Kingston Point station
| Company type | Railway station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1868 |
| Defunct | 1924 |
| Headquarters | Kingston, New York , United States |
Kingston Point station, among the final additions to the Ulster and Delaware Railroad (U&D) network, was situated in Kingston, New York. It served as a transfer hub between U&D rail services and Hudson River boats that connected Albany with New York. Positioned next to Kingston Point Park, a prominent recreational site, it was also close to a trolley terminal.
History
Ferry operations linking Kingston and Rhinebeck originated in the early 18th century, with the western dock established at Kingston Point by the late 1700s. This dock was connected to Kingston via stagecoach. On November 11, 1852, the primary western terminal shifted from Kingston Point to Rondout, which coincided with the introduction of a new Rhinebeck terminal. A previous ferry route between Kingston Point and an older Rhinebeck landing briefly persisted until late 1852 but was discontinued by spring of 1853.
Initially, passengers on the U&D transferred at Rondout station near Rondout Creek. However, as ferry vessels increased in size, navigating the shallow Rondout Creek became unfeasible. To accommodate these larger boats, the U&D extended its railway approximately one mile eastward across a filled tidal swamp to access deeper waters along the Hudson River.
Passenger rail service to Kingston Point concluded in 1924, with day-liner boat operations ending shortly after the onset of the Great Depression. Most structures within the park area, including the station itself, were demolished; only the trolley depot remained and has since been restored.
The rail lines leading to Kingston Point were part of a switchback system utilized for freight traffic until 1977. Today, the Trolley Museum of New York runs trolley services on former U&D tracks extending to Kingston Point.