The New York Central main line between New York and Buffalo was the main railroad through Albany, along with the connecting Boston & Albany line which became part of NYC. Unlike the present Amtrak station in Rensselaer, Union Station was actually in Albany, and involved a bridge over the Hudson River south of the bridge presently used. Also serving Albany were the NYC West Shore line south to Weehawken NJ, the Delaware & Hudson Saratoga Subdivision north towards Montreal, and the D&H Susquehanna Subdivision southwest to Binghamton. The NYC West Shore line used trackage rights via D&H south to Kenwood Jct. In addition, a NYC line extended along the east side of the Hudson River to Troy, where a connection was available with another D&H line north bypassing Albany.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
New York Central identified its towers as "Signal Stations" (SS), and these Signal Stations were usually numbered.
SS99 (Rensselaer) - junction of NYC main line, Boston & Albany line.
SS100 (Rensselaer) - junction of present line with old Hudson River bridge.
Kenwood Jct. - junction of NYC West Shore line with D&H Susquehanna Subdivision.
SS-A (S Union Station) - junction with NYC West Shore line.
SS-B (N Union Station) - junction with D&H Saratoga Subdivision.