Mineola
 

Mineola View E. 10-21-08 Photo: Mark Edelman

Mineola Junction c. 1878 View East 
Photo: George Brainard Archive: Dave Keller

Mineola Junction c. 1878 View East (close-up) Photo: George Brainard Archive: Dave Keller

The single main line track heads east. Branching off from it in the left foreground is the main track of the Oyster Bay branch.

Just beyond the center island platform is the secondary track branching off and connecting with the track heading up towards Oyster Bay.

Beyond that we see the east leg of the wye with the crossing track (just beyond the road crossing) from Hempstead branching off and connecting to the track to Oyster Bay branch.

Beyond the crossing we see at the right, the express house, and then the old water tank with windmill atop to draw the water as needed. Also, across from the express house, you'll see a curved high-level platform to load/offload express/baggage on trains on the Oyster Bay branch for trains from both Mineola AS well as Hempstead.

At the left, you'll see the passing siding. Branching off the passing siding you will see, across the tracks, where the replacement water tower was eventually built (Emery's 1905 map) you see a solitary cluster of trees with the track off the passing siding looping around to connect southbound to the Hempstead branch connecting track (east leg of the wye).

This loop track allowed:

1. Northbound trains from Hempstead to head EAST along the main line at Mineola via first the loop track, the passing siding, then onto the main.

2. Westbound trains along the main line to head SOUTH to Hempstead at Mineola via the passing siding then the loop track.  Research: Dave Keller

Tower #45: 1 c.1905 Brick tower in service 1890, south of mainline east end of wooden station platform; E of Mineola Blvd.  Renamed "MT" 1907 Archive/Info: Dave Keller

1905

LIRR CP-20-5 #2006 westbound at Mineola 5/03/1953
Photo:  Jim Gillin

Emery MP18-MP19  05/1958

Emery MP19-MP20 05/1958

Passing Nassau Tower 1950 view west
Photo: J.P. Sommer  Collection: Dave Keller 

Nassau Tower 04/12/01
Photo: Brian Weinberg

LIRR Alco  FA # 616 at Nassau /06/16/92 Train 4555
Photo: Kevin Gulau from top of the municipal parking garage

Approaching Nassau Tower from Oyster Bay Branch Cab of F7 #621
05-14-1988  Photo: John Fusto 

LIRR  MP15-AC #165 at Nassau 02/26/84 Train 4553  Photo: Kevin Gulau from the Mineola Blvd. overpass

Nassau Tower
All May 17, 1979  Photos/Archive: Steve Rothaug

Mineola to Hempstead Branch 

Country Life Press 1953
Archive: Jim Gillin, Photo: LIRR 

Location #16 above is referred to as Hempstead Crossing. Hempstead Crossing and "HC" tower (later "GARDEN" tower) was on the Central branch a block or two east of Garden City and a short walking distance north of Country Life Press.

It was called Hempstead Crossing because it originally was the LIRR's "crossing" of the CRR of LI's tracks which headed east to Meadowbrook and Bethpage Junction. The CRR of LI's tracks to Hempstead curved south as they do similarly today at Country Life Press and paralleled the LIRR's route to Hempstead.  I believe their terminal buildings were a block or two apart from each other

When the LIRR acquired the CRR they kept the Central's facilities as they were newer and built of brick and were in much better shape.  They tore up their original 1830s-40s facilities and moved into the Stewart's.

Hempstead Crossing remained in use as there was through train service between Mineola and West Hempstead and on to Valley Stream, as the WH branch curved off just south of the CLP depot until sometime in the 1960s.  

Years later the tower was renamed "GARDEN" but the crossing was still referred to as Hempstead Crossing. The through trains ended in the 1930s and, eventually, by 1939, the LIRR tore the crossing out, demolished the tower and GARDEN cabin opened up at Franklin Ave. where it remained until a few years ago. Research: Dave Keller

Country Life Press was a station stop opened in Garden City for the employees of the magazine by that name.  It was a Doubleday publication.  The station was located east of the Garden City station and east of Franklin Ave. and was the very next stop on the run to Hempstead .  As soon as you crossed over Franklin Ave. , the tracks curved to the right (south) and CLP station was there on your left.  Not only was it a station stop on the Hempstead branch, but it was also a station stop and terminus for the Mitchel Field shuttle along the Central branch.  

Here’s Garden City at Franklin Ave. looking east.  The Central branch goes straight, the 1st track to the left is the northwest leg of the wye to Mineola , the 2nd track to the left enters the temporary sub station building and the track to the right is the same as today . . . . heading to Hempstead with next stop:  CLP!  The shanty in the center is the crossing watchman’s. 

The cabin at Franklin Ave. was “B” cabin and not only was it for the crossing watchman to protect the crossing, he also operated a dwarf signal and derails for the trolley line that crossed the tracks.

When the trolley line was discontinued along Franklin Ave. , and when “HC” tower (later “GARDEN” tower) was closed and “GARDEN” cabin opened in  January, 1939 at Franklin Ave. , there was no longer any need for the old “B” cabin as the crossing was NOW protected by “GARDEN” cabin.

Switches and signals were handled by “HC” tower at Hempstead Crossing.  Tower is visible in the center background and beyond it, with pointed, octagonal roof, is the old brick Stewart-era water tower at the crossing of the LIRR’s tracks and the CRR of LI’s tracks.
Info: Dave Keller