Ride from Goshen NY to the Moodna viaduct

No talking ride from goshen NY down Sarah wells trail to washingtonville NY then through Salisbury Mills and out to shunemunk mountain park and the moodna viaduct ..... Here is an article about it :

The Moodna Viaduct: A Steel Giant Over the Hudson Valley

Rising gracefully above the rolling farmland and woodlands of Cornwall and Salisbury Mills, the Moodna Viaduct stands as one of New York State’s most striking and enduring pieces of railroad engineering. Spanning the wide valley cut by Moodna Creek, the towering steel trestle has carried trains across the Hudson Valley for more than a century, earning a reputation as both an industrial marvel and a scenic landmark.

Constructed between 1904 and 1908, the viaduct was built as part of the Erie Railroad’s Graham Line, a freight bypass designed to move trains more efficiently through the region. When it opened to rail traffic in January 1909, it instantly became one of the most impressive railroad structures on the East Coast.

Stretching approximately 3,200 feet from end to end and reaching heights of up to 193 feet above the valley floor, the Moodna Viaduct is one of the longest and tallest trestle bridges east of the Mississippi. Its open-lattice steel design—chosen to reduce wind resistance and weather strain—has allowed it to withstand harsh winters, heavy use, and changing transportation demands for over 115 years.

Today, the viaduct remains fully active. It carries Metro-North Railroad’s Port Jervis Line, shared with NJ Transit, as well as occasional Norfolk Southern freight trains. Commuters traveling between Orange County and New York City cross the viaduct daily, passing through a landscape that has changed remarkably little since the bridge’s construction.

Beyond its practical purpose, the Moodna Viaduct has become a beloved regional icon. Its sweeping presence over the Moodna Valley makes it a favorite subject for photographers, especially in autumn when the surrounding hills burst into color. Hikers on nearby Schunemunk Mountain often pause to admire it from scenic overlooks, and the short Moodna Viaduct Trail offers one of the best ground-level vantage points.