“…Perhaps the railroad line could be devoted to some recreational uses for the community – a linear park or jogging paths…It's an incredible environment for pedestrians…” PETER OBLETZ, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST & VISIONARY.

The Beginnings and Frightening Freight Lines

The West Side Railroad Line also called the West Side Freight Line, was part of the New York Central Railroad. It ran on a track built by the Hudson River Railroad Company, and in 1851, it extended as far as Albany. During its operation, the line delivered meat to the meatpacking district, agricultural goods to factories and warehouses of the industrial West Side, mail to the Post Office and more.

From the year of its completion through 1929, such an excess of accidents occurred between freight train, vehicular and pedestrian traffic that 10th Avenue was known as “Death Avenue.” Talk about a challenge for realtors;

“The view is lovely and there is plenty of sunlight, with very little obstruction.”
“We are new in town, but we heard this is ‘Death Avenue,’ and to perhaps avoid it.”
“Horseradish! It’s a very quiet building.”
“With all due respect every window is dark and it’s only 7 o’clock – seems like a dead building on a frightening street.”
“Didn’t I tell you it was a quiet building?”

Men on horseback, known as “West Side Cowboys,” were hired to ride in front of trains waving red flags – the Wild West had finally taken Gotham. But this was a temporary fix, and in 1929 a decision was finally made to fix the system.

The West Side Improvement Project began that year when the City & State of New York, and the New York Central Railroad, all agreed on a plan which included the High Line. The project would raise trains some 30-feet up onto an elevated platform, sending them over the top of 105 street level crossings. It would also add 32-acres to Riverside Park.

The entire elevated structure – consisting of wooden railroad ties, tie spikes, steel rails, and stone ballast - was 13 miles long and cost., ...