August 1993

NEWSLETTER
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OF THE MOHAWK & HUDSON CHAPTER, N.R.H.S.

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THE CALL BOARD 11

The Slingerlands D&H Station

By Tim Truscott and Dick Barrett
The first station in Slingerlands was built in 1864, when the Albany & Susquehanna was constructed through this small community approximately six miles southwest of Albany. This station was a combination freight and passenger station located on the south (east) side of the tracks. In 1888, a new passenger station was built on the north (west) side of the tracks approximately opposite the original station and facing New Scotland Road. It's stone and frame construction was topped by the usual slate roof. It was a fairly ornate station for a small community, and was at least as beautiful as the D&H station in Altamont, further west past Voorheesville. The unusual size and attractiveness of this station in such a small community has been attributed by some to be the result of the influence of a prominent official at the Delaware & Hudson headquarters in Albany, Charles Darius Hammond, who lived in Slingerlands near the station. The house he occupied for many years in Slingerlands is well-known to local residents for its role in the 1987 film "Ironweed." Hammond came to hold another place in history in 1901 when he took personal charge of the train which sped to North Creek to pick up Vice President Teddy Roosevelt after President McKinley was shot. It might seem unusual that there should be several railroad stations along the Delaware & Hudson's "Albany Main" in such a short distance: Elsmere, Delmar (originally Adamsville) and Slingerlands. But it was the railroad which permitted these small communities in the Town of Bethlehem to become suburbs of Albany. In 1869, passengers boarding a train in Slingerlands at 8:37 AM would arrive in Albany at 9:00, with an afternoon 5:30 PM departure from Albany arriving in Slingerlands 5:55. In 1927, passengers boarding a local train at Slingerlands station at 6: 12 AM would arrive at Albany Union Station at 6:35, or boarding at Slingerlands at 7:05 AM would arrive in Albany at 7:30. A later Binghamton-Albany train, departing Slingerlands at 8:55 AM would arrive in Alban y at 9: 15. Passengers returning home from downtown Albany at 4:25 PM would arrive at Slingerlands at 4:50, or boarding at 5: 10 PM would arrive in Slingerlands at 5:34. These local trains on the D&H "Albany Main," which originated in Altamont, were part of a fairly sophisticated Capital District rail commuter system which flourished for several decades in the first half of this century. The once-beautiful Slingerlands station became the local firehouse after it was closed by the railroad. Records of the Capital District Railroad Club indicate that the station was closed to passenger service and had already been acquired by the fire department in 1940. While the 1933 D&H timetable lists Slingerlands and the 1939 timetable doesn't, the exact year of closing is not known at this time. Eventually, the station building was demolished and a new firehouse constructed on the site. Ironically, it was the older structure, the original 1864 station, which was to survive. It can be seen today' on Kenwood Avenue in Slingerlands ..

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The second Slingerlands D&H station was built In 1888 on the west side of the tracks approximately opposite the original station and facing New Scotland Road. It became the local firehouse In the late 1930's and was later demolished. Ironically the original 1864 passenger station, which became a freight house In 1888, stili survives on the south side of the tracks. (Collection of Dick Barrett)