Jamaica LIRR

Jamaica

Oldest known photo of the LIRR’s original depot at Jamaica- view looking west from the Beaver St. overpass - 1874. In 1877, the SSRR’s 1871-era depot in place south of this location at Beaver Street was moved to a spot adjacent to the west side of this structure and both were utilized by the LIRR. Archive: Dave Keller

View east at Hall Tower 03/27/1954 of a string of Tichy-schemed cars with orange end doors for better visibility at grade-crossings. Archive: Jim Gillin

G5s (4-6-0) numbered in the 20’s-series pulls a string of 11 cars eastbound in the Summer’s early evening light in 1952 through Union Hall Street station, Jamaica. Notice the old Pennsy keystone-style station sign still in place on the station’s covered platforms and in the far distance can be seen the overhead concourse at Jamaica station, accessing the various platforms. W. J. Broschart photo, Dave Keller archive
Jamaica Station Area Map - circa 1950
Schematic Jamaica - 1970
LIRR Jamaica map c. 1982 Collection: John Fusto
All images following are courtesy of the Dave Keller Archive unless noted otherwise. All captions are by Dave Keller.
Emery Jamaica-Rockaway Rd to Union Hall St-1870		Emery Jamaica-Rockaway Rd to Union Hall St-1890
Emery Jamaica-Rockaway Rd to Union Hall St-1903-08		Emery Jamaica-Van Wyck Ave to Rockaway Rd-1904-07
The SSRR’s larger depot in place on the west side of the LIRR’s depot at Jamaica . View looking east towards the Beaver St. overpass – 1878. The eastern portion of this structure, at this time, was utilized as the ticket office /waiting room and the western portion used as a lunch counter and bar. It remained in use as the LIRR’s main depot building until the grade elimination of 1913. It is not evident whether the original depot survived and was enlarged or it was demolished and replaced. The c. 1905 image (posted further below) looking west from the street overpass shows a much larger building on the east side of the former SSRR depot. Al so evident in that shot is that the Beaver Street overpass was removed altogether in 1903 (per Emery’s map notes). The 1874 image was shot FROM that bridge and this 1878 image shows the little A-frame bridge very close to the station area. (Original photo by George Brainerd, Dave Keller archive)	The SSRR’s larger Jamaica depot in use on LIRR property. View looking northeast c. 1880. This shows better the demarcation between ticket office/waiting room and lunch counter/bar. There are a number of LIRR crewmen relaxing in front of the building, noticeably the bar portion! 4-4-0 #86, 4-4-0 #? and trains laying up westbound at old station – Jamaica, NY – c. 1890		4-6-0 camelback and train westbound past twin water tanks – east of old Jamaica station – 3/1903 Water tanks, water spout and trains and equipment looking east from Jamaica station platform roof – 1903
4-4-0 #524 being turned on turntable - Washington St., Jamaica – View looking west – 1904	Jamaica old station facilities looking west from street overpass – c. 1905		“JS” tower looking east from west end of old Jamaica station platform towards station area – 12/19/08
“JS” tower at west end of old Jamaica station platform now controlling the Division Avenue crossing. View looking north – 12/29/08	“JA” tower (“Jamaica Block” on ETTs) looking east at Van Wyck Ave., Dunton, NY – 3-1909		Steam and early MP54 electric trains eastbound at old station – Jamaica, NY – c. 1910
“JS” tower looking east from Division Avenue along Twombly Place towards old Jamaica station – 10/4/10	New Jamaica station platform mock-up to test clearances of equipment and rolling stock. View looking east towards the Dunton Electric Car Shop – 2/1/11		West approach to new station construction looking east towards Van Wyck Ave. , Jamaica, NY. Steel superstructure for new tracks over avenue at far right – 4/23/11
G53 (4-6-0) #135 pulling freight east through the grade elimination construction near the site of the old station facilities. View looking northwest – 1913. The tunnels are for the Old Southern Road tracks to head southeast. Note the brakeman riding the top of the lead car. Track gauge spacer is in place in the foreground. The 3rd, inner rail on the curve was to keep derailments at a minimum. At the left foreground are the old hand-drawn concrete wagons. The laborers on this project didn’t have it easy by any means!	New Jamaica station general offices nearing completion. View NE from platform roof – 1913. Note the barren-ness of Jamaica in the background. Also note the folding fabric awnings over many of the office windows.		New Jamaica station general offices nearing completion. View NW from tracks – 1913. Note the folding fabric awnings over many of the office windows in this view as well.
