August 2009
In an exciting new partnership, Wallkill Valley Land Trust and Open Space Conservatory acquired 11.5 miles (65 acres) of the former Wallkill Valley Railroad in Ulster County. This acquisition has almost doubled the length of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail which occupies the former railroad bed. The highlight of this purchase is the iconic 940-foot-long Rosendale Railroad Trestle, perched 150 feet over the Rondout Creek in Rosendale, originally constructed in 1895. The trestle, which is now closed to the public, is the most spectacular portions of the scenic rail trail.
This expansion now means that additional hamlets along the Wallkill River Valley will be connected to one another and trail users can take the scenic route to get to them as they pass by woodlands, open fields, and farmlands lands. Residents and tourist alike can bike, walk, run, bird watch, horseback ride and cross country ski while they discover a wide variety of birds, other wildlife and the panoramically beautiful views of the Shawangunk Ridge and the Wallkill River.
The project will involve repairing the 114 year old bridge's steel infrastructure, installing wooden decks and railings, and regrading and widening the rest of the newly acquired Rail Trail. Once completed, the new rail trail will allow upstate New Yorkers and the general public to view the Shawangunk Ridge, the Binnewater Lakes region with its historic cement mines, and the hamlet of Rosendale from a lofty perch -- 150 feet in the air.
This linear park will benefit Mid-Hudson Valley residents in many ways. It will fill in the most important "missing link" in one of the best networks of rail trails in the Hudson River Valley, and will encourage new economic development in the town of Rosendale.
In short, the restored Rosendale/ Ulster extension of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail will be a recreational and cultural resource that will provide users with an unparalleled recreational experience.
IN THE NEWS
Railroad Trestle Inspections Ongoing; Renovation Project to Begin in Spring 2011
NEW PALTZ, NY —Engineers and their crews have converged on the historic railroad trestle over Rondout Creek and Route 213 in Rosendale as the Wallkill Valley Land Trust and Open Space Institute prepare to launch a campaign to raise the $750,000 needed to complete restoration of the 114-year-old trestle.
“This is going to be a wonderful asset to the community when it’s finished. A 24-mile continuous rail trail, spotlighting the unmatched beauty of this part of NY State and will draw visitors and dollars from all over the region. The recreational, scenic, historical, and economic benefits this project provides are monumental,” said Christine Ferguson, Executive Director of the Wallkill Valley Land Trust.
Engineers from Bergmann Associates have completed a structural inspection of the trestle to determine the extent of the restorations needed to ensure it will be safe for public use. “The bridge appears to be in great condition; we’ll confirm that with further analysis, but I’m very optimistic,” said Mike Cooper, P.E., Project Manager for Bergmann Associates. The engineering report will be available in January 2011, with repair work expected to commence in the spring of 2011. The restoration project is estimated to take about 12 months.
In the interest of public safety, the 940-foot-long railroad trestle will be closed from end to end for the duration of the project. Once it is reopened, the trestle will be a major scenic highlight along the extended, nearly 24-mile Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation has committed $150,000 toward the trestle renovation project. OSI and WVLT are launching a major fundraising effort in the New Year, and to make a donation now, please visit www.osiny.org/savetrestle
“With some support in hand, we hope now that the local community will help us raise the remainder of the money we need to repair the trestle and complete what will become a major recreational resource for the Shawangunk region,” said OSI President Joe Martens.
In August 2009, WVLT and OSI together acquired 11.5 miles (65 acres) of the former Wallkill Valley Railroad, nearly doubling the length of the existing Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. That acquisition included the Rosendale railroad trestle, which is now solely owned by the Wallkill Valley Land Trust. When completely restored and renovated, the rail trail and trestle will be conveyed to the towns of Rosendale and Ulster, with WVLT maintaining conservation easements on the properties.
Once all work is completed, the improved Wallkill Valley Rail Trail will extend from the southern border of Gardiner to the city of Kingston, affording walkers, hikers, bikers and all users panoramic views of Shawangunk Ridge, the Binnewater Lakes region and the hamlet of Rosendale.
Anyone interested in the fundraising campaign or seeking further information on the trestle restoration should visit the Track the Trestle website at www.TracktheTrestle.org
Some History of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail in Rosendale
At the end of the Civil War trains were already running through a good portion of New York State. Especially, along the east side of the Hudson River from Orange County and points south. But in Ulster County, farmers were shipping their produce by horse and wagon to river ports along the Hudson River that would transit their produce down river on a barge to New York City.
Promoters of a railroad through the Wallkill Valley area stressed that a railroad would open the area to the world and stimulate the agricultural market. Floyd McKinstry, the first president of the Wallkill Valley Railway, espoused that the railroad would make the valley a "perfect garden".
In 1866, after much debate, the Wallkill Valley Railway Company was formed and built a railroad from Montgomery to New Paltz. The WVRC railroad route included the towns of Montgomery, Shawangunk, Gardiner, New Paltz, Kingston and Rosendale.
In 1868 construction of the WVRR began. The most sensational part of this construction was the building of the high bridge in Rosendale. From 1870 to 1872, one hundred men labored to build the 9 iron spans of the bridge. When completed, the bridge stood majestically over the Roundout at 150 feet in high and 988 feet long.
