BUILT: OCT-NOV/1878 AS “STEWART JUNCTION.” RENAMED HINSDALE: 1879 WITH CLOSING OF CRR OF LI DEPOT.  RENAMED EAST HINSDALE: 1887 – 1889. RENAMED FLORAL PARK: BY 1890. RAZED: 1909

2ND, RELOCATED DEPOT BUILT: 1909, RAZED: 10/20/60 TEMPORARY WESTBOUND STATION FACILITIES RELOCATED TO SHOOFLY S. OF FORMER LOCATION: 12/15/60.
ELEVATED WESTBOUND PLATFORM IN SVC: 6/28/62. ELEVATED EASTBOUND PLATFORM IN SVC: 11/8/62. AGENCY CLOSED: 8/19/2009. Research: Dave Keller

Floral Park with integral interlocking Tower 43: 1 View NE c.1890

Floral Park Station - View NE -1898 Archive: Dave Keller

Floral Park station, with its integral tower, #47, in 1898. Tower 47 had a 32-lever Style A mechanical interlocking machine made by the Johnson Railroad Signal Company of Rahway, NJ. Tower 47 was originally the first Tower 43 and was renumbered 47 in 1894. In 1907 it was renamed FK and remained thus until the four-tracking of the Main Line to Floral Park in 1924. Info: Jeff Erlitz and Dave Keller.

An eastbound train leaving the Floral Park Station and Tower #47 in August, 1903. View is SE. The crowd must've assembled for some special function as I see an American flag being carried in the crowd at the left of the image. The track in the foreground is the "Creedmoor Cutoff" which allowed trains on the Creedmoor branch to access the Main Line and vice versa from the west side of the depot. Also note J. L. Childs' multi-story, ivy-covered, heated bulb house just to the left of the depot across the tracks. This building was used to store thousands of his bulbs for his floral business. Archive: Dave Keller

Central RR crossing the LIRR with no connection at Stewart Jct. 5/27/1878 Archive: Art Huneke

  Creedmoor Branch at Hinsdale c.1880

First interlocking at Hinsdale (Floral Park) - TOWER 43: 1  10/1887 Archive: Art Huneke

Floral Park -1914 Sanborn map Archive: Rich Terrana

“JN”   STEWART JUNCTION (1878 BOOK OF RULES) (LATER: FLORAL PARK AND JCT. OF CENTRAL EXTENSION AND CREEDMOOR BRANCH WITH MAIN LINE PER 1903 CR4. 
STATION CALLS SHARED WITH TOWER 43: 1 [LATER TOWER 47] BUILT INTO DEPOT ROOF ABOVE.) 

TOWER 43: 1   E. HINSDALE – JCT. OF EX-CRR OF L.I. CREEDMOOR AND CENTRAL BRANCHES WITH L.I.R.R. MAIN LINE (OPENED OCT/1887 
NORTH SIDE OF TRACKS AND EAST OF TULIP AVE., ABOVE 1878 EX-STEWART JUNCTION. DEPOT. 24 LEVER MECHANICAL MACHINE.  
STATION RENAMED FLORAL PARK IN 1890. SHARED CALLS OF “JN” WITH 1ST FLOOR DEPOT. TOWER RE-NUMBERED #47 WITH 
INSTALLATION OF BLOCK SYSTEM BETWEEN ROCKAWAY JCT. AND FLORAL PARK: 1894. #43 REASSIGNED TO HOLLIS UPON 
OPENING.)  

Tower 43:1 later to became Tower 47  view SE c.1890 Archive: Art Huneke

TOWER #47   PREVIOUSLY TOWER #43: 1.  RENUMBERED IN 1894 WITH INSTALLATION OF BLOCK SYSTEM FROM THE WEST AND MORE TOWERS PLACED IN SERVICE.  ORIGINALLY SHARED CALLS OF “JN” WITH 1ST FLOOR DEPOT.  RENAMED  “FP”: 1907.  THESE CALLS ARE INDICATED IN THE LIRR JOB POSTINGS LIST OF 9/20/1907. TOWER RAZED WITH OLD STATION BLDG. WHEN NEW, RELOCATED STATION AND NEW, FREESTANDING “FK” TOWER:1 PLACED IN  SVC:  1909.)

