What a Delightful Ride

The article presents a historical account of traveling by rail along the Hudson River in 1873, written under the pseudonym "Vieux Moustache" by author Clarence Gordon, originally published in the Troy Daily Whig on April 26, 1873.

Gordon describes the scenic train journey from New York City northward through Sing Sing (present-day Ossining) to Croton. The narrative includes vivid descriptions of passing Sing Sing prison, with its "high, shadowed, white walls pierced with hundreds of narrow, grated window slits." Gordon then details the approach to Croton Point, describing the landscape where "the beautiful river flowing out of a but partially revealed valley" spreads into a bay suitable for small boats and waterfowl.

The article includes historical maps from F.W. Beers' 1868 Atlas of New York and vicinity showing the Hudson River Railroad's route through the region. Footnotes provide context about Brandreth's pill factory, the drawbridge mechanism spanning the Croton River mouth, and the extensive gravel removal required during railroad construction.

Clarence Gordon (1835-1920) was an educator and author who wrote under his pen name.