At the end of the Civil War trains were already running through a good portion of New York State.  Especially, along the east side of the Hudson River from Orange County and points south.  But in Ulster County, farmers were shipping their produce by horse and wagon to river ports along the Hudson River that would transit their produce down river on a barge to New York City. 

Promoters of a railroad through the Wallkill Valley area stressed that a railroad would open the area to the world and stimulate the agricultural market.  Floyd McKinstry, the first president of the Wallkill Valley Railway,  espoused that the railroad would make the valley a "perfect garden".

In 1866, after much debate, the Wallkill Valley Railway Company was formed and built a railroad from Montgomery to New Paltz.  The WVRC railroad route included the towns of Montgomery, Shawangunk, Gardiner, New Paltz, Kingston and Rosendale.

In 1868 construction of the WVRR began.  The most sensational part of this construction was the building of the high bridge in Rosendale.  From 1870 to 1872, one hundred men labored to build the 9 iron spans of the bridge.  When completed, the bridge stood majestically over the Roundout at 150 feet in high and 988 feet long.

Men working on original bridge structure

Courtesy of Century House, Rosendale's Historical Society

The Kingston Freeman called it an "iron wonder" and the NY Times said it was, "the highest span bridge in the US".  According to the Newburgh Journal, "bystanders saw the bridge not the least indication of strain or vibration".

By October of 1872 the Wallkill trains were running regularly over the bridge and had become.a major lifeline to towns like Rosendale.  It ferried fresh produce and vegetables from the farmlands of Ulster County to the streets of New York City. It also served as a commuter railroad for passengers traveling along the Hudson Valley. For more than a half century, the railroad supported business and tourism, provided jobs and created a critical economic link between upstate and downstate. 

On running the first train over the Rosendale Bridge the Weekly Freeman reported on April 12, 1872, "The little town was evidently preparing for a gala day, for a starry banner floated in the breeze and there could be seen entering the village groups of people in holiday attire - - loads of people and scores of pedestrians were pouring in from every direction". 

And, in May 1872 the Weekly Freeman continued, "The view one gets from the center of the bridge, standing 150 feet above water, is one of unsurpassed magnificence and beauty."  

The railroad bridge was big enough news for the New York Times to report in May 1872, "The Wallkill Valley Railroad bridge at Rosendale deserves to be placed among the wonders of railroad construction.  It is built across a deep gorge in the Shawangunk Mountains, in which lies the romantic village of Rosendale."

Not long after its debut, between 1895 and 1896, the Rosendale railway bridge was reconstructed to original specifications, replacing the iron with steel to better withstand floods and ice flows.  Train service continued up until 1977 when the rail company decided to discontinue this train line.  Today, as a testament to excellent engineering and workmanship, this steel railway trestle still stands majestically over the Roundout Creek.

The History of Rosendale

Natural Cements