New Hamburg station

The New Hamburg station is a commuter rail stop on the Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line, serving the communities of Wappingers Falls, New York, and the town of Poughkeepsie, New York.

New Hamburg
Poughkeepsie-bound Metro North train arriving at the New Hamburg station
LocationMain Street & Route 28, New Hamburg, New York
Coordinates41.5889°N 73.9479°W / 41.5889; -73.9479
Owned byMetro-North Railroad
Line(s)Empire Corridor
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsDutchess County Public Transit: New Hamburg RailLink
Construction
Disabled accessYes
Other information
Fare zone8
History
OpenedDecember 6, 1849[1]
ClosedJuly 2, 1973[2]
RebuiltOctober 17, 1981[3]
Passengers
2006259,220  0%
Services
Preceding station Metro-North Following station
Poughkeepsie
Terminus
 Hudson Line Beacon
towards Grand Central
Former services
Preceding station New York Central Railroad Following station
Camelot
toward Chicago
 Main Line Chelsea
toward New York

History

The Hudson River Railroad was built through New Hamburg in 1849, opening on December 6,[1] in order to expand the Troy and Greenbush Railroad from the Albany area to New York City. Earlier attempts to build the railroad in 1848 were delayed by a fatal cholera outbreak among railroad workers between 1848 and 1849.[4] The HRR was acquired by the New York Central Railroad in 1864.[5]

The New Hamburg station bisects the hamlet's Main Street. Old photographs show a grade crossing used to exist here; since the line was double-tracked in 1928, however, getting from one end of Main Street to the other has required a detour via nearby Bridge Street. Another bridge further north on Reed Road is the only other crossing in the hamlet.

Closing and reopening

New Hamburg is notable as one of the few in the Metro-North system to have closed and reopened. In April 1973, the Penn Central Railroad (PC) announced planned to close flag stops, including New Hamburg, Oscawanna, Manitou and Chelsea stations on the Hudson Line due to low ridership. The stops were initially supposed to be closed on April 29, but the date was pushed back to May 9 due to a 90-day freeze imposed by Congress on the status of railroad crews. This change was opposed by a group of New Hamburg commuters led by Frank Lucas,[6] who attested that the station's usage was 15 to 20 daily passengers, not the 2 indicated by PC figures. The PC spokesman said that commuters from Poughkeepsie often complained about the frequency of stops on the line.[7] Lucas stated that flag stops often took less than 30 seconds, which should not be considered an inconvenience.[6]

On June 7, 1973, the Penn Central Railroad announced that the station would close along with the Oscawanna, Manitou and Chelsea stations on the Hudson Line due to low ridership on July 2, 1973.[8] This announcement strongly disturbed two state legislators from Dutchess County, who stated that the MTA had indicated that no decision had been reached in a letter from the previous month, due to the inconvenience its closure would result in, and because of the short notice of the announcement.[9] The original New Hamburg station[10] was closed by the Penn Central Railroad on July 2, 1973.

After the station's closure, local residents pressed for its reopening. On February 26, 1980, the MTA held a meeting to discuss the cost of reopening the station. The MTA estimate that it could cost $180,000 to $200,000. Its proposal entailed the installation of new platforms, lighting, and parking for 100 cars, and the construction of a pedestrian overpass to replace the tunnel, which was boarded up due to flooding. County Legilator Joseph Poillucci said that he would only be willing to sponsor the project if it could be cut to less than $100,000. After the meeting, Lois Sackelos created the New Hamburg Station Citizen's Committee to determine the minimum investment needed to get the station into acceptable use and how to finance it.[11] The committee revealed its plan on March 6, 1980, which reduced the cost to $50,000. It proposed eliminating the shelter for passengers, reducing the amount of lighting being called for, using the existing passenger tunnel with the installation of pumps, and the paving over of the existing platform instead of building a new one. The MTA assured Sackelos that trains could start stopping immediately if funding was provided and if the MTA approved of the plan.[12]

