All Aboard! Ride the Rails!
From 1851 when the Hudson River Railroad stopped in Kipsbergen, to stops by the Rhinebeck & Connecticut R.R. starting in 1872, to around 1914 when the Rhinecliff station was built for the N.Y. Central R.R., all the way up to today, the history of the Train Station corresponds with the history of commerce in Rhinebeck.
Stationmaster John Quineen is on the left on the last train leaving Rhinebeck’s Hog Bridge Station in 1938. The child is Nancy Lown. Called the “Hucklebush” (it moved so slowly one could allegedly pick berries from passing bushes), the Rhinebeck & Connecticut R.R. had undergone numerous reorganizations trying to survive. On the left is the Whitfield Rhynders place; on the right the Rhinebeck Coal Company; TAS.02 Tom Schaad Collection
Early 1900’s Photograph of Rhinecliff train station and road overpass under construction around 1914; 1996-004.02
Rhinecliff Train Station Ramp with a cart and auto descending. The tracks and platform are to the right of the ramp. “Viaduct and New York Central R.R. Station, Rhinecliff, NY is printed at The bottom of the postcard. Doris Hatschak Collection: Rhinecliff
Views 2018-041.02.002
View of the train station depot with an identifying sign “3509 RHINECLIFF. N.Y. 891”. A train is on the track to the left of the photo and loading carts are sitting under the depot overhang. “Rhinecliff Depot, for Rhinebeck, N.Y.” is printed at the top. 2018-041.02.003
A photocopy of two photographs captioned “Barrytown[:] laying rails”. A large crew of men can be seen in both photographs laying rails on a track. Both images appear to be almost identical. Both images depict power lines, a large gate-like structure, a train in the distance, and a small building at the forefront of the photographs being taken. Some men are standing on the other side of the rails and appear to be watching the rails being installed. 2022-12.3.11
This is the same postcard as above, but the words inscribed at the bottom add interest. “Meant to send you a Valentine. Had reasons for not sending it. L.G.H.”
Capture romance and history. Ride the rails along the Hudson River and make a stop at the Rhinecliff Station.
See you in July!
From the Archives,
Researcher Bonnie Wood
June 2025