Tower 47  Floral Park Depot view NW c.1894+ Archive: Art Huneke

“FP” TOWER:1   FLORAL PARK - JCT. OF HEMPSTEAD AND CREEDMOOR BRANCHES WITH MAIN LINE. (ORIGINALLY TOWER 43:1, THEN TOWER #47. RENAMED:  1907.  CALLS INDICATED ON LIRR JOB POSTINGS LIST OF 9/20/1907.  RAZED: 1909 ALONG WITH DEPOT BUILDING WHICH IT SHARED.  REPLACED BY FREE-STANDING “FK” TOWER: 1909.)

“FK” TOWER:1   FLORAL PARK - JCT. OF HEMPSTEAD AND CREEDMOOR BRANCHES WITH MAIN LINE. (WOOD STRUCTURE BUILT 1909, NORTH SIDE OF MAIN LINE TRACKS AND EAST OF TULIP AVENUE. JOHNSON 32 LEVER MECHANICAL MACHINE. OUT OF SVC: 1924.)

FK Tower:1  Floral Park view NE c.1920 Archive: Art Huneke

The free-standing “FK” tower was built in 1909 and the old depot with “FP” tower was razed in 1909 and this image shows BOTH standing at the same time. Research: Dave Keller

FK Tower:1 west of Tower 47 and  Depot -  Floral Park  view SE 1909 Archive: Art Huneke

“FK” TOWER:2   FLORAL PARK (BRICK STRUCTURE SOUTH SIDE OF TRACKS, EAST OF TULIP AVE. AND EAST OF THE JCT. WHEN MAIN LINE WAS WIDENED TO 4 TRACKS AS FAR AS FLORAL PARK.  27-LEVER US&S MODEL 14 ELECTRO-PNEUMATIC MACHINE IN SVC:  1924.  RENAMED “PARK”: 4/23/37.)

“PARK” TOWER   FLORAL PARK – JCT. OF HEMPSTEAD AND CREEDMOOR BRANCHES WITH MAIN LINE.  (PREVIOUSLY 2nd “FK” TOWER. SOUTH SIDE OF MAIN LINE TRACKS AND    EAST OF TULIP AVE. AND THE JUNCTION WITH THE HEMPSTEAD BRANCH, WHEN MAIN LINE WAS WIDENED TO 4 TRACKS AS FAR AS FLORAL PARK. 27-LEVER US&S MODEL 14 ELECTRO-PNEUMATIC MACHINE IN SVC: 1924.  RENAMED: 4/23/37. OUT OF SVC:  12/15/60 DUE TO GRADE ELIMINATION.)

"PARK" Tower, at the junction of the Hempstead branch with the Main Line at Floral Park, NY was placed in service in 1924 as the 2nd "FK" tower when the Main Line was increased to 4 tracks as far east as Floral Park.  Located just east of the grade-level station and Tulip Avenue, it housed a 27 lever US&S Model 14 electro-pneumatic interlocking machine.  The tower was renamed "PARK" effective 4/23/37, and was eventually placed out of service on 12/15/60 due to the grade elimination project.  This 1939 view SE. (George Arnoux photo, Dave Keller archive)

Blueprint revised 1957 : Park Tower, Floral Park  Built 1924  Archive: Art Huneke

"PARK" interlocking tower controlled the junction of the Hempstead branch with the Main Line just east of the Floral Park station and just west of Plainfield Avenue (see maps below). This view of the tower is looking southwest on October 12, 1951.  Note the electrified passing siding in the foreground.  Also of interest is the westbound position light signal and the eastbound semaphore blade signal, standing across the tracks from one another.  Semaphore signals are also visible in the distance near the Tulip Avenue crossing. All these semaphore signals were removed by year's end.  The presence of one position light signal indicates that the signal conversion was underway at this time.  The interlocking tower, built in 1924, to replace an earlier, wooden tower on the opposite side of the tracks, at Tulip Avenue, was taken out of service on December 15, 1960 as a result of the grade crossing elimination project, which elevated the tracks and relocated a now-remote-controlled junction west of the Floral Park station facilities.  (Will Faxon, Jr. photo, Dave Keller archive and data)