The MTA cut the cost estimate for the station in March 1980 from $180,000 to $65,000 for a scaled down plan, accepting the basic concept of the committee's plan. It estimated the cost of the parking to be $15,000. The original plan had included a complete renovation, including a $100,000 overpass replacing the tunnel under the tracks. Sackelos' group estimate that the project would cost $50,000. The cost discrepancy had to do with the construction of a new platform. The MTA called for the construction of a four-car platform for $25,000, while the group's proposal called for the construction of a three-car long platform for $9,000 to $10,000.[13]

In April 1980, the MTA agreed to pay for the remainder of the station work if the County provided $15,000 for the parking lot.[14] In April 1980, the Dutchess County Legislature appropriated $3,000 to reopen the station, with an additional $15,000 to pave the parking lot, provide lighting and repair the tunnel under the tracks. However, in August, the MTA asked for $15,000 to maintain the area.[15] That month, County Legislator Joseph Poillucci requested that the station be reopened after receiving a petition signed by 800 people from the Sackelos' citizens group. Poillucci expected 200 daily passengers for the station who drive to Poughkeepsie or Beacon to catch the train.[16]

In April 1981, the Dutchess County Legislature held a vote on the contract between the MTA and Dutchess County to reopen the station. It had taken a year to negotiate the contract, which requires that the county pay $15,000 to repair the stop prior to its reopening. The yearly charge for the station was estimated to be $14,500. The station reopened on October 17, 1981 after the MTA took over the line after efforts led by New Hamburg resident Lois Sackelos, and County Legislator Joseph Poillucci.[17] The station was renovated and the platforms were lengthened.[18][19] The reopening of the station was appreciated by commuters, but not with all local residents, who believed that it was hurting the town's character as noise, traffic and litter increased.[20] In 1982, the station recorded 166 morning rush hour commuters. Ridership during this period increased to 207 in 1985, 354 in 1987 and 401 in 1989, following a drastic increase in ridership on the Upper Hudson Line.[21] On July 12, 1988, Metro-North announced plans to build 80 new parking spaces around the station for $140,000 so the lot could accommodate 360 cars. At the time, this was the second fastest-growing station on Metro-North behind Brewster North with 120% growth since 1982.[17][22] In the early 1990s, the platforms were replaced by high-level platforms for $2.5 million.[23] The parking lot was increased by 70 spots for $300,000 in 1991.[24] On January 19, 1993, Dutchess County's new LOOP bus service began stopping at New Hamburg to connect with five morning trains and six evening trains in order to ease station parking.[25]

On March 22, 1994, Metro-North agreed to add more parking at the station after local officials threatened to delay $954 in railroad improvements. 130 more passengers used the station than there were parking spots, on average. Metro-North had been planning to spend $1.1 million to improve parking in 1998.[26] On April 27, 1994, the Poughkeepsie Town Board passed a law prohibiting parking in New Hamburg Park as commuters had started parking there due to a parking shortage. Earlier that month, Metro-North agreed to add 250 spaces. By June 40 spaces were to be added to the 452-space lot by repainting the lot, and additional 40 were to be added by December.[27] The number of spaces later went up to 585, and in 1996, Metro-North leased land for 85 more spaces.[28]

On March 12, 2003, a door blew off of a 1000-pound CSX freight train and destroyed the station shelter.[29] The repairs were estimated to cost $400,000. In January 2004, months after it was supposed to be installed, Metro-North added a temporary shelter.[30][31]

Station layout

This station has two high-level side platforms each six cars long.[32]:7

P
Platform level		 Side platform
Track 1 ←      Hudson Line toward Poughkeepsie (Terminus)
←      Empire Corridor services do not stop here
Track 2 ←      Empire Corridor services do not stop here →
←      Hudson Line toward Grand Central (Beacon) →
Side platform
Street level Exit/entrance and parking
B Underpass Connection between platforms

