I originally posted this on the NYC forum, thought I would get the most knowledgeable answers there. But it appears that nobody knows where exactly the "Colonie-Schenectady" station on the NYC/PC/Amtrak passenger mainline was located between 1969 and 1979.... Anybody in the New York State Railfan forum have more info ??? I know this station existed, I was on Amtrak trains that stopped there circa 1976/1977/1978.... Help an old guy out, anybody got pictures, GPS locations, final disposition of the buildings, etc....
My original post on the NYC forum follows;
Ok, here is a trivia test. The circa 1908 NYCRR Schenectady Passenger Station (on Erie Blvd in Schenectady) was closed up in 1969. And it was torn down in 1971. The tracks remained, but in very poor condition since the money making main line freight trains all went to Selkirk via the cutoff at Hoffman's
It was replaced with the Colonie-Schenectady Station near NY State Road #155.
I remember stopping at this station (but not leaving the train), it seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by pine trees and consisted of a parking lot that might hold a dozen compact cars and a building about the size of a two person phone booth. I think it had one inexpensive asphalt "platform" at ground level and it required step boxes to embark/disembark the train.
Anyone have more info;
Who built the station. NYC or PC ?
Was it manned with ticket sellers during train times, or was it a "buy your ticket on the train" operation ?
Was it a scheduled stop, or a flag stop ? I don't think they did flag stops on the NYC in the late 60's ?
I would assume it did not handle checked baggage ?
GPS coordinates ?
Photos ?
Fate ? Does the building / parking lot still exist ? I see no sign of it in the satellite images.
After Amtrak built a "1970's" station in Schenectady (circa 1979) the Colonie-Schenectady station was closed up.
Maybe the Colonie-Schenectady station (starting as NYC/PC and ending as CR/Amtrak) holds the record for the shortest lived railroad passenger station in New York State History at just about 1 decade? Not counting temporary construction related "shacks".
Any info appreciated, I felt like I was lost in the far north woods of Canada whenever the train stopped there....
Cheers, Kevin
NYCRRson
Posts: 188
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:50 am
My original post on the NYC forum follows;
Ok, here is a trivia test. The circa 1908 NYCRR Schenectady Passenger Station (on Erie Blvd in Schenectady) was closed up in 1969. And it was torn down in 1971. The tracks remained, but in very poor condition since the money making main line freight trains all went to Selkirk via the cutoff at Hoffman's
It was replaced with the Colonie-Schenectady Station near NY State Road #155.
I remember stopping at this station (but not leaving the train), it seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by pine trees and consisted of a parking lot that might hold a dozen compact cars and a building about the size of a two person phone booth. I think it had one inexpensive asphalt "platform" at ground level and it required step boxes to embark/disembark the train.
Anyone have more info;
Who built the station. NYC or PC ?
Was it manned with ticket sellers during train times, or was it a "buy your ticket on the train" operation ?
Was it a scheduled stop, or a flag stop ? I don't think they did flag stops on the NYC in the late 60's ?
I would assume it did not handle checked baggage ?
GPS coordinates ?
Photos ?
Fate ? Does the building / parking lot still exist ? I see no sign of it in the satellite images.
After Amtrak built a "1970's" station in Schenectady (circa 1979) the Colonie-Schenectady station was closed up.
Maybe the Colonie-Schenectady station (starting as NYC/PC and ending as CR/Amtrak) holds the record for the shortest lived railroad passenger station in New York State History at just about 1 decade? Not counting temporary construction related "shacks".
Any info appreciated, I felt like I was lost in the far north woods of Canada whenever the train stopped there....
Cheers, Kevin
NYCRRson
Posts: 188
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:50 am