Port Jefferson Branch | |||
Built:
Hicksville to Syosset, by Hicksville & Cold Spring Branch R.R.: 1854,
which was then leased to LIRR and eventually acquired by the LIRR: 1863 Built: Syosset to Northport, by the LIRR: 1868 (became the end of the “Old Northport” spur.) Built: Northport Junction to Port Jefferson, by the Smithtown & Port Jefferson R. R. Co. (LIRR subsidiary): 1870 Built: Port Jefferson to Wading River by the LIRR Co. North Shore Branch (LIRR subsidiary): 1895 First train: Smithtown to Port Jefferson: 11/12/1873 Doubletrack: Hicksville to “S” cabin, Syosset: 1911-12, Syosset to “S” cabin (MP 31): 1914 (“S” cabin was moved from Syosset to MP 31: 1914) All block limit signals once had semaphores with the exception of “MI” and “WG.” Unattended block signals added at “SJ,” “BK,” “AU,” and “JF”, PRR “K” card system new: 5/1928 Abandoned: MP 58 east of Port Jefferson to Wading River: 10/9/1938 Last Day: Railway Express Agency service on Port Jefferson branch: 2/3/1961 Research: Robert Emery’s notes Form-F Port Jefferson Branch timetable 6/13/1967 |
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"DIVIDE" TOWER | |||
“DIVIDE”
TOWER: 1 HICKSVILLE - (PREVIOUSLY
“HX”, “HN” TOWERS)
(PORT JEFFERSON BRANCH AND MAIN LINE DIVIDE
AT JUNCTION. |
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“DIVIDE”
TOWER: 2 HICKSVILLE - NEW TOWER BUILT DIRECTLY
BEHIND OLD TOWER DURING GRADE ELIMINATION.
IN SVC: 11/13/62.
OUT OF SVC: 9/12/64. |
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Emery map Hicksville-Divide Tower MP25-26 Archive: Dave Keller |
FM C-liner eastbound hooping orders at DIVIDE 12/1954 Archive: Dave Keller |
DIVIDE Tower, Hicksville View SE 1962 Archive: Dave Keller |
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LIRR 1966 Hicksville - Syosset map #54 Archive: Dave Keller |
DIVIDE Tower The new tower under construction - RS3 #1559 on temporary tracks View E 04/1963 Archive: Dave Keller |
DIVIDE Tower The new tower under construction - RS3 #1558 on temporary tracks View W 04/1963 Archive: Dave Keller |
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Port Jefferson Branch - Divide Track profile map 1994 |
FM CPA20-5 #2004 and train railroad eastbound (tracks actually ran northbound at this point) on the Port Jefferson branch between Hicksville and Syosset, approaching the Northern State Parkway overpass from which the photo was taken looking SE (railroad west) on July 10, 1953. Miller Road/Place is off to the left. (George E. Votava photo, Dave Keller archive) |
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LANDIA | |||
LOW PLATFORMS IN SVC: 12/15/52 BOTH SIDES OF TRACK TO SERVICE EMPLOYEES OF CIRCLE WIRE (LATER CERRO WIRE). CLOSED: 10/3/1973 |
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MU Railfan Extra eastbound at Landia Station 1970 Archive: Dave Keller (Edwards-Keller) |
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SYOSSET | |||
Built: 1872 at Lockwood’s Grove, Far Rockaway Moved: 9/1877 Greatly remodeled: 1944, Razed: 1948 2nd Depot Built: 1948 Research: Dave Keller |
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Syosset Station View S c. pre-1910 Archive: Tom Montalbano From "A Syosset Scrapbook," courtesy of John Delin
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Syosset Station View NE c.1912 From "A Syosset Scrapbook," courtesy of John Delin Syosset Station after remodeling 1944 Razed/Rebuilt 1948
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Ticket - Syosset to Cold Spring Harbor 12/03/62 Archive: Brad Phillips |
Ticket - Syosset to Huntington 11/26/76 Archive: Brad Phillips
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Syosset Station view E winter 1961 Photo: Irving Solomon Archive: Brad Phillips |
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LIRR #216 at Syosset 1968 - The high tension and third rail poles are in place, but the third rail is not yet boarded over, nor has the platform been elevated. Photo/Archive: Richard Glueck |
Syosset Station View W c.1970 Photo: Michael Mark From "A Syosset Scrapbook," courtesy of John Delin |
Syosset Station - View SE 6/2018 Google maps |
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Syosset Station Improvement Project - 2019 | |||
Syosset Station construction - View E at Jackson Ave. 3/12/2019 |
Syosset Station Improvements MTA/LIRR sign 3/12/2019 |
Syosset shelter - View S 3/12/2019 |
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Syosset Station construction - View E at Jackson Ave rail crossing 3/12/2019 |
Syosset Station construction - View S 3/12/2019 |
Syosset Station construction - View SE Jackson Ave./Underhill Blvd. 3/12/2019 |
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Syosset Station construction - View W 3/12/2019 |
Syosset Station construction - View W close-up 3/12/2019 |
Syosset Station - 6/12/2019 |
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Photos/Archive: Dave Morrison |
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COLD SPRING HARBOR | |||
