The Orange Heritage Trailway is a 19.5-mile (31.4 km)[1] rail trail in Orange County, New York, that runs from Monroe, NY to nearby Middletown.
The Orange Heritage Trailway is a recreational trail with a historical background that spans through parts of New York. The trail is built on the former Erie Railroad mainline, known as the Graham Line, constructed between 1906 and 1909 as a freight bypass to alleviate congestion on the Erie mainline between Harriman and Otisville, NY.
In 1983, Conrail decided to abandon the original mainline tracks in favor of the Graham Line, which is still in use today by Metro-North's Port Jervis Line and Norfolk Southern Railway for freight operations. This decision was influenced by local opposition to Metro-North, leading to the abandonment of the historically significant Erie Main Line from Harriman to Middletown.
The trail follows the route of the former Erie Railroad mainline, turning northwest at Newburgh Junction (Harriman) and terminating at the site of the now-removed and demolished Nepera Chemical plant in the village of Harriman. The undeveloped roadbed continues for approximately two miles through Harriman and Monroe.
The paved section of the Orange Heritage Trail begins in Harriman, NY, with an informal trailhead and parking lot located at the corner of River Rd. and North Main St. The trail provides a recreational space for walking, running, cycling, and other outdoor activities.
Notably, the trail passes through areas with historical significance, such as the former site of Greycourt. There is a Norfolk Southern siding off the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYS&W) mainline near Chester, running along the rail trail for about 0.5 miles. This siding is a remnant of Greycourt, which used to be a substantial railroad yard and an interchange point between the Erie Railroad and the L&HR (Lehigh and Hudson River Railway). Greycourt is also where the Erie Railroad's Newburgh Branch split from the mainline.
Orange Heritage Trail Harriman Trailhead