Albany and Schenectady Railroad
| Mohawk and Hudson Railroad | |||
The DeWitt Clinton as it would have appeared on its inaugural run in 1831. | |||
| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1826–1853 | ||
| Successor | New York Central Railroad | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||
| Previous gauge | 4 ft 9 in (1,448 mm) | ||
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The Mohawk and Hudson Railroad was the first railroad built in the state of New York and one of the first railroads in the United States. It was so-named because it linked the Mohawk River at Schenectady with the Hudson River at Albany. It was conceived as a means of allowing Erie Canal passengers to quickly bypass the circuitous Cohoes Falls via steam powered trains.
The railroad was incorporated in 1826 and opened for public service in 1831. On April 19, 1847, the company name was changed to the Albany and Schenectady Railroad. The railroad was consolidated with nine other railroads in 1853 to form the first New York Central Railroad.