The electro-pneumatic interlocking machine and model board inside "PARK" tower as it looked in 1939. The model board shows the layout of the interlocking controlled by the tower. If you look closely you can see the tower location on the board indicated as a little house inside the tracks of the junction, as well as the Hempstead branch tracks veering off the Main Line. Notice the reduction of the 4-track-wide Main Line down to two tracks once you reach the junction. (George Arnoux photo, Dave Keller archive)

PLAINFIELD STATION: EXISTS ON MAPS BETWEEN 1873 AND 1878 EAST OF CARNATION AVE. AT PRESENT DAY FLORAL PARK.  IT DOES NOT APPEAR ON 1874, 1877 OR 1878 LIRR TIMETABLES.

Plainfield Station, Floral Park - Beers map 1873 

Irving Lewis Halleran, the driver on an LIRR Express delivery wagon, c.1890's Archive: Scott Halleran, Grandson.

Long Island Express Co., created by the LIRR, 1882 - 1913,  handled local baggage and express shipments.
Adams Express Co., a nation-wide concern, 1913- July 1, 1918, took  over L. I. Express and allowed through-express service to the nation. Research: Dave Keller

Two D52 class locomotives are pushing the rotary snow blower westbound through Floral Park, approaching the combination depot/tower 47 on Feb. 13, 1899. 

Info/Archive: Dave Keller

Close-up of the above Feb. 13, 1899 photo. Note the rotary's very small tender. 
In later years it was equipped with a full-sized one.

Info/Archive: Dave Keller

Here is a southeasterly view of the original Floral Park station and facilities taken in 1909 just prior to its demolition.  This depot, which housed an integrally-constructed signal tower was opened in October-November of 1878 as "Stewart Junction" and renamed "Hinsdale" in 1879 with the closing of the Central Railroad of LI depot of the same name.  It was later renamed "East Hinsdale" sometime between 1887 and 1889 and renamed "Floral Park" by 1890.  The tower constructed as part of the depot was originally identified as tower # 43 (1st) and was later renumbered tower #47.  In 1907 if was renamed "FP."  In 1909, when the new station facilities were built west of  Tulip Avenue, this tower was replaced with a free-standing wooden tower named "FK". This view shows the old depot and tower, the replacement "FK" tower to its west, and a view at the left background down the Hempstead branch and a view at the right down Tulip Avenue.  The track in the foreground was the west leg of the wye to access the Creedmoor branch, but which was truncated and, at the time of this image, was relegated for use as a siding.  Archive: Art Huneke

MU Passenger Baggage (combine) car #1355 and Hempstead-bound train has made a station stop at the new station location at Floral Park, effective blocking the crossing at Tulip Avenue.  The conductor in the vestibule is wearing his summer-issue uniform white cap, the MU motorman is chatting with someone at the head end while baggage is being loaded or unloaded behind him.  Visible in the background behind the train is the old, wooden "FK" tower, the 2nd interlocking tower at that station, which controlled the junction of the Hempstead branch with the Main Line until 1924 when that line was expanded to 4 tracks wide to this easternmost point and a new, brick tower was built on the south side of the tracks and east of Tulip Avenue.  Visible in the foreground is one of the old, kerosene, Dietz platform lamps, which towers over the passengers who have just "de-trained" as appears to be today's usage for "getting off the train." This 1913 view is looking northeast. Archive: Dave Keller 

The first LIRR electric train to Hempstead on May 26, 1908 taken at Floral Park. Archive: Newsday

