Hudson River Day Line Introduction
Formation of the Hudson River Day Line - 1860's
Hudson River Day Line - 1860 to 1880
New Steamboats New York and Albany - 1880's
Hudson River Day Line
1860 to 1880
Steamboat Daniel Drew 
Steamboat Chauncey Vibbard 1864 was the first full season on the river for the new Day Line. The Daniel Drew and the Chauncey Vibbard, a matched pair steamboats with similar appearances and arrangements, were used as day boats on the New York to Albany run. With two boats, service between New York and Albany was offered six days a week, but never on Sunday. Daniel Drew and Chauncey Vibbard were investors in steamboat businesses and had a financial interest in the boats that were named after them. |
The Chauncey Vibbard, a steamboat similar in size and speed with the Daniel Drew, was put into service in 1864. These two boats, with the same general arrangements and appearance, provided a matched pair for the day service between Albany and New York.
A pair of steamboats allowed service from New York and Albany six days a week. As one of the steamboats was travelling upriver, the other was travelling downriver. The Day Line claimed their steamboats operated under the “nine hour system.” That is, it took nine hours for the boats to complete the trip between Albany and New York City, with Poughkeepsie as the half-way point for these trips. Passengers interested in a day trip on the river would take the morning boat to Poughkeepsie, and then catch the downriver boat from Albany for their return to New York City.
For years, steamboat companies treated travellers to a dull listing of landings and schedules. But with the introduction of the Chauncey Vibbard, the Day Line started advertising pleasure travel.
Offered were the lure of far-away places and exotic landscapes which could be reached by steamboat. The Day Line provided travel to the Catskill Mountain House, Lebanon Springs, Saratoga, Montreal, and all points north or west. The Day Line published travel guides and photographs to promote the beauties of the Hudson River.
The Day Line stopped at Rhinecliff for those passengers going to Kingston or the terminus of the Delaware & Hudson Canal. Rondout Creek entered the Hudson directly opposite Rhinecliff, but it was too difficult for the day boats to enter the creek. Ferry service was available to take passengers between Kingston and Rhinecliff. After the completion of the D&H Railroad, Kingston became an important gateway to the Catskill Mountain resorts.
Catskill was a major stop for the day boats. Catskill was the landing with the easiest access for tourists visiting the Catskill Mountain House. The Day Line invested in the Catskill Mountain Railroad and the Otis Elevating Railroad to provide easy access to the Catskill Mountain House and other Catskill resorts. The Day Line supplied passengers to these railroads from the landing at the Village of Catskill.
The City of Hudson on the east side of the river was an important day boat landing for passengers going to Lebanon Springs and other vacation spots. The end of the trip was at Albany, where connections were available to the west, east, or north.
At the end of the Day Line's first full season in 1864, the quality of its service and accommodations were the subject of favorable newspaper articles. The Daniel Drew and Chauncey Vibbard were first-rate steamboats, and the Hudson River was called the “the most charming inland water trip on the American continent.” Good food, wine, and liquor was available in comfortable dining rooms. Families on vacation and tourists found the only way to properly see the scenery of the Hudson River was from a Day Line steamboat. The Day Line was formed with the intent of giving the travelling public the best possible day steamer travel anywhere, and no one ever seriously tried to compete with them.
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