Greenport

GREENPORT: 1ST DEPOT IN SVC: 7/29/1844 AS TERMINUS OF LIRR. DEPOT BURNED IN TOWN FESTIVITIES: 7/4/1870
2ND DEPOT OPENED A DISTANCE WEST OF THE RAIL DOCK AND SEA WALL:  10/1870. (Sanborn Map location)

3RD AND LARGER DEPOT BUILT CLOSER TO THE RAIL DOCK AND SEA WALL:  1892 (Sanborn Map location), WITH
DISTINCTIVE, TICKET OFFICE BAY WINDOW THAT EXTENDED ABOVE THE ROOF, FRONT DORMER WINDOW ON
WEST SIDE OF BAY WINDOW AND DECORATIVE WROUGHT-IRON ROOF TREE ALONG RIDGE. 
BAY WINDOW REMOVED IN THE TEENS. (Photographic provenance)

REPLACED WITH DOUBLE FRONT DORMER WINDOWS.  BY 1925,  DORMERS AND ROOF TREE WERE GONE (Photographic provenance). AGENCY CLOSED:  10/1/67 PER OFFICIAL LIRR NOTICE.

REOPENED: 1968 FOR ONE SUMMER’S USE, SUNDAYS ONLY THEN PERMANENTLY CLOSED.  DEPOT BUILDING NOW HOUSES THE EAST END SEAPORT & MARITIME FOUNDATION MUSEUM. HI-LEVEL PLATFORMS AND SHELTER INSTALLED: 1999 TO ACCOMMODATE  NEWLY-ARRIVED C3 BI-LEVEL CARS WHICH WERE PLACED IN SERVICE JULY, 1999. (Robert L. Myers 1999 data)

**FREIGHT STATION BUILT: 1892.  GARAGE DOOR INSTALLED ON WEST SIDE AND BECAME GARAGE FACILITY FOR LIRR ROAD-n'-RAIL BUS. EVENTUALLY BECAME PROPERTY OF RAILROAD MUSEUM OF LONG ISLAND (RMLI) HOUSING ARTIFACTS.
**4-STALL ENGINE HOUSE DEMOLISHED: c. 1921 (Robert Emery data) Research: Dave Keller
 Greenport 4/07/2021 Photo/Archive: Craig Lignelli

Greenport yard view E c.1910 Camelback on the turntable, a D16b (4-4-0) (prior to superheating) coming off the engine house track, and an 0-4-6T Forney engine on the track beyond the D16b.
 
The Forney is most probably the loco to pull the “Scoot” from Greenport “around the horn” to Bridgehampton and on to Sag Harbor. This type locomotive was removed from LIRR service by 1912.  

The D16 appears to be numbered #22_(?) (LIRR D16 locomotives were numbered from 201 to 231 and the 220 numbers were built in 1906).  Between a D16b build-date of 1906 and a Forney retirement date of 1912, we've got a window as to when this image was photographed.  There is a 5-car train and a 2-car train laying up at the platform and another 2-car train laying up on the siding south of the platform, all appearing to be awaiting their engines and the Forney appears to maybe be backing onto its train already on the siding. 

And . . . .as everybody appears to be facing west, it’s very likely that these 3 engines are ready to take their respective trains and head west.  Archive/Research: Dave Keller   Note: Engine house razed per Emery map data c. 1921.  Dave Keller

Greenport Sanborn map 6/1917

Greenport Sanborn map 10/1928

The class P54 steel LIRR passenger cars were built beginning in 1911, depicted in the image (above right). The depot has the extended bay window, jutting out of the roof,  removed sometime in the 'Teens', thus the image  can't be later than 1918 or so.  The locomotive is an older D-class American type 4-4-0.  If a Class a D52, they were all retired in 1912.  If a D53, D54 or D55 they were all gone sometime in 1917.  Research: Dave Keller

Greenport water tank, section house, and water plug
View E -  2/1950 Archive: Mike Boland

FM #1501 consist: PRR B60B and LIRR B62 baggage cars Greenport 7/22/1953 (Votova-Boland)

Freight station – Greenport, NY – 6/05/1955 (shot during Railfan extra pulled by G5s #39)  (Roy W. Schnoor photo, Dave Keller archive)

FM #2007 CPA-20-5 Greenport c.1955
(John Krause-Bob McCue)

G5s #39 on Railfan extra taking on coal
at Greenport 6/05/1955

Notes: The Reading Company leased passenger cars at the station platform. These weren't the cars used on the Railfan extra (those were an entire train of clerestory-roofed P-54 coaches), so this was another train laying up at the station. Four months remain of LIRR steam, the trust plate is still affixed to the top of the tender! Archive: Dave Keller


Greenport - FM #2007 C-liner passing the water tank c.1953 
Photo: John Krause Archive: Bob McCue

Ticket Greenport to Southold 8/02/1961 
Archive: Brad Phillips

G5s #39 and tender on turntable – Railfan extra – preparing to come off turntable (front view) 6/05/55  (Roy W. Schnoor photo, Dave Keller archive)  Note: The turntable is air powered, so the locomotive's brake line is attached.