The new, brick depot at Floral Park as it looked on opening day in 1909.  This station building, north of the tracks and west of Tulip Avenue, replaced an earlier, wooden station, also north of the tracks but located east of Tulip Avenue.  The station facilities later had high-level concrete platforms constructed.  The depot building was eventually razed on 10/20/60 due to the grade elimination project.  (Dave Keller archive)

LIRR G5s and train westbound c.1937
 Photo: George Votava Archive: Dave Keller

LIRR G5s #38 and train westbound at the junction of the Creedmoor Branch (track in left foreground), curving off the Main Line across Plainfield Avenue  - c.1950 
Archive: Dave Keller

Photo left: The two tracks in the center/right foreground consist of the house track (nearest the camera) and the passing siding, from which the house track is accessed.  The freight house was a little further west behind the photographer (see MP15-16 map above).  You'll notice also that the branch was accessed from the passing siding. This SE view once was the site of the CRR of LI's trestle over the LIRR's Main Line tracks as Stewart's line headed toward Garden City. Archive: Dave Keller

The freight yard (actually a team track allowing transfer of freight from rail cars to trucks or vice-versa, with a run-around track, and a coal dealers siding) was on the alignment of the Creedmoor Branch, which diverged from the westbound mainline (track 1) about 0.2 miles east of the present-day station. The branch went off in a northwesterly direction. It ran to Creedmoor State Hospital for coal delivery and a few other consignees. It was abandoned west of Jericho Tpke in 1966, leaving the "freight yard" as the remnant. This simplified diagram below s its relative location. The diagram omits the run-around track which was still in use in 1966 at the time of my photo James Mardiguian

LIRR 1966 map p.46 Floral Park

A day off from school. Early Spring 1968, we're at Plainfield Ave as the mid-morning westbound local freight descends from the main down the stub of the Creedmoor Branch into Floral Park Freight Yard. A short while later, LIRR #458 (with its hind end holding the main) is now running around set-offs on the team track. Note the profusion of discarded banding on the ground.  Photos/Archive/Info: James Mardiguian

LIRR G5s #37 work train eastbound at Carnation Ave. 1951 Note the elevated crossing shanty so the watchman could see OVER the high-level platforms Info/Archive: Dave Keller

DS4-4-1000 #450 with PRR Horsecar westbound at Carnation Ave., Floral Park c.1955 (Huneke-Keller)

The MU car #4389 has Dashing Dan at the left end and the 2nd car is in the dark gray color scheme. Dan first appeared on passenger cars in February, 1959, according to the "Long Island Railroader." The grade elimination project at Floral Park began in September, 1960. There doesn't appear to be any construction evident in this image, but everyone is wearing winter coats, so, despite the age of the automobiles, I would say the image was shot shortly after Dan was stenciled in February, 1959.  Research: Dave Keller

Station Floral Park temporary facilities and tracks view E
09/05/60 (Faxon-Keller)

Note: Old depot (background left), old shelter shed, PARK Tower (background center) and siding end bumper  (background right).  Research: Dave Keller

Westbound MU Hempstead train #4739 has just cleared the crossing at Plainfield Ave. along the Hempstead branch at Floral Park.  The crossing watchman is in the process of cranking the manually operated gates back up and in the background can be seen the grade crossing elimination project underway.  This view is looking northwest on June 4, 1961 (Dave Keller archive)  

Floral Park - Fairbanks Morse H16-44 #1504 c.1962 Archive: Tommy Sager

The results of the grade elimination project: The elevated station facilities at Floral Park. By elevating the tracks, the traffic backups were eliminated along the busy cross avenues of Carnation, Tulip and Plainfield. Also, the Hempstead branch would now operate on separate tracks that originated some distance west of the new station, allowing the tracks to branch off to Hempstead west of the former junction location without the need to replace the old "PARK" interlocking tower. This view is looking southwest in 1966. (Dave Keller photo and archive)

Vulcan Fuel Co. Van Buren Ave. Floral Park view N 2016

Photos/Archive Dave Morrison