Name/Title
Ruins of L&HRR Greycourt TurntableEntry/Object ID
chs-001791Description
On a surprisingly warm afternoon on January 27, 2002, photographers Leslie Smith and Clif Patrick set out on a walk through Chester, New York, to document a fading piece of rail history. This collection of 21 photographs captures the ruins of the Lehigh & Hudson River Railway (L&HRR) Greycourt Turntable, located behind 51 Greycourt Avenue, just opposite School Street.
By the time these photos were taken, the turntable had long since fallen into disrepair, sitting quietly to the left of the surviving tracks then operated by the CSX Corporation. However, during the golden age of steam, this site was a hub of mechanical necessity. The 60-foot turntable provided the essential means for locomotives to turn around for their return trips.
It wasn't just the L&HRR engines that utilized the facility; it was also a vital resource for the Erie Railroad. Their "helper" engines—heavy-duty locomotives used to push trains up the demanding Main Line grade between Oxford and Monroe—frequently relied on the Greycourt Turntable to reset for their next climb. For the massive engines that exceeded the turntable's 60-foot diameter, crews had to use the Newburgh Branch connection to perform the same maneuver.
These images serve as a historical record of the condition, as of 2002, of this former structural pivot point, which was crucial for the operation of the regional rail lines during the steam-powered era.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
DigitalSubject Place
* Untyped Subject Place
Greycourt (Populated Place) - Orange County - New YorkMade/Created
Artist
Clifton Patrick & Leslie Smith.Date made
Jan 27, 2002Create Date
November 4, 2025Update Date
July 16, 2026