New Jamaica station and platforms at track level as viewed from the new “JE” (later “HALL”) tower. Note the signal bridge over tracks 6 and 7, which was removed some years later. View is NW – 1913. This MAY be a photo on or in preparation of opening day, judging by the U.S. Flag flying from the roof of the general offices. Note the tell-tales in the center of the image on the westbound tracks, to protect men riding on top of cars/equipment making reverse moves eastbound with the new tunnels in such close proximity.	Grade elimination west of the new depot, looking east from the west side of Van Wyck Avenue – 3-10-13. The superstructure over the avenue is in place in the right background and in the right background can be seen the Dunton Electric Car Shop, which 1906 building was located on the east side of Van Wyck Ave., south of the LIRR’s tracks. It’s quite evident this was a very LONG structure.		Grade elimination in progress at Jamaica, NY. View looking east from upper level of new Jamaica station general offices towards old Jamaica station across from gas tanks – 3/12/13
New Jamaica station, general offices and platforms nearing completion. View west along Archer Ave. Temporary supply spur still in place. – 9/11/13	MP41 1006 and train westbound past “J” tower-Jamaica-c.1913		Post grade elimination work at site of old Jamaica station. Completing Breaker House. Old meat market structure at right. New station visible in distance. Tracks to Old Southern Road in foreground and at left in tunnel. View looking west: 7/14/14.
New station general offices and covered platforms – Jamaica, NY – view looking west – 9/6/16	New station, general offices and platforms with Manhattan & Queens trolley car #117 in front of waiting room. View looking west along Archer Ave. – Supply spur still in place in foreground. - 9/6/16.		View looking west from site of old Jamaica station towards new station facilities – 11/27/16
“J” (later “JAY”) tower west of new Jamaica station. View looking west. Appears windows are being washed . . . perhaps for the first and last time! 4/2/21	Elevated view of Jamaica terminal facilities as viewed westward along Archer Ave. from near 150th St. – c. 1938. Note the signal bridge over tracks 6 and 7 as viewed in the 1913 image from “JE” tower is no longer in place at this time.		G5s #43 on lay-up track east of “JE” tower (renamed “HALL” the following month) waiting to back down and couple onto a train brought from Penn Station behind a DD1 electric. G5s #50 is visible in the right background – Jamaica , NY – 3/6/37 Dave Keller archive
H6sb (2-8-0) pulling freight eastbound through the station past “JE” (later “HALL”) tower – Jamaica – c. 1932	Central Islip State Hospital A3 (0-4-0) #03 eastbound passing “JE” tower on its way back from Morris Park Shops after having its annual inspection – 10/12/33. The little engine switched freight and express between the Central Islip station, the CI team tracks and the State Hospital grounds, connection and spur of which was located east of the station. (Richie Harrison photo, Dave Keller archive)		G5s (4-6-0) #37 and train eastbound at speed leaving station and “JE” tower – Jamaica, NY – c. 1937 DD1 #354 with eastbound passenger train at track 8, Jamaica, NY - 4/17/38 Archive: Dave Keller
G5s (4-6-0) #43 eastbound on lay-up track east of “JE” tower – Jamaica – 3/6/37. Steam locomotives were usually laid up on these tracks awaiting eastbound commuter runs from Penn Station pulled by DD1 electric locomotives. The DD1s would be cut off at the station and the steam locomotives backed onto the train while at the platform, in preparation for the trip east.	LIRR #219 with ex-NYC “Silver Streak” coaches (Jack Deasy info) eastbound through Union Hall Street . St. Monica’s church at the right background. Photo: Joe Saullo		LIRR #211 eastbound through Union Hall Street on to KO. The pass by is a new set of M1s going west. Photo: Joe Saullo
130th St. coach yard and turntable	Jamaica Station c.1971 Photo: Richard Glueck		Jamaica Station c.1945
JAMAICA STATION - NEW LOOK
It was taken 8/18/08 at Jamaica betwwen Tracks 7 & 8, looking down from the walkway to the Air Train Terminal. - 8:40 pm