Kingston Railroad Station (New York)

There were three stations built to serve the city of Kingston, New York. The first station was known as "Fair Street Station" built by the Rondout & Oswego (later the Ulster & Delaware (U&D)). The second station was served by three different railroads, all of which eventually became part of the New York Central. The third station was for the New York, Ontario and Western.

Fair Street Station

Located near MP 4.0 on the U&D, at the time of its construction in 1869 Fair Street Station was near the central business district of the soon to be incorporated city of Kingston. The Rondout & Oswego was Kingston's first railroad and at the time this location made sense.

Kingston Station

The next railroad to arrive in Kingston was the broad gauge (6 ft) Wallkill Valley an affiliate of the Erie system. Following soon on its heels was the West Shore Railroad which quickly bought up the Wallkill Valley. Around 1880, at the junction of the West Shore Railroad, Wallkill Valley Railroad and U&D, Kingston Station, also known as "Union Station", was built by the West Shore Railroad. Operating costs were shared by NYC and the U&D which then discontinued use of the Fair Street Station.

There was also a nearby subway station for the Colonial City trolley line under the West Shore Railroad tracks.

Kingston Station, MP 2.8, became one of the busiest stations serving the U&D. The U&D went along the north side of the station while the Wallkill and West Shore ran in front (east) of it.

In 1884 the West Shore became a part of the NYC. In 1932, the U&D ceased to exist and became the Catskill Mountain Branch of the NYC. Kingston Station was now an official NYC station. This station enjoyed a busy life even after the end of passenger service on the U&D in 1954, as the West Shore line was still running passenger service, but this last passenger service to Kingston ended in 1959. The station was then abandoned. It had deteriorated so badly that it was torn down in the 1960's, although some local groups tried to save it.

O&W Station

In 1902 the New York, Ontario and Western (O&W) constructed a branch from Summitville to Kingston, and built a station west and slightly north of the site of the U&D's early Fair Street Station. This station survived until the railroad was shut down in 1957. The station was then destroyed.

Catskill Mountain Railroad Station

The Catskill Mountain Railroad, which leases the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad in Ulster County, New York intends to start tourist operations in Kingston in 2008. To that end, a site has been selected for a passenger loading and unloading platform just east of Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78,

External links

* [http://www.catskillmtrailroad.com/ Catskill Mountain Railroad]