Albany Union Station - where was the river crossing?

I was in Albany over Memorial Day weekend, and had the opportunity to walk around the former Albany Union Station (I think Bank of America has already moved out, and the building is sadly empty again). When the station was in operation, where did NYC trains cross the river to access the station? The bridge used by Amtrak trains today is north of the station, so I assume that was not the one used by NYC.

Perhaps this has been discussed elsewhere, but I could not find anything on a quick search. My apologies if the topic is redundant.

The passenger trains crossed the Hudson River via the Maiden Lane Bridge which was south of the existing bridge. The
Maiden Lane Bridge and the track work of the old station were removed after the station was closed in late 1968.
Noel Weaver

Noel Weaver wrote:The passenger trains crossed the Hudson River via the Maiden Lane Bridge which was south of the existing bridge. The
Maiden Lane Bridge and the track work of the old station were removed after the station was closed in late 1968.
Noel Weaver

Thank you, Mr. Weaver.

For more info (including a detailed map, circa 1951, see the Morning Sun Books volume: "Tracksidein the Albany Gateway with Garret Bruins." Probably half the book is shot within a mile of the bridge. Map is just inside the front cover, and includes all the sidings.

http://historical.mytopo.com/getImage.a ... g&state=NY

If you want a xerox of the circa 1953 1:24000 topo, drop me a line.

timz wrote:http://historical.mytopo.com/getImage.a ... g&state=NY

If you want a xerox of the circa 1953 1:24000 topo, drop me a line.

Sorry, hadn't checked this forum in a while. Seeing the map here is good enough, thanks.

The Maiden Lane bridge sure looked like a tight curve in Albany. Were just certain passenger trains routed over this line or were freights also? Was the bridge there only for serving the station or was there another reason for this line? Thank you, Charles

Freight went over the Livingston Avenue Bridge: http://www.kinglyheirs.com/NewYorkState ... anyBridges

This was sometimes referred to as the North Bridge. Some passenger trains that did not stop in Albany Union Station used it too. One example was the Ohio State Limited. Hard to believe construction of the Livingston Avenue Bridge (vital to serving Amtrak's 10th busiest station) was begun when Abraham Lincoln was President.

...Ken

Fortuitously, the just-out December issue of Railpace has a very good aerial photo [back cover] of Renssalaer and Albany today. Get it and then read below:

From other photos I have seen, it appears the tracks to the Maiden Lane bridge (the one that went to NYC Albany station) cuved off the track in Renssalaer right at the pier of that highway bridge that crosses the tracks at a shallow angle just north of the present Amtrak station. Immediately upon reaching the Albany side of the river the tracks curved north and came alongside Albany station (visible at top of the photo). The Livingston Ave. bridge ("north bridge" or "freight bridge) is visible at far right of photo