The Erie's chief engineer, James Graham, died in February 1909, a month after the line was fully opened to traffic.

In both cases, the cutoff was named for the little-known station at its west end, where it joins the original Main Line on the grade down to Port Jervis.

[3] Following the Metro-North change and discontinuance of its own local freight service, Conrail, owner of the railroad, was able to abandon the original Main Line the following year.

Using the Graham Line avoided the many grade crossings in the old town centers, improving safety and train speed.

But the Graham Line, designed entirely for freight trains, has the disadvantage for passenger services of running through much less-populated areas.