LIRR Southampton

Southampton

Southampton Deport -View W c.1878 Photo: George Brainerd
Archive: Brooklyn Musuem

Southampton Station colorized post card c. 1905 Photo/Archive: Jim Gillin

SOUTHAMPTON: OPENED: 2/1871, RAZED: 1902
2ND DEPOT BUILT: 1902. FULL-TIME AGENCY CLOSED: ?
SUNDAY AGENCY ONLY: 2005. Research: Dave Keller

Emery map - Southampton MP88-89 7/1958 Archive: Dave Keller
LIRR Southampton Station designed by Bradford Lee Gilbert Valuation photo 10/25/1917 Archive: Dave Morrison Southampton Coal & Produce Co. - View N c.1955 Archive: Sheppard Webb	Looking east at the Southampton station, c.1925, we see the freight house at the far left, with passing siding and house track and, in the right foreground, the westbound express house built integrally into the west end of the long, covered station platform. A similar construction appeared at the east end of the covered platform for eastbound express handling. Also visible is the "SN" semaphore block signals. (James V. Osborne photo)		The LIRR crosses over North Main Street on this steel trestle just west of the Southampton station plaza. This view is looking NE in January, 1972 (Dave Keller photo and archive)	This April, 1970 view is similar to the previous one, looking due east, but time has made some changes. The express houses have been removed from the ends of the station covered platforms and the semaphore block signals have been replaced by "SN" block limit signal. (Dave Keller photo and archive)
Southampton depot looking north in the Summer of 1966. The sign hanging from the eaves in the center of the building reads "Long Island Railroad Bus. Passengers Boarding at this Point. No Parking." (Henry Keller photo, Dave Keller archive)	This rear, ž view looking NW in 1966 shows the fancy architecture of the Southampton depot building. Thousands of oyster shells were set in the stucco covering the walls with fancy brickwork highlighting the doors and windows. (Dave Keller photo and archive) A close-up of the 1966 view of the Southampton depot building (right) shows a clearer view of the many oyster shells, the brickwork, the ornamental eave supports as well as the bus stop sign for the LIRR's "Road-n'-Rail" service.			Here is a rear view of the Southampton station plaza looking NE in April, 1970. One can visualize the amazing length of the covered station platforms. In the background, across the tracks, is the freight house. (Dave Keller photo and archive) Richard F. Makse photographed the Southampton station in color on May 28, 1976. This bright, late-afternoon view is looking SE. The former location of the integral westbound express house and elevated platform was where the green segment of grass and shrubs are growing at the far right. (Dave Keller archive)
Now we move indoors with this view of the Southampton depot's waiting room. This January, 1972 view is looking east showing the fancy, oval bench with seating on both sides, the pair of fancy chairs with ashtray stand between them and the fireplace with fancy andirons. Station agent Charlie Moeller was a bit of a railfan and had decorated the waiting room and ticket office interior with historic railroad items, photos, and prints. (Dave Keller photo and archive)	The waiting room is again seen in this image, with the photographer turning around and looking west towards the double ticket office windows. Notice the glass ashtray balanced atop the oval bench, and the fancy light fixtures over each ticket window. The one window that is open is indicated by its respective light being lit. On busy summer days, the window at the left would be open for the sale of parlor car tickets only. During the days of inter-line ticket sales, large wooden timetable racks were in place in the waiting room holding timetables for railroads all over the USA . James V. Osborne was the station agent / block operator at Southampton for many, many years, retiring from the LIRR in 1971 with 50 years of service. When interline ticket sales ended, JVO had the timetable racks moved to his travel agency in town, where they were used to hold travel brochures. (Dave Keller photo and archive)		Here is one of two views of the ticket window looking from inside the ticket office in January, 1972. Visible are the many rubber destination stamps, the ticket dater-die for validating tickets and the roll-up ticket case holding one-way, round-trip, half-fare, special fare, parlor car and commutation tickets. Note the old Long Island Express sign hanging on the wall. (Dave Keller photo and archive)	Another view of the ticket window looking in the opposite direction. The photographer appears to have caught a portion of agent Charlie Moeller. (Dave Keller photo and archive)
This is the block operator's desk, located inside the trackside bay window, allowing for the operator to view up and down the tracks in either direction. The flexi-phone is visible as is the call box with hand crank, both of which were still in use at the time of this photo in January, 1972! Also visible are items of railroading's past, such as the triangular telegraph sounder resonator at the left and the old hand-cranked wall phone at the far left. Telegraph line glass insulators decorate the windows and sill. (Dave Keller photo and archive)	A westward view of the "East Ender," a Budd RDC2, with road number 3121 is coupled to a coach trailer and is laying up on the passing siding across from the Southampton station in 1955. Pulling these additional cars caused Budd to void the LIRR's warranty, as Budd RDCs were only to be coupled to like RDCs. The LIRR frequently pulled passenger trailers as well as Railway Post Office (RPO) cars. In the background, a freight car on the house track is spotted at the freight house