West Somerset, NY

West Somerset was a station on the Hojack Line, operated by the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad and later the New York Central Railroad in the town of Somerset, NY. It appears to have been a very small station, maybe even just a platform. The station was on the south side of the track just to the east of Hosmer Road.

History

The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad (RW&O) completed construction of the line from Niagara Falls to Oswego in 1875. The RW&O operated the line until March 1891 when the company was leased to the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. The line was operated by the New York Central (1891 – 1968), the Penn Central Railroad (1968 – 1976) and Conrail (1976 on). The line was redundant with others operated by Conrail and by the late 1970s the entire line between Oswego and Niagara Falls had been abandoned or, in a few cases, sold to smaller railroads to operate small sections.

An April 13, 1903 newspaper article noted that

The milk station at West Somerset Crossing is now assured, and on the 1st of May farmers will begin delivering milk to the train going west at 7:80 a. m. The cans will be returned on the 6:40 p. m. train. This will also be a great convenience to the traveling public, scholars attending school, etc. The fact is, a depot should have been built here long ago, but as it is the milk station will do for a starter. “All aboard!”

A 1915 newspaper clipping notes that residents had requested a station at West Somerset. A small station building was shown on a 1918 map produced by the New York Central Railroad but a 1925 list of officers and stations shows no passenger or freight agent and notes that freight for West Somerset is handled by Barker station.

Clippings

Ask West Somerset Station

June 18, 1915

Station Photographs

Other Photographs

Maps

A route of the “Hojack Line” from Oswego to Niagara Falls, NY. Author’s illustration based on a 1929 New York Central map.

A map showing the tracks, road, and buildings near the New York Central Railroad’s West Somerset station in 1917. Author’s illustration from 1917 New York Central Railroad valuation map V-90/146. National Archives collection.

Detail of a 1908 map showing the location (circled in red) of the New York Central Railroad’s West Somerset station. Century Map Company. 1908. “Niagara County 1908, Somerset Town.” Historic Map Works.

Timetables

Learn More

Wikipedia. “Somerset, New York“