passing in the background.]
  • [Model scene under construction.]
  • [Prototype today c. 2000.]

• The crossing shanty on west side of River Street, c. 1917.
  • [Photo.]

East Side of River Street

• The east side of River Street.
  • [Looking up Grand Street toward River. Jack Waite photo c. 1960.'s.]
  • [Looking up north up River Street. Tony Steele photo c. 1973.]
  • [Postcard view of River and Grand, showing Wolf's Hotel and a fire station.]
  • [Another postcard up high.]
  • [From the other direction, from street level.]
  • [Same angle c. 1973. Photo by Tony Steele.]
  • [Further north c. 1973. Photo by Tony Steele.]
  • [Photo of Victory Restaurant c. 1973 of the corner of River and Federal. (River Street makes a bend here.)]
  • [Federal side of the Victory Restaurant c. 1973.]

• There was a single building between Grand and Federal, 380-384 River.
  • [Sanborn map c. 1951.]
  • [Front c. 1948. Photo courtesy RCHS.]
  • [Close-up of the front c. 1948.]
  • [Looking down (east) Federal c. 1948. Photo courtesy RCHS.]
  • [Track side looking west c. 1928.]

River Street, North of the Railroad Crossing

• River Street, just north of the grade crossing. Prototype view c. 1918. From the NEB&W D&H Collection.
  • [Prototype view.]

• A big gun heading over to the Watervliet Arsenal crosses River Street c. WWI. (Why it is heading there and not coming out of there, I don't know.)
  • [D&H photo.]

• Same view of River Street as above, but c. 1960. Photo by Jack Waite. (Lines were drawn on the print to plan the model structures.)
  • [Prototype view.]
  • [Model photo, by James Lauser.]

• The side of Rickerson. (I don't know if that is a siding into the back, or the mainline. I think a siding.)
  • [Prototype photo, c. WWI. I think this photo came from the Rensselaer County Historical Society.]

• At the bridge to Green Island looking south.
  • [Postcard view.]
  • [Another view c. 1890's.]
  • [Model view.]

Chatham Square

• Chatham Square was just north of the grade crossing. Note the crossing gates are solid white. (Black and white striping was applied after 1916.)
  • [Prototype view c. 1910.]
  • [As decorated for 1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebration.]
  • [Postcard.]
  • [Winter-time view (might be the Blizzard of 1888). Photo courtesy the family of Edwin Johnson.]

River & King

• This building (No. 386-388 River) was originally a dance hall, then the Cluett Brothers Collar Factory c. 1900. Cluett became Cluett-Peabody later on and had their own new factory a couple of blocks further north. This building still stands, but by the late '50's, had been cut down to only two stories.
  • [Collar Factory next to the tracks.]
  • [C. 1973 view of the building cut down to two stories.]
  • [Modern view c. 2002. (A new cornice was added.)]
  • [Modern three-quarter view c. 2004.]
  • [C. 1980's side view.]
  • [Modern view c. 2004, of the backs.]
  • [Sanborn map c. 1951.]

• We have used windows and trim from the Heljan courthouse to create a passable replica, at least for the time being.
  • [Model view.]
  • [Model view.]

• At this point heading north, King Street starts and the wood building attached to No. 386-388 River has a King Street address (Nos. 2, 4, etc.)
  • [Photo of the front c. 1895.]
  • [Photo of the front c. 1990's.]
  • [Sanborn map c. 1951.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2004.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006. (They cut away the trees so better photos are possible.)]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006.]
  • [Photo of the backs, c. 2006.]
  • [Model photo of the backs, by James Lauser.]

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