and, curious, is why, at the far left, a gasoline pump would be installed at the east end of the station platform. (W. J. Edwards photo, Dave Keller archive)		We've got quite a mix of interesting automobiles parked at the Southampton station platform on June 20, 1955. This close-up shows one of the many integral 2-sided benches that are part the long covered platform. (Will Faxon, Jr. photo, Dave Keller archive)	It's train time at Southampton on June 20, 1955. Looking east we see the fancy architecture of the Southampton depot with its myriad oyster shells in the walls. The fancy, curved eave support brackets are visible all the way into the distance and at the very end, it appears that newspapers are being off-loaded from the head-end baggage car. At the far right, an employee "T" box on the wall houses the railroad's crank-handle telephone, line of which connected all the stations and block offices along the branch. (Will Faxon, Jr. photo, Dave Keller archive)
This is a close-up of the previous photo, showing in better detail the block office bay window at the ticket office and it's security mesh over the glass. On one of the vertical support columns behind the man walking with the suitcase, is visible the old train order signal board brackets. The brackets were metal, one on each side of the wooden divider. Into them would be inserted a train order signal board which was yellow on the front side and black with a white vertical stripe on the back. The bracket on the near side was for eastbound trains and the bracket on the far side was for westbound trains. The signal indicated to the engineer and conductor that they were to pick up a train order from the block operator at this block office. At night or in inclement weather with poor visibility, a signal lantern with yellow globe was lit and hung from the yellow signal order board. By the early 1970s, electric train order signals were hung from the position-light block signals in lieu of this archaic procedure and flashed to catch the attention of the engineer and conductor.	This terrific view looking west out the rear door of an eastbound Montauk-bound train on June 20, 1955 shows many interesting things. At the left are the integral benches at every other set of platform support columns. At the end of the covered platform is the also-integral westbound express house (baggage house per Robert Emery's 1958 map of the area), with ramp and high-level platform. The position-light block signals with the call letters of "SN" identifying this as Southampton stand back-to-back just beyond the express house. To the right of the main #1 track is the passing siding and at the far right, the house track is just visible. (Will Faxon, Jr. photo, Dave Keller archive)		This close-up of the previous image shows the express/baggage house and block signals a whole lot clearer. Just beyond the block signals can be seen the girders of the trestle over North Main Street, street-level view of which appears at the beginning of this page. The lower signal hanging out towards trackside is the unattended block station signal, which governed the passage of trains when a block operator was not on-duty.	As Will Faxon, Jr.'s train departs Southampton for Montauk on June 20, 1955, he took a parting shot again from the rear looking west. A single passenger car is spotted on the passing siding, possibly a "cripple," needing to be towed into Morris Park Shops. The next image zooms into the station area for a better look at some more interesting subjects. (Dave Keller archive)
Interesting what is revealed when an image is blown up or zoomed into. This close-up of the previously-posted view shows the switch for the house track at the far right with a boxcar spotted on said track at the freight house. A switch target is visible in the lower right foreground indicating the switch for the express track. Dark green Railway Express Agency delivery trucks (forerunners of the brown UPS vehicles) are evident alongside the integral eastbound express house which sports an additional short covered platform. This track and platform allows the express car to be loaded / unloaded without blocking the main track and it can be picked up by a passing train as needed. Atop this high level platform is the gasoline pump that puzzled us in an earlier image with the Budd RDC car. This image explains the reason for the gasoline pump: to provide gas for the REA trucks. The position light block signal is visible in the distance displaying a "stop" aspect (3 horizontal lights) (Will Faxon, Jr. photo, Dave Keller archive)	We now look northeasterly across the tracks from the Southampton depot and view the old, ramshackle freight house as it looked in 1968. The roof is patched in sports, and the wooden freight ramp, slat handrails and high-level platform are rotting away. In the foreground are 3 tracks: the one at the right, closest to the station platform, is the main #1 thru-track. The passing siding is in the center and the house track is adjacent to the freight house. (Dave Keller photo and archive)		Two years has passed since the previous image of the old freight house at Southampton was photographed. It's now April, 1970 and in that period of time, the roof has been repaired, and the rotting freight ramp and handrails have been removed, however the front of the high-level platform appears to need replacement as well. Judging by the size of this freight house, and with three wide access doors across the front, Southampton must have been quite a busy freight location when all sorts of produce was shipped by train. (Dave Keller photo and archive)	Southampton Station 06/1975 View N Photo/Archive: Jim Gillin Southampton interior 1/31/2015 Photo: Edward Hand
