Boston Corners (NYCRR station)

Boston Corners
Boston Corners station site. Station signal box lies across former track bed.
Location	45 Boston Corners Road Boston Corner, New York, 12502
Tracks	0
History
Opened	1905
Closed	March 22, 1972 (Passenger Service) March 27, 1976 (Freight)
Services
Former services   Preceding station   New York Central Railroad   Following station Mount Riga toward New York City Harlem Division Copake Falls toward Chatham

Boston Corners was a former NYCRR train station that served the residents of the Town of Ancram, New York.

History

Boston Corners was the first stop of the New York and Harlem Railroad in Columbia County, between Dover Plains (to the south) and the end of the line at Chatham (to the north), and was constructed between 1848 and 1852. The site was originally known as "Boston Corner" which was located at the time in the very Southwest corner of Massachusetts. However, on January 3, 1855 the United States Congress annexed 1,000 acres (4.0 km²) from Massachusetts to New York. This now situated about 400 feet (120 m) of the NY&H in New York State. In the early days of the development the area was known as "the Badlands" which was a spot where numerous fugitives would engage in illegal activities such as boxing and prize fights. The railroad was acquired by the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad in 1864, and converted it into the Harlem Division. By the early 1870s the station also began to serve the Poughkeepsie and Eastern Railway and the Rhinebeck and Connecticut Railroad, both of which were eventually acquired by the Central New England Railway. In the early 20th century a formidable industry started to take shape. In spite of this, the CNE abandoned the P&E in 1925,^[1] and then the R&C in 1938.^[2]

Service on the Harlem at Boston Corners was reduced many times in the 20th century, and in 1940 it was reduced to a flag stop. On September 28, 1952 the station was closed by New York Central, remained for a few years and was dismantled a few years later. Following the closure of this station the settlement was virtually abandoned. Passenger service continued until March 20, 1972. Freight continued running on the line until service north of Wassaic ceased on March 27, 1976.^[3] The rails were lifted in 1981 by Conrail.

References

1. Poughkeepsie and Eastern Railway (KinglyHeirs; Central New England Railroad page)
2. Rhinebeck and Connecticut Railroad (KinglyHeirs; Central New England Railroad page)
3. Grogan, Louis V (1989). The Coming Of The New York And Harlem Railroad. Pawling, New York: Louis V. Grogan. p. 364. ISBN 978-0-9621206-5-7.

External links

• Fairbanks Morse C-Liner at Boston Corners; c. 1959, by Chuck Brandt

Coordinates: 42°3′43″N 73°31′26.6″W / 42.06194°N 73.524056°W