Amenia (NYCRR station)

Amenia
Amenia Station site, circa 2009. Note remaining platform light at right.
Location	15 Railroad Avenue and Depot Hill Road Amenia, NY, 12501
Coordinates	41°50′47″N 73°33′06″W / 41.8465°N 73.5518°WCoordinates: 41°50′47″N 73°33′06″W / 41.8465°N 73.5518°W
Tracks	0
Other information
Fare zone	10
History
Opened	1905
Closed	March 22, 1972 (passenger service); March 27, 1980 (freight)
Services
Former services   Preceding station   New York Central Railroad   Following station Wassaic toward New York City Harlem Division Sharon toward Chatham

The Amenia NYCRR train station served the residents of Amenia, New York via the Harlem Line. Trains left for New York City every two hours. It is 85 miles (136 km) from Grand Central Terminal and travel time to Grand Central was approximately two hours, sixteen minutes.

The station consisted of a single low-level platform, on the west side of the single track line. Amenia is the only station on the Harlem Line named for one of the senses as opposed to a name derived from a person or object. Amenia means "pleasant", or pleasing to the eye.

History

The New York and Harlem Railroad built their main line through Amenia between 1848 and 1852. When the station was built, it contained a freight platform, a telegraph office, Railway Express Agency office, and various spurs used for loading and unloading horse wagons in the 19th century, and later trucks in the 20th century.^[1]

Amenia held an annual field day in 1913 and 1914, where Harlem trains brought hundreds of passengers up from Grand Central Terminal. The field day was held at the fairgrounds on North Road Amenia, which played host to many early industries in upper Dutchess County.

Early businesses and industries in the town included a tannery, steelworks, a dairy and milk plant and three important iron mines, all of which utilized the railroad as a means of shipping and receiving goods. All business was located in close proximity to the tracks, making the Harlem Line the common carrier for each. Several large hotels were constructed in town, most notably, the Barton House and the Amenia Inn.

New York Central Railroad merged with Pennsylvania Railroad to form Penn Central Railroad in 1968. Passenger service was eliminated by Penn Central in 1972, and freight service was eliminated by their successor Conrail in 1980. Today, the railroad line was converted into the Harlem Valley Rail Trail.^[2]

Notes

One of the early New York and Harlem steam locomotives was named Amenia.

References

1. "Harlem Valley Rail Trail: The Trail, Mechanic Street in Amenia to Coleman Station in the Town of North East". Retrieved 2014-01-28.
2. Harlem Valley Rail Trail map