Southampton ticket window - LI Railroader June 1950 Archive: Dave Morrison Southampton ticket windows 1/11/18 Photo: Dave Morrison	Southampton Station painting over the fireplace Photo: Dave Morrison		Southampton Station - Oyster Shells motif -Agent Charlie Muller 1/11/18 Photo: Dave Morrison	Southampton Station - Oyster Shells motif View E 1/11/18 Photo: Dave Morrison
Southampton Station fireplace 1/11/18 Photo: Dave Morrison	Southampton Station waiting room - View E 1/11/18 Photo: Dave Morrison		Southampton Station exterior - Oyster Shells motif 1-11-2018 Photo: Dave Morrison	Southampton Station chimney - Oyster Shells motif 1-11-2018 Photo: Dave Morrison
Southampton Station View NE - 1/11/18 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison		A page from the L. I. Railroader in 1950 showing the same group of guys then (1908) and now (1950). Leo Hantz was the young guy at the left in the 1908 image and the older guy at the left in the 1950 image. Attached (below) is a 8/22/1926 Form 31 train order which required the engineer and conductor to sign for when picked up. Leo Hantz was the conductor on this run of train #2005. It was issued to the crew at Southampton. Engineer Diederick indicated on the train order was the motorman who operated the Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor shuttle gas car (doodlebug) in the last years of that service. Archive/Research: Dave Keller
Southampton - Form 19 Train Orders
Form 19s issued at Southampton in 1926 by James V. Osborne. Form 19s were caught on-the-fly by the Conductor and Engineer. Archive: Dave Keller
Southampton Form 19 issued by James V. Osborne 9/11/1926	Southampton Form 19 issued by James V. Osborne 9/13/1926		Southampton Form 19 issued by James V. Osborne 10/02/1926	Southampton Form 19 issued by James V. Osborne 12/18/1926
Southampton - Form 31 Train Orders
Form 31s issued at Southampton in the early 20th Century. Form 31s had to be signed by all conductors and engineers addressed, as well as the block operator on duty at the time of signing.
Southampton Form 31 9/16/1909	Southampton Form 31 8/22/1926		Southampton Form 31 issued by by James V. Osborne 10/08/1926	Southampton Form 31 issued by James V. Osborne 10/21/1926
Southampton Form 31 issued by James V. Osborne12/28/1926	Southampton and James V. Osborne by Jules P. Krzenski Excerpt: "...During this period of time, I spent countless interesting hours in the station office at Southampton with a man named James V. Osborne. Back then, train movements on the eastern portion of the Long Island s Montauk Branch were controlled by a manual block system, combined with train orders and clearance cards. Southampton was designated as SN and Jim Osborne was the block operator. He and my dad were acquainted, which, I guess, helped to open the door to the block office for me. Jim Osborne became like a second father to me! Luckily, both my mother and father encouraged my railroad interest. I guess they realized how seriously I really felt about it. Once the bug had bitten me, that Saturday in 1946, I was totally contaminated! I had become completely dedicated and determined. It was not just my future career...it was my future way of life! I became convinced that, for me, a perfect life would consist of a wife, a f amily, our own home...and lifetime employment in railroad engine service...with eventual retirement covered by the Railroad Retirement Act. I wasnt just a railfan...I was a future railroad employee in training!..." Read the entire vignette Osborne started on the LIRR in 1921, having come from the NY Central, and he began photographing stations, block offices and their block signals along with other things that happened to be in his line of photography. He shot the majority of his negatives between 1921 and 1927 and then he shot a few in the early 1930's, but after that he didnt appear to shoot any more. Im assuming that was the time he was awarded the bid as agent at Southampton and no longer was an Extra, running all over the system. He retired in 1971 with 50 years of service! Research: Dave Keller
I was the first ticket clerk to be assigned to the Massapequa Park new trailer ticket office in August of 1965. About a week later, I was unceremoniously bumped from this nice, close to home, job and assigned to Southampton, which is a whole nuther story. If I recall correctly, over a 5 year period, I worked the Monday shift at Malvern (Lynbrook), East Rockaway (Lynbrook), Mass. Park (Massapequa), and Bellaire (Queens Village, I think). Back in 1965, if I needed a car, I borrowed my Dads. As I was to be in Southampton for who-knows-how-long I couldnt use his auto. So, I reserved a room (by telephone) in a rooming house nearby (can you see that today?!) and, living in Amityville, took the convenient Road-n-Rail bus to Southampton. The agent met me the next morning; I dont remember his name but it was NOT Jim Osborne. I was there two hours, that first morning, and Johnny Koster calls me up and tells me I've been bumped by the same guy that just bumped me out of Massapequa Park! What is it with this guy? I dont remember his name. :-) So . I had to pick up keys to sell at Rosedale; the next morning at 6 am. Holy Moly! Fortunately, a (VERY) good friend drove all the way out to Southampton and picked me up. After we visited the rooming house to explain my abrupt departure, I treated him to a nice dinner on the way home. My one big sale, while in Southampton, was a Pullman ticket from NY to Chicago. And . I mistakenly kept the accommodations stub along with the agents stub so had to chase the guy down, on foot, over my lunch hour, at his home, to return his passage ticket. Fortunately, he was very understanding. What a day that was! Brad Phillips