On August 2, 2016, the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway and Highbrook Avenue Bridge in
Pelham were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A ceremony will be scheduled later
this fall. This past March, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the property was listed on the
NY State Register. “These landmarks are a part of our rich and storied history and helped define
what it means to be a New Yorker,” Governor Cuomo said.
     The concrete arch railroad bridge was designed by Alfred Fellheimer, a nationally well-known
railroad architect who headed the design committee for Grand Central Terminal. It was erected with
the approval of financier J.P. Morgan under the management of Leverett S. Miller, President of the
NYW&B. The historic rail line, completed in 1912 as state of the art transport, was abandoned in
1937. The bridge stands as the largest work of public art in the village.
In October 2015, the Village Board of Pelham passed a resolution designating a portion of the old
New York Westchester and Boston (NYW&B) Railway site, which contains the Highbrook Avenue
Bridge, as parkland. The parkland designation was endorsed by Westchester Land Trust and the
Lower Hudson Sierra Club.
     The Friends of Highbrook Highline (FHH) were assisted by rail fans Robert Bang, Otto Vondrak and
historian Dr. Roger Wines. They provided historical photographs and research, which helped with
public outreach as well as preparation for the application for listing on the National Register of
Historic Places. One third of the NYW&B site was opened as a passive park in 2012 through a joint
effort by the Village of Pelham, FHH, a grant by the Junior League of Pelham and support by
Pelham Preservation & Garden Society acting as fiscal sponsor. With a landscape company and
volunteers, the field near Young Avenue was remediated of contaminated soil and then planted with
trees, shrubs and flowers.
     The entire NYW&B property represents 22% of Pelham Village’s open space. The FHH and the
Village of Pelham are seeking grants to restore the bridge and open a trail with gardens through the
property, a rails-to-trails park.

We are happy to announce that the VOP has opened the gate to the greenway field (area A).  Please come by and enjoy this Memorial Weekend.

New York, Westchester & Boston Railway (NYW&B) Centennial Celebration - July 14, 2012 - New Rochelle,NY

Join us on July 14 to Celebrate the Centennial of America's Finest Suburban Railway!

The New York, Westchester & Boston Railway (NYW&B) opened to the public on May 29, 1912, stretching 21 miles from White Plains in suburban Westchester County to Harlem River Terminal in the Bronx. For twenty five years, "The Westchester" carried the faithful in growing numbers until the economic realities of the 1930s caught up with the railroad that was built ahead of its time. The NYW&B passed into the history books on the last day of 1937, but the last chapter of this storied line has yet to be told...
 
Thanks to the New Rochelle Public Library We will be using the Theatre and Meeting Room at the New Rochelle Public Library to host our event. Join us for a day of informative and commemorative presentations, followed by bus tours.

For more information, visit http://www.nywbry.com/nywb100.php

The Loop - April 9, 2012

Dr. Roger Wines discusses tax implications that creating a Highbrook Bridge Trail and Greenspace would produce long term financial and intangible benefits for the village is now posted on our "Letters & Resources"

Dr. Roger Wines' comprehensive report to the Board of the Village of Pelham on the "Historical and Cultural Assets: Highbrook a Venue Bridge and NYW&B Railway Site: is now posted on our "Letters & Resources"