Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Year Founded | 1823 |
| Year of Demise | 1991 |
| Total Track Mileage | 1,581 miles |
| Number of States was Located In | 4, plus Quebec CA |
| Headquarters | Albany New York |
History
The Delaware & Hudson Railway (D&H) was established in August of 1823. It is the oldest continuously operated transportation company in the United States and one of the oldest railroad lines in the world. The railroad operates 1,337 miles of track through three states in the Northeastern United States and one Canadian Province.
The formation of the D&H began with the charter of “The Delaware & Hudson Canal Company,” which was established for the purpose of connecting the Delaware and Hudson rivers via a canal. The original plan was to use the canal for transportation, but a major breakthrough occurred when, in 1825, the first rail line was constructed in the U.S. between Honesdale, Pennsylvania and Carbondale, Pennsylvania. The rail line was used to transport both anthracite coal and lumber.
The Delaware & Hudson Canal Company changed its name to the Delaware & Hudson Canal and Railroad Company in 1828. Subsequent rail construction allowed the company to expand its service area to Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont. The rail line also allowed the company to transport other goods between the northeastern states.
Throughout the 19th century, the D&H continued to expand and served as a leading transportation organization. It was one of the first railroad lines to build tunnels and bridges and was a leader in the use of modern technology. By the 1890s, the D&H had constructed the largest interlocking tower system in the world and boasted the first long distance electric signaling service.
In the early 20th century, the D&H was one of the main railroad lines connecting the Midwest to the northeast and was key in the development of the industrial zones of Pennsylvania
The post-World War II period saw the D&H descend into a period of financial difficulty and chaos.
In 1968 the D&H was placed under control of the Norfolk & Western via Dereco.
In 1972 Erie-Lackawanna went into receivership, thus dissolving Dereco
In 1976 With Conrail being created. There was a conveyance of equipment and trackage rights.
In 1984 Guilford purchased the D&H.
In 1988 Guilford place the D&H into receivership
In 1991, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) purchased the D&H for $25M to give the CPR’s transcontinental system a connection between Montreal and the New York City metropolitan area.
Surviving Locomotives
Unfortunately there are no steam locomotives that have survived, with the exception of the boiler from the Stourbridge Lion is in the Smithsonian Museum, and a 300-class tender is currently employed on CP Rail to haul water for one of their remaining steam locomotives.
Selected Diesel Locomotives
| Locomotive | Type | Builder | Location |
| 1205 | RF-16 “Shark” | Baldwin 1951 | Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad |
| 1216 | RF-16 “Shark” | Baldwin 1952 | Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad |
| 16 | PA-1 | Alco 1948 | Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas |
| 17 | PA-1 | Alco | Puebla Museum, Mexico |
| 18 | PA-1 | Alco | Portland OR as NKP 190 |
| 19 | PA-1 | Alco | Puebla Museum, Mexico |
Riding The Line
There are two Amtrak trains that run over former Delaware & Hudson rails.
| Amtrak Train Name | Ethan Allen Express |
| End Point Stations | Schenectady, NY, and Rutland, VT |
| Closest Airport to Schenectady, NY | Albany NY airport |
| Closest Airport to Rutland, VT | Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport |
| Time train leaves Schenectady, NY | 5:28 PM Eastern Time |
| Time train leaves Rutland, VT | 12:20 PM Eastern Time |
| Number of hours of travel | 2 hrs, 18 min |
| Cost of coach seat | $28.00 |
| Other services and upgrades available | Business Class |
| Amtrak Train Name | Adirondack [Currently not running] |
| End Point Stations | Schenectady NY, Montreal CA |
| Closest Airport to Schenectady | Albany NY airport |
| Closest Airport to Montreal | Montreal Airport |
| Time train leaves | na |
| Time train leaves | na |
| Number of hours of travel | na |
| Cost of coach seat | na |
| Other services and upgrades available | na |
Note: The Adirondack is in fact running, but not the entire distance. There is mention of it returning spring of 2023.
Historical Society
