Delaware Northern Railroad Topic of June 8 Talk

MARGARETVILLE — The short but eventful life of the Delaware & Northern Railroad will be the topic of an illustrated talk by historian John Duda on Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. at the Middletown History Center, 778 Cemetery Rd., Margaretville. 

“The D&N: Ghost Train of the East Branch,” featuring more than 50 images, will look at the 37-year history (1905-1942) of the Delaware & Northern (initially the Delaware & Eastern). It ran between Arkville and East Branch, following the East Branch of the Delaware River, an area now mostly covered by the Pepacton Reservoir. A branch line up the Tremperskill connected the mail line to Andes.  

The talk will cover the railroad’s creation, its grander, unrealized ambitions, and some unusual happenings along the line. The Red Heifer, a gas-powered car that carried mail and passengers, was a special feature of this railroad.

There will also be many post cards, photos and other ephemera available for viewing, including albums assembled by the late Alton Weiss that were recently donated to the Historical Society of Middletown archives. 

Presenter John A. Duda has served as a Trustee of the Greater Fleischmanns Museum of Memories for over 20 years, and even longer as Trustee of Skene Memorial Library in Fleischmanns.  He is the Fleischmanns representative on the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway, and has served as secretary for the Kaaterskill Post Card Club for over 25 years. 

The D&N served 19 hamlets along the East Branch of the Delaware River and another four on its Andes branch line. John Duda will discuss the “short but eventful” life of the railroad June 8 at the Middletown History Center.