Niskayuna Rail Station at Lions Park

Niskayuna Rail Station at Lions Park. . , The Niskayuna train station opened in 1843 to serve the new Troy and Schenectady Railroad. It was built by the City of Troy to forge economic ties with Schenectady and compete with the Mohawk and Hudson line, running between Albany and the Electric City. Both are among the country's earliest regional railroads, and in 1853 were consolidated with ten other upstate railroads to become the New York Central Railway., The train station was originally designed as a transfer hub for agricultural products, quarry stone and bulk commodities hauled in from nearby communities. Renovations in the early 1880s included the addition of a large gabled roof and overhanging eaves to protect passengers and freight from the elements., While freight service continued through 1984, the rail line stopped carrying passengers in 1933, and the station was rented for private use, including a family residence. Restored in 1976, it joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Today, artists use the station in warmer months, painting both inside and out, to capture changing Mohawk River landscapes., Listed on the National Register of Historic Places 2007., [ Photo Caption ] , You're standing along one of the busiest stretches of the Empire State Trail in the region. Today, Lions Park draw thousands to walk and cycle each year. However, this path - once a railway line - was once bustling with trains, moving passengers and goods between Schenectady and Troy., Thank you to Town of Niskayuna Historian Denis Brennan, the Schenectady County Historical Society and The Daily Gazette.