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The Last of The D&H Commuter Trains
The Last of The D&H Commuter Trains
The Last of The D&H Commuter Trains
In May 1927, D&H 4-6-0 No. 556 emerged from the Colonie Shop with a new configuration and chrome jacketing on the boiler and cylinders. She was tested on the Albany-Troy Belt, as seen here at Albany Union Station. (Don Barbeau Collection)
Friday evening, September 21, 1962 marked the departure from Albany Union Station of the final D&H commuter train. (Photo by Don Barbeau)
Albany Union Station. Back when ex-camelback No. 556 displayed the results of her Colonie rebuilding, the options of commuter runs on which she could be tested were numerous. In the photograph, the chrome jacketed "Ten-Wheeler" is working the AlbanyTroy Belt, the D&H portion of which afforded departures from Albany every halfhour between 6:30 am and 10:30 pm. There was also commuter service on the D&H between Albany and Altamont, and between Albany and Saratoga Springs. By the 1940's, only the Albany-Saratoga Springs commuter service had survived. It was still surviving in 1961, although it in 01 ed but a single train each way. Because Saratoga Springs" as the northern limit of the commuter area, the morning commuter train originated there. The afternoon run obviousl originated in Albany but, during the 19 -O's terninated beyond
Saratoga Springs as it was used as an equipment balance for other local (but not commuter) service. For instance, in 1955 the northbound commuter train left Albany at the long established 5: 15 departure time but operated all the way north to "Plattsburg" (Until the 1962 timetables, the D&H insisted that was the spelling of Plattsburgh). By 1959, however, the northbound terminated at Whitehall. Declines in local service by 1960 resulted in the northbound commuter train fmally terminating at Saratoga Springs where it would become the consist for the next day's southbound. The final schedule was as follows: Lv. Saratoga Springs: Ar. Albany Union Station: Lv. Albany Union Station: Ar. Saratoga Springs: 7:00 am 8:00 am 5:15 pm 6:15 pm
There were eight intermediate stops (Ballston Spa, Round Lake, Mechanicville, West Waterford, Cohoes, Watervliet, Colonie and Menands). What was unusual was that patronage on the Saratoga Springs commuter train was quite high, even circa 1960. While the New York Central was using a single Beeliner on its Chatham and Hudson commuter services, the D&H commuter train routinely had a need for three or four coaches. The new Saratoga springs station (1959) provided improved parking for patrons, so many were confident that the then 37.1 mile commuter run would continue for several years to come. But it was not to be and, on September 21, 1962, the last D&H commuter train became history.
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In this 1934 D&H timetable, the southbound commuter train to Albany was Train # 160, while the northbound was Train # 5. Train # 160 originated in Fort Edward and the schedule between Albany and Saratoga was slightly different from what it was at the end of service in 1962. Note trains 263 and 264, which were apparently morning shuttles connecting Troy, Green Island and Cohoes. The notation at the bottom of Table 2 states: "Train 264 stops at River St., Troy, 7:58 a.m." (Mohawk & Hudson Chapter Library Collection)