G5s #39 and tender on turntable – Railfan extra  Greenport, NY – 6/5/55 Archive: Emil Zupo

G5s #39 and tender on turntable – Railfan extra – (broadside view) Greenport, NY – 6/5/55  (Roy W. Schnoor photo, Dave Keller archive)

Greenport freight - View W c.1950 (Frank Zahn - Dave Morrison)

Greenport water tank - 9/07/1952 Archive: Dave Morrison

 Greenport 1873 Robert Emery Map

Greenport MP93-94 Robert Emery Map 10/1957

Emery Greenport MP94 to End of Track 
Robert Emery Map 10/1957

RS-3 #1557 Greenport - View W 1967 Archive: Dave Morrison

Note the rear of the wedge plow at the far left, with two guys standing on the turntable track. The former pump house in use as a section shanty is visible just beyond the crossing in the center of the image.

The locomotive has been cut off from the train and is proceeding to clear the switch to be able to back up around the cars to couple onto the west end for the return trip short-nose forward. Dave Keller

 LIRR C420 #222 Train #4210 Mill Creek trestle View NW
9/02/1968 Photo/Archive: Richard Makse

RS3 with ex-KCS one car Greenport shuttle westbound
at Mill Creek trestle view N 7/18/1973
Archive: Dave Morrison

Yard Roundhouse views E c.1905




LIRR passenger cars #376, 149 and ? on Railroad Dock 07/22/53
Shelter Island ferry ramp in foreground Photo: George E. Votava  Archive: Dave Keller

Greenport Station - View SE c.1967
Shelter Island Ferry office and ferry slip at the left.

LIRR #154 with Train 6200 view W  8/07/1999  

Yard View East 3/1949
Photo: Art Huneke

Richard F. Makse Special Services Attendant Train #4213 Greenport 6/09/68 Archive: Richard Makse

Greenport Station view NE  c.1959 Archive: Dave Keller

Greenport Station view NE 1968. The whitewash paint was removed c.1996 during the installation of the East End Seaport and Maritime Museum in the building.

G5s- #39 FMH16-44 #1506 Railfan Extra Greenport 06/1955
Archive: Dave Keller


 Railfan Extra Greenport 06/1955 
view NE at turntable

In the 1960's, The Shelter Island Express routinely ran with a single parlor car in June, increasing to two cars in the high season of July and August. After a 40 minute layover, enough time to cut off the engine and turn it on the turntable, train #217 was created for what was usually an express run to Jamaica. Here #217 awaits its departure from Greenport with two pings and the parlor Quogue. 6/07/68 Archive: Richard Makse

"Amagansett" at Greenport 9/01/1974
Photo/Archive: Ed  Frye

Main Line - Greenport Track profile map 1994

Greenport stamp cover - 130th Anniversary of First Train to Greenport 7/27/1974 Archive: Brad Phillips

Timetable Form 20 NY-Greenport 1958
Archive: TC Fleischman

 
Railfan Extra on "Setauket" 
turntable  4/1968 Archive: Dave Keller

LIRR C420 #219 Greenport 1973 LIRR Road 'n Rail bus, which operated between Huntington and Greenport, is visible to the left of the locomotive.  Photo: Brad Phillips 

 
North Dock Track View East 
 PNC #1702 in 1975 Photo: Tim Darnell

Photos: 5/07/1978 CSX Mike
Composite: Steve Lynch

LIRR #W83  11-2003

 
LIRR TC80 Track Geometry Vehicle 
 Greenport 1976 Photo/Archive: Dave Keller

It was housed in the ex-GT1 and GT2 sheet-metal shelter at the end of the wye at Ronkonkoma and was never left outdoors for photographing.

I believe it was nicknamed the “moon rover” or “lunar rover” or some such moniker due to its modernistic “look” at the time. Info: Dave Keller

LIRR C61, LIRR SW1001 #102 and #104 
(Harold Protect Engines) Greenport Fan Trip 10/1992

LIRR SW1001 #102 and #104 
(Harold Protect Engines) Greenport Fan Trip 10/1992

Greenport - View W from the dock c. 2/2008 Photo: Henry F. Sommers

The thrifty traveler will opt for a trip on the LIRR main line from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma - (on an electric train) - then transfer to diesel service to Greenport - (this train will have the double decker cars). Once at Greenport you can easily walk to EVERYTHING you are looking for. No taxis!

