Schenectady railroad history books

These companies included the dickson manufacturing company, brooks locomotive works, cooke locomotive and machine works, schenectady locomotive works, manchester locomotive works, richmond locomotive works,pittsburgh locomotive and car works, and rhode island locomotive works. The find includes a section of the original tracks. Its history to the close of the nineteenth century. As he did for global railroad history in his blood, iron, and gold, wolmar masterfully condenses the history of american rail into a lively and lucid work that is highly recommended to all. Pictures from the history of schenectady county, new york. In 1831, the first successful steam railroad running regularly scheduled service in the 11 miles between albany and schenectady the mohawk and hudson rail road, later to become part of the mighty new york central system. The gremsdoolittle library contains books and manuscripts focusing on genealogy and local history of the schenectady county area, including the nearby counties in upstate new york from the colonial period to the present day. It was used by the ge womens club from 1915 until 1957, when it was donated to the historical society. The information contained in his books and newspaper articles is a great source of info on the src and life in schenectady in general. History of the railroad industry in schenectady county, new york, part of the schenectady digital history archive, the local history and genealogy web site of the schenectady county public library, affiliated with the nygenweb, usgenweb and american history and genealogy projects and the american local history network. The first railroad in the capital region was among the first in the country, and helped herald in a new age of transportation. September 9, 1827 second run of the stourbridge lion confirms fears that the locomotive is too heavy for the track as built. Early railroads of new yorks capital district covers what was perhaps the most exciting time in railroad history from 1826 to about 1900.

Gateway to the west 16141925 is a fourvolume set covering six counties in upstate new york. Compare this construction tunnel photo with an historical photo of trolley emerging from tunnel. Schenectady city historian don rittner has apparently found the first railroad tunnel ever constructed buried in the historic schenectady stockade district. He is currently the treasurer of the saratoga county historical society. Despite its name, the railroad only reached to ballston. Jul 24, 2012 new yorks railroads were born of the cutthroat conflict of rate wars, bloody strikes and even federal graft. The name schenectady is derived from a mohawk word, skahnehtati, meaning beyond the pines. The railroad scheduled to open in 1836 will be 78 miles long and extend from state street in schenectady population 6,272 to baggs square in utica population 10,183.

The saratoga and schenectady railroad was opened from schenectady to ballston spa in 1832 and extended to saratoga springs in. January 8, 1831 new york state assembly authorizes the incorporation of the saratoga and schenectady railroad. August 8, 1827 stourbridge lion makes history as the locomotive to run on rails in the united states. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. As manufacturing grew in the nearby city of schenectady, niskayuna emerged as the residential suburb that it is today. All of the books listed below many of which are selfpublished and limited in quantity are available for sale at the brookside museum in ballston spa.

Early railroads of new yorks capital district ballston history. The railroad wars began as soon as the first line was chartered between albany and schenectady when supporters of the erie canal tried to block the new technology that would render their waterway obsolete. A companion book was written at the same time titled the golden age of railroading in new yorks capital district that covers the years 1880 to 1950. History of the new york central lines and railroad development in the mohawk valley the mohawk and hudson railroad, 1831 the utica and schenectady railroad, 1836 n.

Apr 25, 2020 the railroad scheduled to open in 1836 will be 78 miles long and extend from state street in schenectady population 6,272 to baggs square in utica population 10,183. The first engines with a train of carriages as they were then called, passed up the road from schenectady to saratoga on the 4th of july, 1833warren b. Aug 14, 2008 incredible news from the schenectady gazette this morning. A history andrew merrilees transportation collection author. It was largely conceived and built by businessmen of troy in response to albanys construction of the mohawk and hudson railroad and the newly created saratoga and schenectady railroad. The brookside museum ballston spa, open door bookstore schenectady. This is the only compilation of mohawk valley railroad history published to.

Jun 22, 2009 water transportation was soon joined by the schenectady railroad corporation and the troy and schenectady railroad. Schenectady ny golden era 18801930 larry hart 1995 signed 4th ed history book. This website is dedicated to the research and publication of the nineteenth century history of albany, rensselaer, schenectady, and saratoga counties. The american locomotive company was actually formed through the combination of several smaller companies in 1901.

Jones, who escaped from slavery near leesburg, virginia, and helped more than 800 people to freedom through elmira, new york. On that day one of the new locomotives belonging to the company, having attached to it a long train of cars, containing a large number of persons, passed over the road. Hot off the presses history of ballston spa and saratoga county. Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. It began running between albany and schenectady in 1831. Featuring the research of timothy starr, author of sixteen local history books. History of the new york central railroad and other. A history of its industries, railroads and inventions. The research library has many collections of papers, photographs, and books. Its an old story, that of the first passenger railroad in the united states but, because of our growing youth and the new citizens who are constantly coming to this section of the states the history of the pioneer system, the beginning of the great new york central lines, needs to be repeated now and. The 15footdeep tunnel snakes its way across what are now a dozen or more private backyards. Niskayuna images of america schenectady county historical society on. Saratoga and schenectady railroad commences opening, 1832, 6. The second railroad track between schenectady and albany has been completed, eliminating what has been a major bottleneck for passenger and freight traffic in upstate new york.

Albany troy schenectady saratoga springs cohoes waterford ballston spa corinth south glens falls lansingburgh stillwater mechanicville watervliet clifton park. History of the railroad industry in schenectady county, new york, part of the schenectady digital history archive, the local history and genealogy web site of the. Finally, a modern system of roads and highways came into being during the 20th century. It became a branchline of the nyc and lasted until the 1970s.

History of education in schenectady, 166162 196162. The history museum tells of the history of schenectady, the yates doll house, the erie canal, and the glensanders collection, etc. In that year the railroad was extended to saratoga, and was, i believe, the second passenger railroad that was completed in the united states. History was uncovered in 2011 when the glenridge road construction unearthed the little known existence of trolley tunnels. Aug 06, 2009 bob sullivan of the schenectady digital history archive at the schenectady county public library has announced that the organizations obituary index has passed the 50,000citation mark. The index includes scattered records from schenectady newspapers before 1822, more complete coverage from 1822 to 1858, some later 1800s, 1902, 1993 to mid. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,5. New yorks railroads were born of the cutthroat conflict of rate wars, bloody strikes. Railroad wars of new york state by timothy starr the. One littleknown man who shone among them is john w. Schenectady was founded on the south side of the mohawk river by dutch colonists in the 17th century, many. As you can see from this map, this trolley system, known as the schenectady railway company was quite extensive and connected saratoga, schenectady. The railroad was consolidated into the new york central railroad on may 17, 1853. This online version is part of the schenectady digital history archive, the local history and genealogy web site of the schenectady county public library, affiliated with the nygenweb, usgenweb and american history and genealogy projects and the american.

Mohawk division completed in 1839 by the construction of the utica and syracuse railroad first division of the new york central railroad, now the only six track railroad in the world and its greatest transportation route new york central r. Niskayuna officially became a town in schenectady county when the county split off from albany county in 1809. Remnants of the schenectady railway uncovering the past. The first car the utica and schenectady rail road from the city of schenectady to st. Antique maps from 1870 to 1890 show the entire line still in existence. Niskayuna arcadia publishing local and regional history books. In the 17th century, the area now called niskayuna consisted mostly of cornfields. The brookside museum ballston spa, open door bookstore schenectady, the book house at stuyvesant plaza albany, the saratoga springs. New yorks railroads were born of the cutthroat conflict of rate wars, bloody strikes and even federal graft. It was sonamed because it linked the mohawk river at schenectady with the hudson river at albany.