Babylon

This depot was the CRR of LI terminal located on the west side of Fire Island Ave., across from and facing the Watson House (and hotel), per Art Huneke.  The tracks were intended to go to the town dock, but that never happened as the line was terminated here.  This view is south, as Fire Island Ave. ran North/South.    Info: Dave Keller

BABYLON: SOUTH SIDE R.R. BEGAN SVC: 10/28/1867 DEPOT OPENED.

2ND DEPOT OPENED: 7/2/1881, AND THE EARLIER DEPOT RELOCATED ALONGSIDE THE DEPOT ROAD CROSSING AND CLOSE TO THE TRACKS FOR USE AS AN EXPRESS HOUSE. (Robert Emery data and photographic evidence). COVERED STATION PLATFORM ADDED TO W. SIDE OF EXPRESS HOUSE SOMETIME AFTER 1907 (photographic evidence). STRUCTURE WAS RAZED ALONG WITH THE 1881 DEPOT IN 1963 WITH GRADE CROSSING ELIMINATION PROJECT. TEMPORARY STATION FACILITIES RELOCATED TO SHOE-FLY SOUTH OF FORMER LOCATION PER G.O. #931, EFF: 04/06/63.

3RD AND ELEVATED DEPOT AND TRACKS RELOCATED ON ELEVATION ACCOUNT COMPLETION OF GRADE CROSSING
ELIMINATION PROJECT PER G.O. #1112, EFF: 09/09/64. TEMPORARY DEPOT RAZED.  Research: Dave Keller
 

Babylon Station LIRR 1881 View W  Archive: Dave Morrison

Babylon Freight House 1888 View W Archive: MTA-LIRR

Babylon Station  view E post card c.1915
 

The SSRR's 1867 depot over the years acquired covered platforms and was moved to the location seen here for use as an express house once the new, 1881 depot was constructed in the little depot's former spot.  Over the years, the covered platforms came off and there was some remodeling to the structure.  It lasted until the grade elimination of 1963-64.
Research: Dave Keller

West of Babylon near Great East Neck Road. Named after the nearby Belmont Stud Farm owned by August Belmont.  The Central Railroad of LI crossed the South Side Rail Road at this point. When both roads were acquired by the LIRR, the CRR of LI became the LIRR’s Central Branch Extension. The crossing was removed, a junction was created and tracks south of the junction were removed.  Passenger station and telegraph office appears on
timetables of 1873 -1880. In 1877, 1878 and 1880, some trains made regular stops.  "Long Island and Where to Go" from 1877 shows a depot and telegraph office with five daily trains each way. By 1880 made “F” stops. Telegraph office only per ETT #22, Eff: 6/18/1885 (No trains stopped. Switchman or operator had telegraph).  Per Seyfried, interlocking installed 9/10/1886.  Per “Railroad Gazette” of 2/10/1888, interlocking was “to be installed.” No data if it ever was. Station gone from timetables by 1896. (per Art Huneke). Junction of central branch with Montauk (Babylon) Branch elevated with Babylon grade crossing elimination project: 1964.  Junction still in operation.  Research: Dave Keller

1873 map Central Railroad of Long Island to Fire Island Dock,
Babylon Archive: Art Huneke

The C.R.R. of L.I. crossed the south side railroad at Belmont Junction. After those roads were merged a connection was installed and the trackage was removed south of the crossing.  A passenger station existed from 1873 until at least 1880.  “Long Island and Where to Go” from 1877 shows a depot and telegraph office with five daily trains each way. Employee timetable (ETT) no. 22 of June 1885 shows a telegraph office, but no trains stopping. By 1896 Belmont Junction is no longer in the timetables.  Info: Art Huneke

Babylon Railroad yard and shop at Belmont Junction area
View NW c.1910 Archive: Art Huneke
Babylon Railroad transfer to South Shore Traction Co. in 1907-1920
NY State Railroad Commission Archive: Art Huneke

Belmont Junction 1877 Archive: Art Huneke

At this point the Central Railroad of Long Island, intersects and joins the Southern Railroad, of Long Island, Within two miles of the depot  is Mr. Aug. Belmont's celebrated stud farm, "The Nursery." Here his beautiful thoroughbred horses are raised and trained for the race course; this is one of the most complete establishments of its kind in the country. Nobody should fail to visit it.

