Kingston, New York railroad stations

There were four stations built to serve the city of Kingston, New York. The first station was known as "Higginsville Station" built by the Rondout & Oswego railroad company (later known as the Ulster & Delaware (U&D)). The second station was served by three different railroads, all of which eventually became part of the New York Central railroad company. The third station, known as "Fair Street Station", replaced the Higginsville Station in 1882. The fourth station was for the New York, Ontario and Western railroad.

Located near MP 4.4 on the U&D, at the time of its construction in about 1869 Higginsville was the first station location for Kingston. It was located just west of the current Washington Avenue. The Rondout & Oswego was Kingston's only railroad at the time.

The CMRR plans to rebuild a station at this location as part of its expanding service in Kingston towards the Ashokan reservoir.

The next railroad to serve Kingston was the broad gauge (6 ft) Wallkill Valley Railroad, an affiliate of the Erie system. Following soon afterward was the West Shore Railroad which quickly bought up the Wallkill Valley. Around 1880, at the junction of the West Shore Railroad, Wallkill Valley Railroad and U&D, Kingston Station, also known as "Union Station", was built by the West Shore Railroad. Operating costs were shared by NY Central and the U&D which then discontinued use of the Fair Street Station.

There was also a nearby subway station for the Colonial City trolley line under the West Shore Railroad tracks.

Kingston Station, MP 2.8, became one of the busiest stations serving the U&D. The U&D went along the north side of the station while the Wallkill and West Shore ran in front (east) of it.

In 1884 the West Shore became a part of the NYC. In 1932, the U&D ceased to exist and became the Catskill Mountain Branch of the NYC. Kingston Station became an NYC station. This station was busy even after the end of passenger service on the U&D in 1954, as the West Shore line was still running passenger service, but this last passenger service to Kingston ended in 1958. The station was then abandoned. It had deteriorated so badly that it was torn down in the 1960s, although some local groups tried to save it.

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