Several section gang members and the station master after a recent snowstorm at Loon Lake station. undated.
From Patrick Tatro`s collection, courtesy of Tim Mayers.The Loon Lake Station opened in 1886. Service was largely discontinued in 1934.
Plattsburgh Sentinel, November 19, 1886
THE NEW ADIRONDACK ROUTE
Opening of the Chateaugay Railroad Extension--
A Delightful Ride and Charming Scenery.
Last Monday the extension of the Chateaugay railroad was opened for traffic to Loon Lake. A train now leaves Plattsburgh at 7 A.M., arriving at Loon Lake station at 11 o'clock, connecting with stage for Ferd. Chase's, which is reached at 11:30. After dinner stages leave for Bloomingdale and Saranac Lake. Returning, the train leaves Loon Lake at 1:10 P. M, arriving at Plattsburgh at 5:00. The business over the new line has thus far exceeded the expectation of its officers. A large amount of freight for the Adirondack stores and logging camps has been carried, while the travel for this season of the year has been good and is daily increasing.
Of course our readers are more or less familiar with the line from Plattsburgh to Lyon Mountain and the beautiful scenery along the route. After leaving Lyon Mountain the road takes a south-westerly course, passing around the head of the Upper Chateaugay Lake at an elevation of over 400 feet above the water, affording a fine view of this attractive lake. Between Lyon Mountain and Standish the road forms a bow or loop of about a mile in length and only 1800 feet across.
Standish, the first station, presents a business appearance. The charcoal blast furnace, the largest in the world, is virtually completed. The ovens are in process of drying and it is expected that it will be placed in blast about the first of next month. The new store, offices and waiting rooms are in a large two story building recently completed by the side of the track, which is an attractive looking structure, finished in the best manner. Large coal sheds are also under way.
Two miles beyond Standish are the Twin Ponds and some seven miles farther on Wolf Pond. The next station is Plumadore, although the pond is about a mile from the road and a trail will be cut through the woods to it. These points are considered the best hunting and fishing grounds in the eastern portion of the Adirondacks and will be favorite resorts for sportsmen.
At Loon Lake station, the present terminus of the road, will be found Mr. D. M. Roberts, of Chateaugay, occupying the temporary waiting room and ticket office— a small shanty by the side of the track. Here he transacts the business of that station, cooks his meals and sleeps, there being no houses in the vicinity. But this will not be long. The foundation walls for a large depot building are laid and also for a large freight house. The frames are being erected and the buildings will soon be enclosed. The company will build a residence for Mr. Roberts later. Trains here turn on a Y, and a water tank has been put up. This is destined to be an important station. A four-horse stage from Chase's connects with each train. The road is good and the transfer from the cars to the stage for a ride of some three or four miles along the shore of Loon Lake is a pleasant change, the drive giving one an appetite for the dinner which Ferd. Chase knows so well how to prepare.
From Standish to Loon Lake the railroad is built through a dense forest, but the road-bed is remarkably smooth, and has been constructed with especial regard for safety. The present time-table is only for the winter. Next spring fast trains will be put on, making the distance from Plattsburgh in not to exceed two and a half hours. Through tickets will be on sale in all the principal cities, and tourists will not be slow in making the discover that this new road is the shortest, quickest and most comfortable route to the famous Adirondack resorts. Even the present winter arrangement enables parties leaving New York in the evening to reach the Adirondacks during the forenoon of the next day, something that has heretofore been an impossibility, even in summer.
The Great Northwestern Telegraph Company has completed its line through to Loon Lake, connecting with all the leading hotels in the woods. The National Express Company is about closing a contract with the road for conveying the express freight, and will soon put messengers on the trains. The amount of express freight which goes into the Adirondacks during the year is wonderful. Many days last summer over nine tons were transferred from the train at Ausable.
M. L. French, the Superintendent, will be found "the right man in the right place." Nothing that will tend to render the new route interesting and popular to the tourist fails to receive his attention, while "Tim." Long, the popular conductor, points out the attractions along the way and is always ready to impart information in regard to the thousand and one things which a conductor is always supposed to know.
ITEMS ALONG THE LINE.
—Loon Lake is now covered with ice.
—The sleighing is excellent throughout the Adirondacks.
—Drilling is going on at Lyon Mountain to ascertain the depth of a new vein of iron ore.
—George Kennedy, the telegraph lineman, was over the road on Wednesday, adjusting the instruments.
—Two ladies who had been at Saranac Lake and were returning to their home at Malone, passed over this road on Wednesday. They chose this route in preference to the stage ride, even though it involved a stoppage over night in Plattsburgh.
Plattsburgh Sentinel, March 18, 1887
LOON LAKE STATION.
—The carpenters are daily expected here, to commence the passenger station
—George Blanchard caught another fine otter last week, measuring four feet and six inches.
—James A. Webb, of New York, Has engaged a Special train to take his family from Loon Lake to Plattsburgh, which will leave here at noon on Friday.
—M. Blanchard and Miss H. Squires were married last week. We wish them much happiness.
—D. M. Roberts was called to Chateaugay on Thursday by the death of M. E. Roberts' son. Mr. Hall, of Cadyville, is taking his place.
—The lumbering in this section closes this week. The men have broke camp and gone home. Next comes the drive.
Plattsburgh Sentinel, May 20, 1887
—James M. Wardner, proprietor of the well-known Rainbow Hotel in the Adirondacks, was in town a few days since. He is located only 12 miles from Loon Lake Station, and as soon as the pleasure travel opens a four horse coach, in charge of Fitch O'Brien, will leave upon the arrival of the morning train from Plattsburgh, changing horses at Rainbow, and arriving at Paul Smith's in time for dinner. Returning, arrives at Loon Lake Station in time for afternoon train, reaching Plattsburgh for supper. Mr. Wardner has placed nearly 100,000 trout in Rainbow this spring.
Tupper Lake Herald and Adirondack Mountain Press, March 28, 1929
TO DROP AGENT AT LOON LAKE STATION
The public service commission has authorized the Delaware & Hudson railroad to discontinue with the of its agent at Loon Lake, Franklin County, on the condition that the existing passenger train stops service be maintained, the station waiting room kept open for use of passengers, the freight room opened for certain specified hours each week-day, and the freight train crews shall look after receipt and dispatch of freight.
According to the evidence, the total revenue at the station in 1923 was $7,475 and in 1928 $1,496, the average revenue for the past four years $2,638 and the expense of operating the station $2,470. The commission holds that the revenue, at the station does not justify continuance of the services of the agent. Entire discontinuance of the station is not permitted.
Malone Farmer, December 26, 1934
LOON LAKE STATION TO BE ABANDONED
The Delaware and Hudson Railroad Corporation has been authorized by the Public Service Commission to retire and discontinue the present station building at Loon Lake in the Town and County of Franklin.
The railroad company received consent also to discontinue service for less than carload freight at the Loon Lake station on the condition that it continue to stop its mixed trains on signal at Loon Lake and the company was also directed to provide a proper means of signaling such trains and display conspicuously instructions for the signaling of trains by prospective passengers.
The railroad company was authorized by the Commission to discontinue the services of an agent at Loon Lake station in 1929 on condition that trains continue to stop at the station, that the waiting room be kept open, that the freight room be kept open for certain hours and that less than carload freight be left in the freight room by members of the train crew. Later in the year it was arranged that a small building be substituted for the station building. The station is on the Chateaugay branch of the Delaware and Hudson which parallels the Adirondack branch of the New York Central for a number of miles in the vicinity of Loon Lake, where the stations of the two railroads are only about 300 feet apart.
