Kingston Railroad Station (New York)
Encyclopedia
There were four stations built to serve the city of Kingston, New York
. The first station was known as "Higginsville 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 known as "Fair Street Station", which replaced Higginsville Station in 1882. The fourth station was for the New York, Ontario and Western.
was Kingston's only railroad at the time.
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 1958. The station was then abandoned. It had deteriorated so badly that it was torn down in the 1960s, although some local groups tried to save it.
. The change from Higginsville to Fair street was the result of an agreement made In 1881 between Thomas Cornell, as president of the railroad company, and a committee of citizens. Fair Street station closed in 1898.
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 torn down in the 1960s.
, which leases the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad
in Ulster County, New York
started a special event shuttle in Kingston on December 6, 2008. A small ticket office and loading platform was placed just east of Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78. This ticket office is known as Westbrook Station. Its location is about 1/4 mile east of the former U&D Fair Street Station.
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
. The first station was known as "Higginsville Station" built by the Rondout & Oswego
Ulster and Delaware Railroad
The Ulster and Delaware Railroad Company was a Class I railroad located in New York State, headquartered in Rondout and founded in 1866. It was often advertised as "The Only All-Rail Route To the Catskill Mountains." At its greatest extent, the U&D ran from Kingston Point, on the Hudson River,...
(later the Ulster & Delaware
Ulster and Delaware Railroad
The Ulster and Delaware Railroad Company was a Class I railroad located in New York State, headquartered in Rondout and founded in 1866. It was often advertised as "The Only All-Rail Route To the Catskill Mountains." At its greatest extent, the U&D ran from Kingston Point, on the Hudson River,...
(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 known as "Fair Street Station", which replaced Higginsville Station in 1882. The fourth station was for the New York, Ontario and Western.
Higginsville Station
Located near MP 4.4 on the U&D, at the time of its construction in about 1869 Higginsville was the first station location for Kingston. It was located just west of the current Washington Avenue. The Rondout & OswegoUlster and Delaware Railroad
The Ulster and Delaware Railroad Company was a Class I railroad located in New York State, headquartered in Rondout and founded in 1866. It was often advertised as "The Only All-Rail Route To the Catskill Mountains." At its greatest extent, the U&D ran from Kingston Point, on the Hudson River,...
was Kingston's only railroad at the time.
Union Station
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
system. Following soon on its heels was the West Shore Railroad
West Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
which quickly bought up the Wallkill Valley. Around 1880, at the junction of the West Shore Railroad
West Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
, Wallkill Valley Railroad and U&D, Kingston Station, also known as "Union Station", was built by the West Shore Railroad
West Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
. 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 1958. The station was then abandoned. It had deteriorated so badly that it was torn down in the 1960s, although some local groups tried to save it.
Fair Street Station
Located near MP 4.0 on the U&D, at the time of its construction in 1882 Fair Street Station was near the central business district of KingstonKingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
. The change from Higginsville to Fair street was the result of an agreement made In 1881 between Thomas Cornell, as president of the railroad company, and a committee of citizens. Fair Street station closed in 1898.
New York Ontario & Western Station
In 1902 the New York, Ontario and Western (O&W) constructed a branch from SummitvilleSummitville NY
Summitville is a hamlet in the town of Mamakating, New York in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The hamlet is located along U.S. Route 209. The postal ZIP code is 12781; the telephone exchange is predominantly 888 and overlaid 647 in Area code 845....
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 torn down in the 1960s.
Catskill Mountain Railroad Station
The Catskill Mountain RailroadCatskill Mountain Railroad
The Catskill Mountain Railroad , is a heritage railroad based in Shokan, New York, United States that began operations in 1983. It leases from Ulster County the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad tracks from Mile Post 2.8 in Kingston to MP 41.4 in Highmount, where it connects with the Delaware...
, which leases the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad
Ulster and Delaware Railroad
The Ulster and Delaware Railroad Company was a Class I railroad located in New York State, headquartered in Rondout and founded in 1866. It was often advertised as "The Only All-Rail Route To the Catskill Mountains." At its greatest extent, the U&D ran from Kingston Point, on the Hudson River,...
in Ulster County, New York
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
started a special event shuttle in Kingston on December 6, 2008. A small ticket office and loading platform was placed just east of Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78. This ticket office is known as Westbrook Station. Its location is about 1/4 mile east of the former U&D Fair Street Station.