RR History (NYS Historic Newspapers)

It fascinating to browse through old newspapers and learn about historical details. Below are a few excerpts from newspapers pulled from the NYS Historic Newspapers project. Using search keywords like "railroad" or "trolley" and selecting a county you can dig up a lot of info!

Saratoga County Railroad History

Lots of RR headlines!
Mechanicville Saturday Mercury - April 27, 1907

The Delaware & Eastern RR never really happened... Details > 

New Railroad Yards ("Siberia")
Mechanicville Saturday Mercury - September 13, 1913 - col 3

Wayville Station
Mechanicville Saturday Mercury - April 26, 1919 - col 3

Interesting historical background on this house on rd 70!  Read >

Ragging on the D&H

• Mechanicville Saturday Mercury - May 11, 1912
• Mechanicville Saturday Mercury - February 06, 1915
• Mechanicville Saturday Mercury - May 01, 1909, Page 1
• Mechanicville Saturday Mercury., December 09, 1911

Yep  ...just about every edition around the 1910 decade has a featured article in the center of the front page bitching about the D&H!

Washington County Railroad History

Edward Curtis Railroad Trip
The Greenwich journal and Fort Edward advertiser., April 02, 1941, Page 9

Not Every Conductor is a Thief!
The Granville sentinel., February 22, 1889, Page 1, Col 1

Kingston or Catskill? Railroad Rivalry

In the 1800s, the Catskill Mountains became a tourist destination. By the late 1800s, large numbers of vacationers traveled via the Hudson River by steamship and disembarked at either Kingston or Catskill to take trains up to the grand hotels in the mountains.

A bitter competitive rivalry emerged between the cities of Kingston and Catskill. When a rail connection to the hotels in the Catskills was first made from Kingston, Folks in the city of Catskill started freaking out. Below are a few excerpts from the newspaper The Catskill Recorder pulled from the NYS Historic Newspapers project.

Its a fascinating look back at economic rivalries and a jarring reminder of how important railroads were back then. You will need to click on the thumbnail to enlarge them.

1879 - Catskills to be Fenced in?

"... Every effort is being made by interested neighbors in Ulster to divert the tide of Summer travel form Catskill! Can we live with less business?"

The Catskill Recorder - February 21, 1879

1881 - Catskill Mountain Railroad

"Close connections and fast times will win!"

The Catskill Recorder - March 04, 1881

1882 - Bah Humbug - Robin Hood's Barn Route

Summer Resort Gossip

The Catskill Recorder - July 07, 1882

1883  - The Local Railroads

Making a case for the importance of the Catskill Mountain Railway.

The Catskill recorder - December 14, 1883

1891 - Up the Mountains in 10 Minutes

Making a Case for building the the Otis Incline Railway

The Catskill recorder - November 13, 1891

1892 - Excursion From Albany

"Don't miss this chance!

The Catskill recorder - September 09, 1892

1892  - Timetable

Both Cairo and Palenville Branches were active...

The Catskill Recorder - July 15, 1892

1893 - "Delighted"

A half hour shorter than the competition!

The Catskill Recorder - July 21, 1893

1893 - Catskill & Tannersville Railroad

Opening Announcement

The Catskill Recorder., June 30, 1893

Further Info

• The Growth of Railroads in the Catskill Mountains
• Exploring the remnants of the Otis Incline Railway