2-8-2 #1375 at W. Albany, NY

Not West Albany but on the lower ground level east from the raise Albany’s union station platform with the top of the central warehouse in the extreme background, right side of the photo which is taken from south to north along the Hudson river! Ground level warehouse behind the engine, perhaps the REA building! The ground level between the station platform and the Hudson river was known locally as the "bull run yard" and serviced rail freight primarily for the city of Albany, especially the nearby busy downtown business district. The raised platform behind the union station allowed NYCS rail traffic to continue moving in spite of the Hudson river flooding significantly each spring time. The raised platform was built with the new union station in the period 1898 to opening in 1901. The Delaware and Hudson railroad passenger traffic between Montreal and Albany was kept to the lower ground level station annex with the NYCS passenger traffic occupying the entire trackage on the high platform. As rail traffic declined in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the remaining D&H passenger trains were allowed to use the high platform and passengers the main union station! By that time the high platform had become unnecessary because of the construction in 1936 of the Conklinville dam at the head of the Hudson river deep in the Adirondack mountains creating the great Sacandaga reservoir which prevented the Hudson from serious flooding! The historic Albany’s union station closed on the last day of 1968 and a very small metal NYCS/Penn Central station opened on the other side of the Hudson river in the NYCS Rensselaer freight yard. The high platform was demolished and the ornate stone union station boarded up for a better time with a new usage!!