Thousands of people turned out to see the New York Central’s last westbound Empire State Express pass down Washington Street, ending an era that began in 1839. Trains then switched to the new elevated line through the city on the old West Shore alignment. But that only lasted until 1962. Trains were re-routed to the freight line around the city and the line through the city became part of Route 690. At one time more than 100 daily passenger trains passed through Syracuse.
(Central N.Y. Chapter, National Railway Historical Society)
