The Albany-Hudson Fast Line was a 1200VDC third-rail interurban railway that ran from Albany to Hudson, NY. Completed in 1891, it was built to the highest standards, and made quite a lot of money carrying passengers for the first decade of its operations. In the 1920s, profits started to slip, and by the time the great depression started, it was a dying railroad.

In 1931, the Parsons Vale & Termite purchased a controlling interest in the A-H FL and attempted to convert it into a freight-hauling railroad. This was unsuccessful, and by 1938, the A-H FL had run its last train; in 1942, the scrappers pulled the rail for contribution to wartime salvage drives.

A-H FL history

1880

Kinderhook & Hudson chartered.

1891

First train, Hudson to Niverville.

1899

Reorganized as the Albany & Hudson, extended from Niverville to Rensselaer, and electrified.

1900

First train to downtown Albany via United Traction.

1905

Renamed to Albany & Hudson Fast Line

1909

Renamed to Albany Southern

1918

Most profitable year of operation.

1924

Last profitable year of operation.

1929

1. Bankruptcy (purchased by PV&T.)
2. Passenger services withdrawn (on December 21), leaving only freight operations.
3. Reorganised as the Albany-Hudson Fast Line

1936

Last Rensselaer to Hudson train, leaving switching operations in Rensselaer.

1938

Last train.

1942

Rail pulled, Renssalaer to Hudson.

1960

Officially abandoned.

All-time A-H FL Roster

No.	Type	Builder	Built	Notes
1-8	Passenger motor	St Louis Car	1908	scrapped 1942
10-11	Baggage motor	St Louis Car	1908	scrapped 1942
20-25	Passenger motor.	Brill	1913	sold to equipment brokers in 1930
30	Boxcab	American Car	1913	to PVRT 633.
60,62	Passenger motor	Cincinatti	1925	to FJ&G 1930.