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The Imposing Smith Bridge

In my search for Conrail SD50 photos, I rediscovered this image that I exposed on February 23, 1985 and scanned back in 2010.

My father and I had driven to Selkirk, New York to photograph a Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts excursion scheduled to cross the Hudson on Conrail’s normally freight-only Selkirk Branch.

The crown jewel of New York Central’s low-grade Castleton Cutoff is the immense Alfred H. Smith memorial bridge. Construction for this massive structure began in 1922. It was named for the late Central president who had initiated its construction but died before its completion.

While we waited at the west end of the Smith Bridge for the passenger special, Jim Shaughnessy arrived with 4×5 Graphic in hand and a similar vision in mind.

My dad made video, Jim exposed large-format photos, and I worked with 35mm black & white in my father’s Leica M4. For this view of a freight preceeding the passenger train, I used a Leitz f4 Elmar 135mm telephoto.

That’s Conrail 6721 in the lead. But, I’m looking for 6722 and 6723 (among others), so it’s Back to the Files for me!

On April 1, 2026, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the birth of Conrail. Big Blue was not yet 9 years old when I made this 1985 photograph.

Tracking the Light examines railway photography!