Arkville station
| Industry | Railroad transportation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1871 |
| Fate | Demolished (1960s) |
| Headquarters | Arkville, New York , United States |
The Arkville station, located at milepost 48.1 on the Ulster and Delaware Railroad (U&D) and milepost 37.52 on the Delaware and Northern Railroad (D&N), served as a crucial interchange point between these two rail lines. Its architectural style was notably similar to that of the Grand Hotel station and Pine Hill station, both of which were extended versions of the Mount Pleasant station design.
Ulster and Delaware
Constructed in 1871 when the Rondout and Oswego Railroad reached what was then known as Dean's Corners, Arkville station was established on land historically inhabited by the Tuscarora Indians. The U&D developed several auxiliary facilities, including a freight house, engine shed, water tower, coaling tower, and a turntable. At this location, helper locomotives were attached to eastbound trains to assist their climb toward the summit at the Grand Hotel station.
Prominent freight customers comprised Luzerene Chemical Company and Callanan Industries. Luzerne operated a substantial wood acid manufacturing plant situated west of the U&D line and north of the D&N tracks, linked by a siding from the U&D. Callanan Industries received large quantities of highway construction materials through the 1970s, which were processed at a facility located just south of the current Arkville yard.
The community surrounding Arkville included multiple churches, retail shops, hotels, and a municipal waterworks system. Passenger services at the station ceased on March 31, 1954; following this closure, the building fell into neglect and disrepair. During the 1960s, a runaway milk truck inflicted severe damage on the structure, prompting its demolition due to safety concerns. Presently, the location is occupied by the freight portion of Halcottville station along with seating benches. The original U&D freight house has been repurposed to serve as the Arkville station for the Delaware and Ulster Railroad.
Delaware and Northern
Arkville marked the eastern endpoint for the Delaware and Northern Railroad line. Although D&N rails terminated just beyond Route 28, trains were able to access both the yard and turntable facilities. Westward of New York State Route 28, D&N maintained its own freight house, which has since been converted into a laundromat, pizza restaurant, and residential apartments. The Delaware and Northern operated in this area until its bankruptcy in 1942; following this, its rolling stock was dismantled and tracks removed to accommodate construction of the Pepacton Reservoir, which inundated much of its former right-of-way. Subsequently, the New York Central acquired a segment of the old D&N line beyond this freight house to serve a retail coal distributor until that service ended with abandonment on October 3, 1976.