Selkirk, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Selkirk
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 Selkirk
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Region | Capital District |
| County | Albany |
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
12158
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| Area code(s) | 518 |
Selkirk is a small community called a hamlet in New York. It's part of the town of Bethlehem in Albany County. Selkirk is located just south of the big city of Albany. It's like a neighborhood or suburb of Albany.
Contents
Selkirk's Big Train Yard
One of the most important things in Selkirk is a huge train yard. This yard is operated by CSX Transportation. It's a major hub for freight trains. Freight trains carry goods and materials across the country.
How the Train Yard Works
All the CSX freight trains that travel to or from Boston pass through Selkirk. They go through this yard on their way to other places. These places can be north, south, or west of Selkirk.
The Selkirk Hurdle
Trains coming from New York City also use a special route through Selkirk. They cross the Alfred H. Smith Memorial Bridge. This route helps them get to places out west. This detour is sometimes called the "Selkirk hurdle." It helps trains avoid busy areas.
Protecting Our Planet
Selkirk is also home to Audubon International. This is a non-profit group. They focus on educating people about the environment. They work to protect nature and wildlife.
Historic Buildings
Selkirk has some very old and important buildings. These buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places that are special because of their history.
- The Dr. John Babcock House
- The Bethlehem Grange No. 137
- The Schoonmaker House
These buildings help us remember the past. They show us what life was like long ago.
Getting Around Selkirk
You can easily reach Selkirk by car. It's located right off the New York State Thruway. This is a major highway in New York. You can take Exit 22 to get to Selkirk.
Connecting Routes
From Exit 22, you can connect to other roads. These include New York State Route 396 and New York State Route 144. These routes help people travel in and out of Selkirk.
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Hamlet of Becker's Corners Selkirk Rail Yard |
NYS Thruway (I-87) Hamlet of Cedar Hill |
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| Hamlet of South Bethlehem |  |
NYS Thruway (I-87) Exit 22 | ||
 Hamlet of Selkirk  |
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| CSXT railroad tracks | NYS Thruway/Berkshire Spur interchange |
