BUSHWICK BRANCH

Photo: OldNYC.com

This 10-mile section of the Long Island Rail Road's freight line, from Fresh Pond, Queens, to Bushwick, Brooklyn, is a piece of the aging freight tracks that still thread through large sections of New York City and Long Island, mostly forgotten but hardly unimportant..."

From "TAKING STEPS TO REVIVE REGION'S RAIL FREIGHT" by Matthew L. Wald Copyright Saturday Nov 27, 1993 The New York Times Company.

Bushwick Branch Beers: Old Dutch, Schaefer, Piels, Liebman Rheingold, Trommer's White Label
 

Composite Bushwick Branch c.1928+ west to east

Click to enlarge maps and photos
 

Emery Maps 1920s-1930s

Composite Bushwick Branch 11-1958 east to west

Emery Maps 11-1958

Bushwick branch typical single track narrow ROW
Photo:  OldNYC.com

Closer view NE 07/2007
See map: Location 1
 Photo: Joe Gregory 

NW from the shot across Flushing, it is shot from 55th Street looking down the ROW, 54th is in the distance, unfortunately that was as deepest as we went into the Bush, I don't have any photos beyond that point.
See map: Location 2
Photo: Joe Gregory 07/07

Bushwick Map
Info: Steve Lynch 07/2007

Scott Ave Footbridge
 view east
Photo: forgotten-ny.com

Yard office Varick Ave 3/11/72 view east. Looking east. This yardmaster's office was built in 1949. The three tracks beyond, I believe, were referred to as the "icing yard" but the 1966 maps show them starting west of Varick Avenue. I think the 1966 drawings might be in error. This yard always had cars in it. Photo: Richard  F. Makse

View of English Kills Creek view west
Photo: OldNYC.com

Smashboard signal at English Kills swing bridge on Bushwick branch  06/12/49.  George E. Votava photo, Dave Keller archive

(If bridge was open, low signal was horizontal across tracks.  Train failing to stop would “smash” into the board arm and alert the engineer.)

Installed 03/1929 replacing Stop Signals and Derails. Removed c.1962 
Info: R. Emery


Fan trip April, 1957  RDC is westbound.  The English Kills is directly behind the photographer as is evidenced by the derail protectors between the main rails. (these are at ALL bridges and overpasses to keep derailed cars from going over the side). Dave Keller

LIRR #107 westbound east of Varick Ave 05-25-77