The Putnam Trailway is a paved bicycle/pedestrian path located primarily on right-of-way lands of the former Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad. The “Old Put” as it was formerly referred to by commuters, provided freight and passenger service from 1881 to 1958 between the Bronx in New York City and Brewster in Putnam County. The Putnam Railroad once served 6 stations in Putnam County, some of which still stand today. Station stops included Brewster, Tilly Foster, Carmel, Crafts, Mahopac, Lake Mahopac and Baldwin Place. The Lake Mahopac station building is known today as the American Legion Post building on Bucks Hollow Road.
The Putnam Right-of-Way spans 12.0 linear miles through Putnam County, from the Westchester border at Baldwin Place to Brewster Village where it merged into the Harlem Line Tracks. At Baldwin Place, the Putnam Trailway connects to the North County Trailway, which continues south through Westchester County and into the Bronx to Marble Hill (225th Street). Two branch lines are in the trailway planning stages; one going from Lake Mahopac to Goldens Bridge, and the other from Baldwin Place to Mahopac Falls. For more information about the trailway system, call the Putnam County Department of Planning at (845) 878-3480 or write Putnam County Planning Department, 841 Fair Street, Carmel, NY 10512 or visit our web site at: www.putnamcountyny.com
