Ghost Spur: Albany’s Abandoned Rail Spur
Albany once ran freight trains directly into the second floor of an 11-story warehouse.
Built by the New York Central Railroad in 1927, Central Warehouse was designed for industrial-scale cold storage. A two-track spur carried refrigerated boxcars into the building, allowing freight to be unloaded within the massive concrete structure.
© 2026 John Bulmer Photography + Media. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction of text, images, or film content without written permission is prohibited.
Nearly a century later, the rails still curve through the empty loading floor. They are now being removed as crews dismantle Central Warehouse as part of a $14.6 million demolition project.
A surviving piece of railroad infrastructure hidden for decades inside one of Albany’s most familiar ruins.
This photograph was taken more than a decade ago with permission. Do not trespass, particularly inside abandoned or structurally unsound buildings. Central Warehouse is now an active demolition site beside active rail lines.
Photograph by John Bulmer / Restoration Obscura. New feature drops tomorrow. Restoration Obscura is a top 100 Substack
Nearly a century later, the rails still curve through the empty loading floor. They are now being removed as crews dismantle Central Warehouse as part of a $14.6 million demolition project.
A surviving piece of railroad infrastructure hidden for decades inside one of Albany’s most familiar ruins.
This photograph was taken more than a decade ago with permission. Do not trespass, particularly inside abandoned or structurally unsound buildings. Central Warehouse is now an active demolition site beside active rail lines.
Photograph by John Bulmer / Restoration Obscura. New feature drops tomorrow. Restoration Obscura is a top 100 Substack
© 2026 John Bulmer Photography + Media. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction of text, images, or film content without written permission is prohibited.
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