Postcard and ticket from Pearl River station
Welcome to the end of the Pascack Valley Line – or at least the end of our tour here. Pearl River is the final station on the line in New York state and considered part of the Metro-North system. From here southbound trains head towards New Jersey – the state line is slightly less than a half-mile from the station. The ultimate destination of Hoboken is about 25 and a half miles away, a train ride that takes around an hour.
Passengers waiting for a train at Pearl River, circa 1910. Photo from the Orangetown Historical Museum & Archives.
Of the three stations on the Pascack Valley Line, I must say that Pearl River is my favorite. In terms of facilities it doesn’t have much more than the other stations – a canopy-covered low-level platform, a few benches, some ticket vending machines, and a shelter – but the station is situated in a lovely part of town. It is surrounded by several shops and a small green area, complete with one of the four-faced clocks that are rather common at area stations. For some reason the place just felt a lot more cheerful and welcoming than either Nanuet or Spring Valley.
Pearl River still has its station building, which is occupied by the Mexican-themed Southbound Cafe and Bar. Fitting the restaurant’s desired festive image, (and matching the red-roofed canopy) borders around the doors and window ledges have all been painted red. The building looks in better condition than it did in 2000, so assumedly it has been touched-up at some point in the years since then, likely around the time the restaurant moved in. Besides the paint job, the restaurant has also placed a few potted plants around the station building, as well as made some outdoor seating available. These little things help make Pearl River a nice little station, and a perfect ending point to our tour of the West-of-Hudson stations.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Believe it or not, Pearl River is the 95th Metro-North station to be featured on the site. We’ve taken tours through each line – except for one. But instead of moving on to the Hudson Line next, I figured I’d postpone the tour there to do some Tuesday Tours of the Hiawatha Line…
Actually, I’m kidding. I know some of you have been eagerly awaiting the Hudson Line tour (I’m looking at you, Al), and I’ll be starting that next week!
My heart nearly skipped a beat!
I’ll bet it did :D
When I see those ladies in their white dresses, I wonder how long those dresses stayed white with all the coal soot emerging from the steam engine… !
the caption for the historic image of the Pearl River station is not quite accurate. it should read:
“Dexter Folder Company Sunday picnic outing. Employees and families at the Erie Railroad depot, Pearl River, New York, ca.1910-1913″
the Dexter Folder Company was located across the railroad tracks from the Pearl River station. the above caption has been published somewhere with the same photograph you have posted but unfortunately i did not record the source.
The photo caption contains the link to the original page where the photo is published. Photo and caption are from the Orangetown Historical Museum… to where I would generally defer. I guess you’re saying that the people in the photo were just at the station having a picnic, and weren’t actually waiting for a train?
it is hard to say definitively if they are passengers waiting for the train. all i am suggesting is that i have seen this photograph published before including the Orangetown Historical Museum website’s description. the description i provided in the previous comment was copied from this other source which i unfortunately cannot locate. i find it provides much more detail as to what i see in this image. i admit i am amusing whomever provided this description knew about the details of the Dexter Folder Company’s Sunday picnic outing.
it is quite possible these are women and children of factory workers whom have commuted from New York City or other locations using the Erie Railroad. or they could be locals from Pearl River at the picnic.
could you provide me with the source of the first image of the Pearl River station with the ticket?