The railroad beneath our feet

If you've ever walked, run, or biked along the North County Trailway in Yorktown, you may already know that it follows the route of a former railroad. For others, it may come as a surprise that this popular trail was once a busy railroad line that helped connect communities throughout the Hudson Valley.

Today, this scenic trail forms part of the Empire State Trail, a 750-mile route stretching from New York City to the Canadian border and west to Buffalo. Families stroll beneath the trees, cyclists pedal through town, and runners log their daily miles. Yet beneath the pavement lies the route of a railroad that once carried passengers, mail, freight, and supplies through Westchester and Putnam counties.

Long before it became a trail, this corridor was part of the New York Central Railroad's Putnam Division, better known as the "Old Put." Operating from 1881 to 1958, the Old Put was more than just a railroad. It connected communities such as Yorktown Heights, Mahopac, Carmel, and Brewster with New York City, bringing people, products, and opportunity to towns that were far more isolated than they are today.

For decades, trains were a familiar sight in Yorktown Heights. The community was home to a station, rail yard, water tower, and turntable used to service and rotate locomotives before they continued their journey. Farmers shipped produce to market, local businesses received deliveries, and commuters traveled south toward New York City.

The area surrounding the Yorktown Heights station became a center of activity, lined with stores, businesses, churches, a hotel, and a school. The railroad didn't simply pass through Yorktown. It played a significant role in the growth of what would become downtown Yorktown Heights.

The Yorktown Heights Railroad Station, built in 1905, remains a visible reminder of that era. It is the only one of the four stations that once served Yorktown along the Putnam Division that still stands today as a historic landmark. Visitors can still see the restored structure near the Pines Bridge Monument in Yorktown Heights.

The trains themselves evolved over time. Steam locomotives dominated the line for much of its history before diesel locomotives gradually replaced them as railroads modernized across the country.

Like many railroads across America, however, the Old Put eventually faced declining ridership. As automobiles became more affordable and highways expanded during the mid-20th century, fewer people relied on trains for daily transportation. Passenger service ended in 1958, and freight operations gradually disappeared in the years that followed.

Yorktown's railroad heritage has not been forgotten. Visitors can learn more about the Old Put at Veterans Memorial Circle in Yorktown Heights, where historical displays preserve photographs and stories from the railroad era.

Fortunately, the railroad's story did not end there.

Rather than allowing the corridor to fade into history, local and state efforts preserved much of the former rail bed and transformed it into a trail system. The South County Trailway, North County Trailway, and Putnam Trailway were created along significant portions of the old railroad right-of-way, giving the route a new purpose while preserving its historic path.

A major new chapter began in 2017 when New York State announced plans for the Empire State Trail. Completed in 2020, the project connected existing trails and newly constructed segments into a statewide network spanning 750 miles. The former Old Put corridor became a key part of that network, once again linking communities throughout the Hudson Valley.

Today, thousands of residents and visitors travel the corridor each year. The locomotives are gone. The tracks have been removed. Yet the corridor continues to bring people together.

The next time you find yourself on the North County Trailway in Yorktown, take a moment to imagine what once traveled beneath your feet. The railroad may have disappeared, but its journey and its legacy continue.