Audio
River and Rails
Transcript
This station, now an independent museum, is here only as a reminder of the past, when passengers boarded or disembarked on their various journeys on the New York Central rail line. Notice the railroad station sign on the end-wall of the building, indicating the distance to New York City and Buffalo.
While the rail no longer stops in Hyde Park, it’s the perfect location for a trail stop to talk about the family who built and managed the New York Central Railroad - the Vanderbilt family - whose fates and fortunes helped shape the Hyde Park community.
In the 1860s, Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, a successful shipping magnate, began buying financially troubled railroads. His New York Central Railroad became the nation’s biggest business by the 1870s. The railroad network extended from the northeast to Chicago, with its terminus, the famed Grand Central Station in Manhattan. The Hudson Line, here on the east bank of the river, is the Central’s passenger line. Across the river, the West Shore Railroad carries freight.
Description
In the 1860s, Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, a successful shipping magnate, began buying financially troubled railroads. His New York Central Railroad became the nation’s biggest business by the 1870s.
Duration
2 minutes, 1 second
Credit
National Park Service
Copyright and Usage Info