To get the most out of your visit, come out on a Saturday or Sunday. You will leave Penn Station at 9:16 AM, change in Ronkonkoma at 10:40 and arrive at Greenport at 12:05. Returning, leave Greenport at 6:11 PM, change at Ronkonkoma at 7:40 and arrive back at Penn Station at 8:59 PM. Weekday trains are not as convenient for sight seeing, the weekend trains give you a great ride with six hours to explore the historic port of Greenport.

What to do and see: First and foremost, visit the Railroad Museum of Long Island  It's just off the train platform to the west and is open only on weekends from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.  7/31/08 Photo: Don Fisher 

Also view the locomotive turntable still in the pit alongside 4th Street.

The East End Seaport and Maritime Museum is housed in the old Greenport passenger station at the east end of the platform. Many nautical exhibits dealing with Greenport's maritime history are within. 7/31/08 Photo: Don Fisher         
       

Just beyond the Seaport Museum is the terminal for the Shelter Island North Ferry. For $4.00 round trip you get an 8 minute ride through the harbor to Shelter Island Heights, a historic district. A short 5 minute walk up the hill puts you in the center of "The Heights" with some of the most beautiful Victorian architecture you will find in America.

Back in Greenport you can visit Mitchell Park with its boardwalk and sheltered carousel.  The town is full of shops and excellent restaurants. All within WALKING distance of the train station.

On Sundays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM the Peconic County Miniature Railroad operates. It's a brisk 15 minute walk up Third Street from the train station but if you love trains it's well worth it. Weather permitting, the 16" gauge trainset takes riders of all ages through a large (really big!) backyard layout. The equipment is beautiful and sometimes, if enough volunteers are working, two complete trainsets are run at the same time. All operations are by block signals, run like the real thing!

The history of Greenport, the Long Island Railroad and marine operations is long and deep. I could go on for hours. It's best to come to town and experience it.

As for food, GOOD, reasonable food is available at many fine restaurants. A favorite of mine is the "Chowder Pot Pub" overlooking the train station and the harbor (most excellent chowders in town). For salad and sandwich fair, my two favorites are the "Sterlington Deli" near the train station and the "Harborfront" on Front Street. And while you are in town try some of our local wines, they are excellent - the North Fork is Long Island Wine Country! Have a great vacation day.   Don Fisher  5/14/10

Greenport Freight House: Dashing Dan Logo Vignette, see below.

The View from Greenport 
by Don Fisher written August 2003 for the Winter Edition of the RMLI PostBoy

Once in awhile lightning will strike twice in the same place! 

Last August, while I was working around your Greenport Museum, a young man approached me and asked if the Museum was open. It wasn’t, being a Monday, but I was ready for a soda break and you never know when you can make a friend for the Museum. I offered to let him have a look around while I went in for a cold drink. 

Once inside, Mark, from Delaware, spoke about the Dashing Dan sign we have displayed on the north wall. He told me a story about his Dad being the model for the now famous LIRR logo. I found it interesting that the railroad used their employees as models. After viewing the Museum, Mark left a donation and told me he’d tell his dad about our Museum and Dashing Dan on the wall.

This year on May 19th, I had the opportunity to chaperone my daughter Evelyn’s fourth grade class on a field trip to the Museum. Dressed as a railroad engineer, I walked from the school to the Southold train station with the class and rode to Greenport on the “Scoot”, telling them stories and answering their questions about the railroad. Once in Greenport, the class went first aboard a “tall ship” tour and I repaired to the Museum to open up and get ready for their return. 

While setting out the signs alongside JAWS and the #14 Caboose, a man and woman approached me and asked if the Museum was open. I explained that we were preparing for a closed tour, “but come on in and look around if you like.” As soon as they entered the building, the gentleman, Eugene, headed for the Dashing Dan logo hanging on the north wall! Sure enough, he is THE “Dashing Dan!” We talked of his son Mark’s visit and how he and his wife were up to Long Island from Florida and had to stop by and see the display. We spent time looking at the Parlor Car exhibit, Gene identified many of the men and women seated in the public relations photo shown within the display. All of the models were LIRR employees! Using employees of the railroad was a cost effective way to populate the photos.

Gene began his career as a Ticket Agent for the Long Island. He reminisced about his relief work at the Greenport passenger station, covering vacation and sick days for the regular Agent. He was working in marketing and public relations when he was selected from the office staff to pose for the “new” Dashing Dan logo. He had no idea how ubiquitous Dashing Dan would become, morphing into the “Weekend Chief” for the Montauk bound “Cannonball” train-set and leading to the creation of the Dashing Dottie logo. 

As I said, lightning does, (and remarkable meetings do), strike twice. What are the odds of one Museum volunteer, being in the same place twice, almost a year apart, meeting two men, on days when your Museum is normally closed, to learn the historic story of Dashing Dan and then meet the “Real McCoy?” You, gentle reader, be the judge of that question!