References
  1. "By Telegraph". The Buffalo Commercial. December 6, 1849. p. 3. Retrieved December 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Closed Station Reopens". Gannett Westchester Newspapers. October 17, 1981. p. A4. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  3. "New Rail Car to Arrive at New Hamburg Stop". The Poughkeepsie Journal. October 16, 1981. Retrieved December 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Smith, James H. (James Hadden); Cale, Hume H.; Roscoe, William E.; Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation fmo; Huntington Free Library. fmo (1882). History of Duchess county, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Cornell University Library. Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & co.
  5. Official Journal and Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Session of the Congress of the Knights of Labor, New York State. Albany, New York: 1896.
  6. "Decision Off On Railroad Stops". Poughkeepsie Journal. April 26, 1973. p. 36. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  7. "Via Express Not Pleasing To All". Poughkeepsie Journal. April 6, 1973. p. 31. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  8. Borak, Jeffrey (June 7, 1973). "Penn Central Cuts Service On Hudson, Harlem Lines". Poughkeepsie Journal. p. 1. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  9. "New Hamburg Station Closing 'Disturbs' Rolison And Betros". Poughkeepsie Journal. June 11, 1973. p. 13. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  10. New Hamburg NYC&HR Train Station and Tunnel (New Hamburg History; Page 2)
  11. "New Hamburg Station To Cost At Least $100,000". Poughkeepsie Journal. February 27, 1980. p. 11. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  12. Auster, Harvey (March 7, 1980). "New Hamburg station, March 7, 1980". Poughkeepsie Journal. p. 13. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  13. "MTA Cuts Estimate on New Hamburg Station Work". Poughkeepsie Journal. March 21, 1980. p. 13. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  14. Auster, Harvey (April 3, 1980). "New Hamburg, April 3, 1980 part 2". Poughkeepsie Journal. p. 1. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  15. DeFillippo, Robert (August 12, 1980). "Confusing Costs Jeopardize Rail Stop". Poughkeepsie Journal. p. 9. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  16. DeFillippo, Robert (March 11, 1981). "Decision Expected On New Hamburg Rail Platform". Poughkeepsie Journal. p. 25. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  17. "Metro-North to add 80 parking spaces". Poughkeepsie Journal. July 13, 1988. pp. 4B. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  18. "New Rail Car To Arrive At New Hamburg Stop". Poughkeepsie Journal. October 15, 1981. p. 25. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  19. "Welcome Back". Poughkeepsie Journal. October 18, 1981. pp. 1A. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  20. Williams, Matt (August 16, 1995). "Despite Imperfections, River Hamlet Perfect Spot". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1B. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  21. "More Make Tracks For Trains To Jobs". Poughkeepsie Journal. September 2, 1990. pp. 2A. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  22. "Commuters May Get New Parking Lots". New York Daily News. July 14, 1988. p. 438. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  23. Lemmermann, Nancy A. (December 29, 1988). "Dutchess Will Dish Out $20M to Metro-North in 1989". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1C. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  24. Stuart, Brian (June 3, 1991). "Railroad Increases Parking Capacity". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 5A. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  25. Williams, Dave (January 16, 1993). "Loop Expands Bus Services. New Hamburg Added To Ease Station Parking". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1B. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  26. Skratt, Allison (March 23, 1994). "County Wins Concession On Train Station Parking". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1B. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  27. Landry, Christopher (April 28, 1994). "Park Barred To Commuters". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1B. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  28. Havlland, Jim (October 18, 1996). "Metro-North Adding Trains On Peak Hours". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 8A. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  29. Valkys, Michael (March 13, 2003). "Flying Door Damages Depot". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1A. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  30. Valkys, Michael (November 15, 2003). "New Hamburg Riders Out In The Cold". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1B. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  31. Valkys, Michael (January 13, 2004). "New Hamburg Commuters Get Shelter". Poughkeepsie Journal. pp. 1B. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  32. "Metro-North Railroad Track & Structures Department Track Charts Maintenance Program Interlocking Diagrams & Yard Diagrams 2015" (PDF). Metro-North Railroad. 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
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