The Cochecton Erie Depot has had its share of face lifts. Early photos show the building has a bow window for the ticket master to see the train arriving or departing. On March 1, 1973 the Erie-Lackawanna, NY No.99 freight train with three diesels pulling 90 cars left Port Jervis westbound to Chicago at 2:16 a.m. At 3:15 a.m., one-and-a-half miles north of Narrowsburg, a flatbed car wheel broke in half. Engineer E. H. Duryea slowed the train to a stop ending in front of the railroad depot in Cochecton. Cars 80 to 88 derailed; 80 feet of track were lost; tractor trailers filled with electrical fixtures, stereos and TVs were turned over. None of the neighbors heard the crash. If the cars had tumbled over the bank, they would have landed on top of Anita Reguin’s house.

The loss was several hundred thousand dollars, but the railroad had no insurance for damages or lost merchandise. The high premiums discouraged the railroad from insuring. Three buildings were damaged. A flat window replaced the depot’s lost bow window. The bow window was added back in 1993 at the depot’s new home on Route 97.

The Cochecton Preservation Society is holding a January raffle, with 90 chances to win for $5 each, on sale for holiday stocking stuffers. Visit cochectonpreservationso ciety.com or  email cps12726@gmail.ccps.