Emery map: Belmont Junction  MP34-35
7/1958 Archive: Dave Keller

Belmont Jct. of Montauk and Central Branches - View W of Babylon
5/15/1974  Photo: William Madden  Archive: Dave Keller

Babylon Station colorized post card c.1900 view NW

Babylon 1st Electric Train  5/20/1925 - Block Operator
James V. Osborne at right. Archive: Dave Keller 

Babylon Station colorized post card c.1900 view NE 

Note:  Upon completion of electrification to Babylon (right), Babylon-Patchogue Scoot service began that month. 
The initial Scoot service utilized the LIRR Gas Cars #4669-4670.

More: Babylon Station History
Mary Cascone, Town Historian
Town of Babylon, Office of Historic Services

LIRR 1st MU electric train to Babylon Pass - schedule on reverse  5/20/25 Archive: Brad Phillips

1888 Hyde Map Turntable Collection: Stony Brook, NY

Sanborn Deer Park Ave 9/1928

Sanborn Cooper Ave  9/1928

Babylon Track Capacities
 MP 54 Cars - c.1950

Emery map MP 34-35 1958
Archive: Dave Keller

Emery map MP 35-36 1958
Archive: Dave Keller

Babylon Signal S358 LIRR #35 eastbound on
Central Branch track 10/16/1955

 
Emery map MP 36-37 1958
Archive: Dave Keller

Emery map MP 37-38  7/1958
Archive: Dave Keller

Babylon water tank View W at MP36, Deer Park Ave. 
 1907 (Emery - SUNY Stony Brook)

Babylon Enginehouse 05/16/1918
Official LIRR valuation photo
Collection: Dave Morrison 


Station 1914  view east from south side platform

1925 BJ Tower almost completed.  View looking west toward depot from Signal bridge.  Track at far right (north side of main) not yet completed.  Track spur off to right to access Heinley Coal Yard.  Knickerbocker Ice & Coal at far left.  James V. Osborne photo, Dave Keller archive

MU3-car Mail Express westbound under signal bridge leaving Babylon Station 09/19/1950
The train’s lead car is an RPO/REA car. The middle car is a passenger/baggage/RPO car and at the rear is a combine car. Edward Hermanns photo, Dave Keller archive  

REA Freight House 1951 MP35.5
Photo: Joe Hagan

H16-44 #1507 1954
W. J. Edwards photo, Dave Keller archive  

RDC1-2 Babylon Tower 1955
Jules P. Krzenski photo, Dave Keller archive

MU meet 1957 Jules P. Krzenski photo, Dave Keller Archive

Double Deck Train in Tichy Scheme - Babylon Station 8/09/1952 (Faxon-Keller)

1925 First MU electric train arrival view east  towards depot from signal bridge.  James V. Osborne photo, Dave Keller archive

1925 First MU electric train arrival view taken from on top of the electric transmission tower. Chester Kelting photo, David M. Morrison collection, Dave Keller archive

 
1925 First MU electric train project. 
Chester Kelting photo, David M. Morrison collection, Dave Keller archive

 
1925 BN Cabin (c. 1917 to 1925) located at west end of Babylon station platform, north side.  View looking northwest.  James V. Osborne photo, Dave Keller archive

BN cabin, located on the north side of the west end of the westbound platform of Babylon station.  In service c. 1917 (Does not appear in the ETT of 1916.  No ETT of 1917 available to check.  Does appear in ETT of 1918) and out of service with opening of BJ tower east of the station sometime after May, 1925.  This view is from a negative shot of the first MU train to arrive at Babylon and the town’s pending celebration with thousands of people in attendance.  Chester Kelting photo, David M. Morrison Collection, Dave Keller archive.

