Goshen in Orange County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Goshen, Orange Co., N.Y.
Photographed By Clifton Patrick, October 5, 2012
1. Goshen, Orange Co., N.Y. Marker
Inscription.
Goshen, Orange Co., N.Y.. . Situated in the center of Orange County, Goshen has a long and storied history as a major focal point of the nation's railroad infrastructure. When the builders of the New York and Erie Railroad began construction, they envisioned a railroad that would span the entire state of New York, from Piermont on the Hudson River to Dunkirk on Lake Erie. By the time the rails reached Goshen in 1841, the railroad had run out of funds, therefore, construction was hailed. For two years, Goshen . served as the western terminal of the New York and Erie Railroad (later reorganized as the Erie Railroad). It was not until 1843 that community members of the hamlet of Middletown could raise the funds to extend the line seven more miles. When the railroad was completed in 1851. it was the longest railroad in the world., In 1868, the Goshen and Deckertown Railway was built south from Goshen to Pine Island, New York. Subsequently, the Erie Railroad gained control and it became known as the Pine Island Branch. A rail line was also built north from Goshen to Montgomery. New York and also to Campbell Hall, New York. By 1895. the Lehigh and New England Railroad had bought the rights to run trains from Pine Island to Campbell Hall. The L&NE ran from the coal fields of Pennsylvania and connected with the Erie at Pine Island Junction. With this connection. the L&NE became essential in transporting commodities such as coal and cement from Pennsylvania to Maybrook, where it would be collected and shipped across the Hudson River on the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge., By the 1950s however, both freight and passenger travel by train fell into steep decline. Interstate highways were rapidly displacing railroads as the nation's main transportation system. The faltering coal industry only added more problems to the mix and on October 31, 1961, the Lehigh and New England Railroad ceased operations. Much of the Pine Island and Montgomery branches were abandoned and by 1966, the station agent in Goshen was relocated. Finally, in 1983, Orange County approved Metro-North Railroad's proposal to abandon the Erie Mainline in favor of the Graham Line several miles to the north (which is currently serving as the Port Jervis Branch). By 1984, the rails were ripped up, ending more than 140 years of trains through Goshen., [photo captions] , As Lehigh and New England Railroad locomotive #701 leads a train eastbound past the Goshen station, the station agent hands the engineer his train orders. Before the age of cell phones, hand delivery served as the dominant method of communication between a train crew and the scores of workers who served as their support. The date is October 16, 1960, and in little over a year, the Lehigh and New England Railroad would cease to exist. Many railroad workers, who had once been part of a vital support system, found themselves out of a job. , From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio, Looking west into the Goshen yard, the size of the yard is very apparent. On the other side of the tracks stands the Erie Railroad freight house, built in 1905. The smokestack and factory in the background are part of the Newbury Foundry, one of Goshen's many downtown industries. Today, this view is dominated by housing. The rails and the trains; long gone. , From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio, Lehigh and New England Railroad diesel locomotive #707 leads a train south to Pennsylvania as it passes the Goshen station. , From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio, On June 23, 1946, Erie Railroad steam locomotive #2743 rounds the curve near South Street pulling 7 passenger cars eastbound to Jersey City. , From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio, In 1973, the Greenwich Street Crossing displays the dangers that the Erie Railroad's main line brought about. In 1983, when Metro-North Railroad had to choose between keeping the Old Mainline or reconditioning the Graham Line for passenger service, the choice was made to abandon the 140-year-old Mainline. The Graham Line, completed in 1910 for freight service, avoided dangerous road crossings and sharp curves, such as the ones in Goshen. , From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio, When the station in Goshen was photographed in August of 1965. it was already 99 years old. Today, the station has found new life as the Goshen police station. , From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio, On Christmas Day 1960, Erie-Lackawanna locomotive #829 pulls into the Goshen station. Even though the Erie Railroad became the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad in October of that same year, much of the equipment would not be repainted for several years. , From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio, , In September of 1964, Erie-Lackawanna locomotive #816 roars eastward past the Goshen station and onto Main Street. , From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio, 1918 Erie Railroad Track Evaluation Map Courtesy of Doug Barberio, Marker made possible by the generosity of the Ontario and Western Railway Historical Society, Alan Arthur Held , Eagle Scout Service Project , Boy Scout Troop 45 , Warwick, New York, Dedicated 2012
Situated in the center of Orange County, Goshen has a long and storied history as a major focal point of the nation's railroad infrastructure. When the builders of the New York & Erie Railroad began construction, they envisioned a railroad that would span the entire state of New York, from Piermont on the Hudson River to Dunkirk on Lake Erie. By the time the rails reached Goshen in 1841, the railroad had run out of funds, therefore, construction was hailed. For two years, Goshen . served as the western terminal of the New York & Erie Railroad (later reorganized as the Erie Railroad). It was not until 1843 that community members of the hamlet of Middletown could raise the funds to extend the line seven more miles. When the railroad was completed in 1851. it was the longest railroad in the world.
