Program

Historic Transportation

Subject

Building, Site, Transportation

Location

136 NY-166, Milford, NY 13807, USA

Lat/Long

42.59, -74.94207

Grant Recipient

Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society

Established in 1869, the Cooperstown & Susquehanna Valley Railroad ran 16 miles, connecting the village of Cooperstown to a junction with the recently completed Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, later part of the D&H Railroad.

The village of Milford was the approximate midway point on the 16-mile line, and in 1876, Milford citizens raised funds to construct a combined passenger and freight depot for service on the railroad. In early 1876, Milford residents began raising money by subscription to aid in the construction of the depot. Construction began that summer and by October, the depot was completed and opened.

In 1888, the Cooperstown & Susquehanna Valley Railroad became the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad. In 1903, the railroad was acquired by the D&H and was then operated as its Cooperstown Branch. Service stopped in 1970, and the D&H abandoned the line in 1971. In 1996, the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society purchased the former Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad, and began operating it as a heritage railroad, offering excursion rides along 8 miles of the northern portion of the 16 miles of track. The Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society continues to offer excursion train rides along the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad departing from the fully restored Milford Depot.

Links

• Railroad Junction Marker
• Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society