Planes,Trains, and Automobiles? Actually Just Trains

Have you ever thought about life without modern transporation? A life without planes, trains or automoblies? With summertime traffic and construction, and the recent bad press on airline industries, I'm sure many of us can admit we take modern transportation for granted.

My commute to the Waterford Historical Museum takes about 30 minutes, but 200 years ago, it would have taken all day by stagecoach, especially on dirt roads that were pothole ridden. For all those traveling for the Fourth of July, remember this when you're stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-87. It could actually be worse.

I-87 can be a nightmare. Pictured here is southbound traffic

Several weeks ago I blogged about the Erie Canal and the Champlain Canal and how they improved transportation in the 1800s. This is true for shipping goods, but not so much for passenger travel.

The locks on the Erie Canal were extremely narrow, and packet boats (the passenger-liners on the canal) had to be small enough to fit the length and width of the locks. Only so many people could fit on these ships. On top of their small size, travel by packet boats was still pretty slow and going through the canal locks slowed pace even more.

A packet boat on the Erie Canal

In Albany, boats had to maneuver sixteen locks to pass through the Cohoes Falls on the Erie Canal. Unsurprisingly, it became congested with boat traffic and local residents opted for cheaper travel by stagecoach if they wanted to get across the river to Schenectady.

This major inconvenience prompted the building of New York's first railroad, the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad. Chartered in 1826 and completed in 1831, the Mohawk and Hudson ran from Albany to Schenectady and cut travel time for passengers going to either city. They no longer had to chose between slow and slower.

The Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, later named the

Albany and Schenectady Railroad in 1847

The Mohawk and Hudson became part of the New York Central System

In 1831, the Schenectady and Saratoga Railroad was chartered as an extension of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad. The idea was to connect Saratoga Springs business to Schenectady and Albany, but this upset Troy merchants bypassed by the rail line. They obtained a charter for the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad in 1832 to gain access to Saratoga.

But the Rensselaer and Saratoga did not have a successful first start. On its first return trip from Ballston Spa, several passenger cars derailed because a cow had wandered onto the tracks at the wrong time. As you can see, travel during the 1800s was very difficult. It was either painfully slow, unsafe, or both.

The Delaware & Hudson by Jim Shaughnessy, the book behind this article.
Available to researchers at the Waterford Museum!

However, technological advancements on the locomotive and the standardization of train tracks made railroads safer, creating a Golden Age of railroads from the late 1800s to 1920. During this time, railroads helped settle the West and, since most tracks were in the North, gave the Union Army an advantage over the Confederate Army in the Civil War by quickly moving supplies and troops. Even though the railroad Golden Age ended, many people still value its history, like the original owner of the model train below.

Keystone Model Train c. 1920s, featured at the Waterford Museum

Made by the Keystone Manufacturing Company in Boston, this train represents an important moment in American transportation. It dates to the early 20th century, just as automobiles began superseding trains in popularity, and is made of metal. On its side are the words "Keystone R.R.," a reference to the company name.

Note the Keystone R.R. decal

While the Keystone Manufacturing Company no longer exists, model trains continue to be a popular item sold by toy companies. Real or not, trains hold a unique history within their engines. From carrying Albany passengers to Schenectady to carrying Union soldiers into battle, railroads were a significant mode of transportation that shaped American history at the local and national level. Without railroads, who knows where we would be.

With that, the Waterford Historical Museum wishes everyone safe travels during the holiday weekend!


Read more at
https://www.reference.com/pets-animals/fast-horse-carriage-c368f32c2aede314
http://www.lowbridgeproductions.com/erie-canal-images-shuttle.html
http://members.localnet.com/~docsteve/railroad/local.htm#mohawkhudson
http://www.american-rails.com/mohawk-and-hudson-railroad.html
https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/operating/opdm/passenger-rail/passenger-rail-service/history-railroads
http://www.gatewaynmra.org/2004/railroads-in-the-civil-war/
http://www.collectingkeystone.com/company-info/history/