FM 2002 Cannonball at Babylon
Jules P. Krzenski photo, Dave Keller archive


Babylon station view W 06/1960
Photo: Jim Gillin

MU double deck train at Babylon Express House Train 3/22/1959 Archive: Dave Keller

Babylon - MU, RDC Scoot, FM  View W c.1957 
Photo: John Krause

A electric train at left on Track 2, in the middle is the RDC
Patchogue Scoot and at right an FM led Montauk train just in from the Central Branch.

The temporary station, which is visible to the right of this image and at which platform the RDC s are stopped, was placed in service on 4/6/63. 

It was taken out of service on 9/9/64 and razed thereafter, with the new, elevated structure being placed in service that day (9/9/64).

This image shows not only the old tracks and station platforms at the left but the temporary facilities at the right.  The old stuff is still there, so construction has not yet begun, so this image would have to have been taken shortly after the temporary facilities opened.

There are no leaves on the trees, but MAY have been photographed IN April of 1963 because we've had some pretty cold April's on LI that I can recall.

Also, if this were shot during the winter of 1963-64, that means that the old station and tracks were STILL IN PLACE and not touched for demolition from April until year's end.  That would be a VERY long time to do nothing to the area then completing everything in 8 months. 

I say 8 months because I have photos of the temporary station with the new, elevated station in place behind it, shot in August of 1964. (see below) Dave Keller

The temporary station facilities are adjacent to this, just south, running right through where the old depot building was once located. 

In the middle-to-right background you will see platform shelters.  You will also see a second, independent, pedestrian crossover.

The red platform shelters are the temporary station at Babylon in 8/1964. (New, elevated station partially visible in left background.) 

Those shelters on those platforms with THAT pedestrian crossover are the temporary station facilities with a temporary ticket office built on the south side of the tracks.

Once the temporary tracks and station/platforms were established and officially placed into service, the LIRR then began to demolish ALL you see in the foreground, and the elevation took place on the site of this earlier track location.  The temporary tracks were very close to the main.

Research: Dave Keller, LIRR Historian

Babylon First Day Grade Crossing Elimination Ceremony 9/09/1964 view E Photo: Brad Phillips

RS1 on eastbound freight, running against traffic, meeting westbound M1 electric train from yard, passing “ BABYLON ” tower and approaching station – Babylon , NY – 7/27/1971 (Note old Knickerbocker coal silo at right background) Archive: Dave Keller
 

Babylon/West Islip Coach Yard - view East
c.1985 Photo: Steve Lynch

Lead Track Siding - East of
Cooper St. c. 1985 view N 
Photo: Steve Lynch

Wash Racks - Babylon/West Islip view west  c. 1985 
Photo: Steve Lynch

Just a minor detail the car wash has been completely removed. If memory serves since mid 2005. Info: Herbert Ketcham
 

Babylon car wash  Interior view west 11/1977 
Archive: Mike Robbins 

M1s being washed Babylon view E 10/1971

 
Babylon Yard - View W from Higbie Lane
10/09/2021 Archive: Joe Polidora

Babylon Interlocking 1988
Archive: Mike McEnaney

Train #2766 Babylon to Patchogue consist: 520+4006+4042+4024+5018
at MP38.31 View W 7/07/2021  Photo/Archive: Jeff Erlitz
 

Sunset at Babylon -  Telephoto view from station platforms c.2000 Archive: LIRR-MTA 

The signal bridge just west of Little East Neck Road (distant bridge in the sunset image), was constructed in 1924 and the signals mounted there were S357 (eastbound) and S358 (westbound) per Emery's 7/1958 map. Interlocking, 3 bridge. In the photo your looking at the back of 22 and 24 signal. The photo also shows the 21 switch crossover in the background; in the foreground you can see the switch points of 23 switch. The signal in the foreground is most likely 30 signal.