Union Station (Chatham, New York) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chatham
Union Station in April 2009
Location	99 Depot Square, Chatham, New York
Owned by	Town of Chatham
Line(s)	New York and Harlem Railroad, Boston and Albany Railroad, Rutland Railroad
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	1
History
Opened	1887
Closed	March 20, 1972 (passengers) March 1976 (freight)
Former services
Preceding station New York Central Railroad Following station Niverville toward Albany Boston and Albany Railroad Main Line Pittsfield toward Boston Chatham Corner toward Albany East Chatham toward Boston Ghent toward New York Harlem Division Terminus Payn's toward Hudson Hudson Branch
Union Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in New York Show map of New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	99 Depot Square Chatham, New York
Architect	Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge
Architectural style	Richardsonian Romanesque
NRHP reference No.	74001225
Added to NRHP	May 1, 1974

Union Station in Chatham, New York, was a busy train station for many years. It served passengers from 1887 until 1972. It also handled freight (goods transported by train) until 1976.

This station was a key stop for trains like the Harlem Line, Boston and Albany Railroad, New York Central Railroad, and Rutland Railway. It was a meeting point for trains going to places like Rensselaer, New York, Hudson, New York, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and New York City.

Today, the building is no longer a train station. It is now a branch of the National Union Bank of Kinderhook. The building is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Even though trains don't stop there anymore, the tracks next to it are still very active with freight trains.

The Station's Early Days

Early-20th-century postcard of the station

Train service first came to Chatham on December 21, 1841. This was when the Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad opened its first section. It connected Greenbush (near Albany) to Chatham.

Later, the Harlem Extension of the New York and Harlem Railroad reached Chatham by 1869. By 1870, several train companies joined together. This led to the creation of the Boston and Albany Railroad (B&A).

Designing the Station Building

In 1881, the B&A hired a famous architect named Henry Hobson Richardson. He was asked to design several train stations. Sadly, Richardson passed away in 1886.

Another architecture firm, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, took over his work. They designed the Chatham Station. It opened in 1887 for the B&A's line between Boston and Albany.

The station building is built in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. It has a unique Dutch gable roof with wide edges. There are also colonnade porticos, which are covered walkways with columns. These extend over the low train platform.

The walls are made of light-colored stone with a rough, natural look. The window and door frames are made of a darker, contrasting brownstone. A large bow window faces the tracks. This window was once part of the stationmaster's office.

Changes Over the Years

The New York Central Railroad (NYCRR) took over the Boston and Albany Railroad in 1900. The station used to have a ticket agent, but the NYCRR closed the ticket office in 1960.

The station continued to serve passengers until March 20, 1972. Freight operations also stopped in March 1976. After that, a company called Conrail used the station for storage. In 1977, Conrail tried to sell the station building.

Train Service Ends

Long-distance passenger service on the Rutland Railroad to Chatham ended by 1931. The company changed its train routes to use a different line. Tracks going north to Vermont were removed after 1953. Later, the Harlem Line tracks south of Church Street were also taken out.

However, the Boston and Albany Railroad tracks are still there. They are now used by CSX Transportation for freight trains. In the late 1980s, Conrail made the line a single track.

Chatham Station Today

Chatham Union Station has been on the National Register of Historic Places since May 1, 1974. This means it's recognized as an important historic site.

Even though passenger trains don't stop here, Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited train still passes through Chatham. It's a long-distance train, but it doesn't make a stop.

The station building was renovated and reopened in 1999. It now serves as a branch of the National Union Bank of Kinderhook.

There are also plans to extend the Harlem Valley Rail Trail along the old train path in front of the station. This project aims to create a long path for walking and biking. Once finished, the trail will be 46 miles long.