In 1868, the Goshen & Deckertown Railway was built south from Goshen to Pine Island, New York. Subsequently, the Erie Railroad gained control and it became known as the Pine Island Branch. A rail line was also built north from Goshen to Montgomery. New York and also to Campbell Hall, New York. By 1895. the Lehigh & New England Railroad had bought the rights to run trains from Pine Island to Campbell Hall. The L&NE ran from the coal fields of Pennsylvania and connected with the Erie at Pine Island Junction. With this connection. the L&NE
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became essential in transporting commodities such as coal and cement from Pennsylvania to Maybrook, where it would be collected and shipped across the Hudson River on the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge.
By the 1950s however, both freight and passenger travel by train fell into steep decline. Interstate highways were rapidly displacing railroads as the nation's main transportation system. The faltering coal industry only added more problems to the mix and on October 31, 1961, the Lehigh & New England Railroad ceased operations. Much of the Pine Island and Montgomery branches were abandoned and by 1966, the station agent in Goshen was relocated. Finally, in 1983, Orange County approved Metro-North Railroad's proposal to abandon the Erie Mainline in favor of the Graham Line several miles to the north (which is currently serving as the Port Jervis Branch). By 1984, the rails were ripped up, ending more than 140 years of trains through Goshen.
[photo captions] As Lehigh & New England Railroad locomotive #701 leads a train eastbound past the Goshen station, the station agent hands the engineer his train orders. Before the age of cell phones, hand delivery served as the dominant method of communication between a train crew and the scores of workers who served as their support. The date is October 16, 1960, and in little over a year, the Lehigh & New England Railroad would
Photographed By Clifton Patrick, October 5, 2012
2. Looking west up Green Street. Goshen, Orange Co., N.Y. marker visible left of crossing.
cease to exist. Many railroad workers, who had once been part of a vital support system, found themselves out of a job. From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio
Looking west into the Goshen yard, the size of the yard is very apparent. On the other side of the tracks stands the Erie Railroad freight house, built in 1905. The smokestack and factory in the background are part of the Newbury Foundry, one of Goshen's many downtown industries. Today, this view is dominated by housing. The rails and the trains; long gone. From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio
Lehigh & New England Railroad diesel locomotive #707 leads a train south to Pennsylvania as it passes the Goshen station. From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio
On June 23, 1946, Erie Railroad steam locomotive #2743 rounds the curve near South Street pulling 7 passenger cars eastbound to Jersey City. From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio
In 1973, the Greenwich Street Crossing displays the dangers that the Erie Railroad's main line brought about. In 1983, when Metro-North Railroad had to choose between keeping the Old Mainline or reconditioning the Graham Line for passenger service, the choice was made to abandon the 140-year-old Mainline. The Graham Line, completed in 1910 for freight service, avoided
dangerous road crossings and sharp curves, such as the ones in Goshen. From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio
When the station in Goshen was photographed in August of 1965. it was already 99 years old. Today, the station has found new life as the Goshen police station. From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio
On Christmas Day 1960, Erie-Lackawanna locomotive #829 pulls into the Goshen station. Even though the Erie Railroad became the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad in October of that same year, much of the equipment would not be repainted for several years. From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio
In September of 1964, Erie-Lackawanna locomotive #816 roars eastward past the Goshen station and onto Main Street. From the John Stellwagen Collection Courtesy of Doug Barberio
1918 Erie Railroad Track Evaluation Map Courtesy of Doug Barberio
Marker made possible by the generosity of the Ontario & Western Railway Historical Society
Alan Arthur Held Eagle Scout Service Project Boy Scout Troop 45 Warwick, New York
Dedicated 2012
Erected 2012 by Alan Arthur Held.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1995.
Location. 41° 23.968′ N, 74° 19.356′ W. Marker is in Goshen, New York, in Orange County. Marker is on Green Street, 0.1 miles west of South Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 80 Green Street, Goshen NY 10924, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Marker is on the Orange Heritage Trail, just off Green Street at the crossing.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2012, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. This page has been viewed 1,376 times since then and 116 times this year. Last updated on October 18, 2012, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2012, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.