Railroad Coal
Located about halfway between New York City and Buffalo along the NY Central corridor, for many years, St. Johnsville was an important stop for trains. In 1867 a roundhouse (used to service and store locomotives) opened. A November, 1881 newspaper article noted the Central was storing 12 new freight locomotives in the St. Johnsville roundhouse. The roundhouse was razed in 1899 when the overhead rail crossing was built. In 1875, a 1,000-foot-long coal trestle, 26½ feet high containing 347,000 feet of timber and costing $32,000 to build was completed. Anywhere from 250 to 500 tons of coal was consumed daily there in the 1870s and 40 men were employed. A new trestle replaced the old one about 1900. In 1930, the trestle was closed and nine men lost their jobs.
Railroad, west Shore
The New York West Shore and Buffalo Railroad began operations through the Mohawk Valley on the south side of the river on Oct. 1, 1883. On that very day, two trains collided head-on about 2½ miles east of St. Johnsville. The engineer and one passenger were killed and more than a dozen people were injured. The wreck attracted sightseers, including a boatload from Canajoharie. St. Johnsville had its own freight house and passenger station along the line, just east of the river bridge. The West Shore was never a success and was soon absorbed by the New York Central. Passenger service on the line ended in the 1950s and the tracks were abandoned in the early 1970s. Much of the railbed is used today as the Erie Canal Trail.
Railroad, depot
In early February, 1902, a new 30’ by 60’ railroad passenger depot opened in St. Johnsville (south side of the tracks opposite Sanders Street) with construction cost in the $20,000 range. (equivalent to more than $600,000 in today’s money) Walls were of Palatine Bridge brownstone; a 40’ by 25’ waiting room could seat 50 people; electricity provided candle power to heat 65, 16-candle-power lamps; bathrooms had Italian marble fixtures; and door knobs and other trimmings were made of bronze. Eighteen-foot-wide cement walks were laid the length of the station and for 200 feet east and west. Twenty or more passenger trains stopped at the depot daily in that era. In December, 1957 the New York State Public Service Commission authorized the New York Central to close both the STJ passenger depot and freight house.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Posted: 6/24/2022