Two early Metro-North Hudson Line timetables, and a local New York Central timetable listing the station as Ardsley – just to confuse you.
Today’s tour of the Hudson Line takes us just about 22 miles north of Grand Central to Ardsley-on-Hudson station, a place of a bit of confusion. Ardsley-on-Hudson, located in Irvington, should not be confused with actual village of Ardsley, which is located a few miles east and had its own station on the long-gone Putnam Division. As you can see above, many Ardsley-on-Hudson timetables were printed with just “Ardsley” which doesn’t really help much with the confusion. Thankfully, Metro-North has been fairly consistent with printing the full “Ardsley-on-Hudson” on station signs and in timetables for the past few years.
Above: 1896 drawing of the Ardsley Casino clubhouse. Below: 1899 photo of the clubhouse grounds, and a postcard showing the yacht landing, train station, and clubhouse. The aesthetic of the train station matches the buildings for the Casino. Postcard from the collection of Steve Swirsky.
In regards to the train station, the name Ardsley derives from the Ardsley Casino, which opened at this location in 1896. The “on-Hudson” portion was tacked on because of its geographic location on the river, and to differentiate it from the village of Ardsley. To confuse you more, the Casino wasn’t a casino, but more of a club for the rich to play golf. While the Casino built a dock for their rich members to sail up to in their yachts, not all of the membership was quite as fortunate to own one – thus a train station was constructed. The train station building mirrored the Tudor revival architecture style of the Casino’s nearby clubhouse. The two buildings stood in close proximity until 1936 when the clubhouse was torn down. As the only surviving remnant of the club that once stood here, the station building does look a little bit out of place aesthetically, and has a unique look compared to other Hudson Line stations.
Though the Ardsley Casino no longer exists, the more informal Ardsley Country Club, can be named as its sucessor. The Casino merged with the nearby Racquet and Swimming Club in 1935, shortly before the old clubhouse was torn down and took that name.
Pedestrian bridge that connected the Hudson House apartments to the train station, which was destroyed in 2010. Photo by John Reidy.
 
Aerial views of Ardsley-on-Hudson. The one on the left is from 2004, the one on the right from 2010, shortly after the pedestrian bridge was destroyed. Note the differences in the station itself – the station was upgraded in the time between both photos.
After the Casino was torn down, it was replaced with the Hudson House Apartments. At one time there was a pedestrian bridge that connected the apartments directly to the train station. Unfortunately, the bridge was destroyed in 2010 when a sanitation driver crashed his dump truck into it. The historical bridge was never rebuilt.
 
Construction at Ardsley-on-Hudson station in 2005 and 2006. Photos by Henry C.
CSX at Ardsley-on-Hudson. Photo by Michael Foley.
Though the original station building still exists, it is not used for any railroad functions. It is now the home of the Ardsley-on-Hudson post office, and contains rows of post office boxes. The original fireplaces built in the station are still there, but not used. You may not be able to buy your ticket here, but there still is a small area that one could probably use to wait for a train, and some bathrooms.
Like many of Metro-North’s Hudson Line stations, Ardsley-on-Hudson underwent considerable improvements in the past few years. Ardsley-on-Hudson had its turn in 2005 and 2006, when a new overpass was built, as well as new platforms. Canopies were added to much of the platform to protect riders from the elements, which are visible in the aerial shot above. Ticket Vending Machines were installed in the new overpass.
All in all, Ardsley-on-Hudson is a pretty nice station. It has a bit of history, and being right on the Hudson River always looks nice. From the station you can see the Tappan Zee Bridge to the north, and just barely make out the George Washington Bridge in the far south on a clear day. If you ever find yourself on the Hudson Line, Ardsley-on-Hudson would always be an interesting station to check out!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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One of my top favorite stations.
That Hudson House apt. bridge would’ve been awesome to have…what a shame it’s lost.
I know, it really is too bad. I doubt it was used frequently, but it was nice for at least history’s sake.
I used to deliver newspapers there when I was younger. We would set up shop in the waiting room in front of the fireplace, fold the Sunday New York Times, then walk across the bridge into the apartment to deliver copies to the tenants.
The Station House has an apartment (at least it did 30 years ago).
Sharon, The Hudson House Pedestrian Bridge to the Ardsley-on-Hudson Train Station was so convenient and well beautiful too. It was knocked down by a truck that failed to see the height requirement of the bridge in the beginning of 2010. Honestly, I’m surprised that the pedestrian bridge lasted as long as it did. Ardsley-on-Hudson is a beautiful little neighborhood right on the eastern side of the Hudson River. I was very fortunate to have grown up there. I miss the sunsets over that majestic river.
When I first moved to Ardley-on-Hudson, my backdoor neighbor called one evening to say, “May I pick up your boyfriend?” My neighbor was also picking up her husband and they were in their mid 70’s in 1973. We became close friends ever since that evening; such memories from that beautiful station.
I’m assuming Harry is your husband? :)
No, Harry is my oldest son and very faithful to his paper route at 5 am.
Thank you for the background info on the name! Hvaing gotten stuck riding many locals to/from my home station of Tarrytown, I have been perpetually confused by its name. While I knew it wasn’t in Ardsley — and, instead, right on the border of Dobbs Ferry and Irvington — I could never think of an explanation. This will put my obsessive mind to rest. ;)
I also wasn’t aware how pretty the station is. I’ll have to stop by sometime.
I always thought the other station should be renamed “Ardsley-on-Putnam” just for clarity’s sake. :-)
We have an Ardsley here in the Philadelphia suburbs: on SEPTA’s Warminster Line. Nothing so posh as the Casino, but the station building now serves as a cafe (https://www.facebook.com/TheWhistle): probably the only one where you can find a scrapple waffle. Ardsley is the closest station to my home, but I usually go to Glenside station, where there’s a lot more service and I can park at our church.
Our Ardsley is also the home of Celtic harpist Ellen Tepper.
Further confusion: The main Mercy College campus is a short walk from the Ardsley-on-Hudson station. However, it is known as the Dobbs Ferry campus. I’ve overheard people saying they got off at Dobbs Ferry and had to wait for the next local train up.
Probably doesn’t happen at the other campuses.
Good thing the MTA is kind enough to add “Mercy College” below the signs!
Back in the early 70’s, I worked as a relief Agent-Operator. One of my assignments was vacation coverage at Ardsley on Hudson. I remember the apartment upstairs and the traffic over the footbridge from Hudson House. The ticket office was shared with the postal service. About the same time as the morning lull in train traffic, a truck would drop off bags of mail at the door on the north end of the building. I would usually help the two women drag the bags inside. It was a very low ticket revenue station but was kept on by complaints from Hudson House residents. The Hudson House people also complained loudly about having to come down the stairs to purchase tickets. I don’t know when the ticket agency was finally closed but was surprised it had lasted so long.
Too bad that news link on the 2010 accident that destroyed the old pedestrian bridge was never archived.
Dan,
This website has good photos of the bridge accident and subsequent dismantling:
http://www.tmoritani.com/HudsonHouse/News_Photos/News_Photos.html