Producer: Broken Knuckle
Locations: Selkirk Branch
Timeframe: 2001
Length: 2 hours
Selkirk Yard is in Upstate New York. The current operator is CSX. This branch is 41 miles long. It connects from Selkirk through Mohawk Valley to the Chicago mainlines near Rotterdam, NY. Previously was Conrail. Originally constructed as a New York Central classification yard.
A single DVD-R. Fullscreen 4×3 aspect ratio. Live environmental audio in stereo. Balanced soundtrack. The imagery is not modern standards. Medium visual quality.
Main Chapter Menu is detailed with location information. On-screen graphics have good train and location details. Narrated by Ken Buckman.
To the Trains…
This tour starts at a place called, Hoffman’s. It is the mainline connection for Chicago. This spot is along the Mohawk River. Symbol Q232 is a Buffalo to Selkirk Autoracks train.
Engine 7605 leads this train Q158 is an Intermodal from Willow Springs Illinois to North Bergen, New Jersey.
At the Mohawk River Bridge. G232 is an empty unit grain train.
Train Q621 is a Manifest from Selkirk to Massena. CN 5377 leads with an ex: Conrail loco as they haul through Rotterdam Jct. Milepost 39.5. A nice assortment of trains and some more foreign power are shown here. Traffic level seems heavy here.
South Schenectady Yard. This is hotspot for Railfans. Conrail blue fronts Q119. A Boston to Chicago Piggyback.
Old State Road at milepost 28.49 has an overpass that is a good spot to film trains. In July, 2001 CSX was running detoured trains over Selkirk. Q135 is one of those. A Philadelphia to Chicago Intermodal. An informative illustrated description of the Fuller’s Flyover trackage.
The French’s Hollow Trestle is the scenic highlight at South Schenectady. Symbol Q113 hauls COFC from Boston to Chicago.
CSX 7547 leads 7392. Intermodal Q136. Another detoured move. Chicago to Philadelphia. Feura Bush at milepost 16.9. This being lead tracks at Selkirk Yard’s West end.
Train Q433 is departing the busy Selkirk Yard at the East end. Milepost 12.44. Filmed from the Route 396 Bridge. This Manifest is from Selkirk to Oak Island, New Jersey. The yard is featured in another Broken Knuckle show. That is Exploring Selkirk and reviewed on ATVR.
CSX 8788 has this Q109. This hot Intermodal is from North Bergen, NJ. to Willow Springs, Illinois at CP- SK (milepost 11.5). Hauling TOFC / COFC. Four lines converge here. The busiest place on the Selkirk line.
Alfred H. Smith Memorial Bridge is massive and spans the Hudson River. This allows a Boston to Albany connection. No definitive shots here. End of show.
Along The CSX Selkirk Branch
Delivers on the advertised. Two hours of mainly CSX along the Selkirk Branch. An informative narrative is the best part of this show. Mediocre visuals are the reason it didn’t score higher.
CSX fans should be satisfied. The details of numerous train moves are intriguing and appreciated.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 