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"Woodbury" by Edward Lange |
Cold Spring Harbor G5s #33 Train #4613 2/02/1947 (Votava-Keller)
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Cold Spring Harbor - FM H16-44 1505 east of station West Rogues Path c.1958 (LIRR Emery-SUNY Stony Brook) |
Cold Spring Harbor view E 1950's Archive: Brad Phillips |
Ticket - Cold Spring Harbor and Syosset 7/24/62 Archive: Brad Phillips |
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Alco #201 Cold Spring Harbor MP31 c.3/1964 Archive: Dave Morrison |
FL9 #301 C1s Cold Spring Harbor station - 9/1994 Photo/Archive: Bill Mangahas |
LIRR #505 Train #6668 eastbound at East Gate Drive approaching Cold Spring Harbor - View S 5/18/2020 Photo/Archive: Jeff Erlitz |
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LIRR C420 train American Flyer Osgood Bradley cars at West Rogues Path - View SW 1968 Photo/Archive: Richard Glueck |
Cold Spring Harbor - "Cold Spring Hill" West Rogues Path - Red arrow indicates photos location on topographic map |
LIRR C420 train PB57 combine and P54s (pings) at West Rogues Path view SW 1968Photo/Archive: Richard Glueck |
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LIRR C420 train P72s at West Rogues Path - View E 1968 Photo/Archive: Richard Glueck |
LIRR #512 Train #6609 westbound approaching Cold Spring Harbor station 3/09/2019 Photo/Archive: William J. Skeats |
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HUNTINGTON | |||
HUNTINGTON STATION: BUILT 1868 (?) ON THE NW SIDE OF N.Y.
AVENUE. CLOSED: 10/1909 WITH OPENING OF NEW DEPOT FURTHER EAST AND
RAZED SOMETIME AFTER. |
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The old Huntington Station located west of New York Avenue (Emery map 1957 location #7 map below), showing a crowd waiting for the New York train due to arrive at 10:12 am, June 9, 1907. Note the summer trolley at right and Petit's Grain and Feed Depot. View NW |
Huntington Belcher-Hyde map 1917 Archive: Dave Morrison
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Emery map MP35-36 9/1957 Archive: Dave Keller |
LIRR 1966 Huntington map #55 |
LIRR 1978 Huntington map Archive: Jeff Erlitz #5 Huntington Matl. -Nassau Suffolk Lumber #6 Mars Cup (later Mars Sales) #7 Kleet Lumber |
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East of Huntington Station hand-operated switch 353W leading to Mars Cup, later Mars Sales - View NE 1/27/1979 Info/Photo/Archive: Jeff Erlitz |
East of Huntington Station hand-operated switch 353W leading to Mars Cup - View NE 11/08/1981 South Siding Extension under construction with Third rail on Main Track being extended to 1000 feet east of Park Avenue placed in service 1/5/1982 Info/Photo/Archive: Jeff Erlitz |
LIRR 1986 Huntington map Archive: Jeff Erlitz #5 Huntington Matl. -Nassau Suffolk Lumber #6 Purchasing & Material #7 Kleet Lumber |
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Grade
Crossing Elimination Project 1909 |
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Huntington Construction 1909 grade crossing (New York Ave. - Route 110) elimination. New station under construction in background. View E |
Huntington Construction 1909 grade crossing (New York Ave.) elimination. Old station in background view W (left), New station view E (right). Archive: Tom Farell |
Huntington Construction 1909 grade crossing view S along New York Ave. |
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Huntington Construction 1909 grade crossing elimination horse team and construction worker. |
Huntington Construction 1909 grade crossing (New York Ave.) elimination. Old station in background. View SW across Route 110. |
Huntington Construction 1909 grade crossing (New York Ave.) elimination. New station under construction. View NW. |
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Huntington Station Action | |||
LIRR #80 4-4-0 D55a westbound from Wading River. View is NE from west of the depot, looking towards the depot 1904. Photo: Hal Fullerton Archive: Dave Keller |
LIRR #39 G5s train eastbound at Huntington 1950 (Edwards-Keller) |
FA2 #603 Push-Pull train 604 Port Jefferson Shuttle eastbound at Huntington 7/26/72 LIRR #227 C420 at power end |
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LIRR #205 at Huntington Station 1971 Photo/Archive: Richard Glueck |
LIRR #611 at Huntington Station 1973 Photo/Archive: Richard Glueck |
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2nd
Huntington Station - Opened October 1909 HUNTINGTON STATION. BUILT: 1868 (?), CLOSED: 1909 2nd RELOCATED DEPOT OPENED: 10/1909 |
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CENTERPORT/GREENLAWN | |||
BUILT: 1868 AS "CENTERPORT" RENAMED "GREENLAWN." BURNED: 1909. 2nd DEPOT OPENED: 9/1911. AGENCY CLOSED: ? Research: Dave Keller |
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Greenlawn Station original building c.1890
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Greenlawn Station original building c.1890 |
Greenlawn Station - LIRR valuation photo 2/14/1918 Archive: Dave Keller |
LIRR 1966 Greenlawn map #56 |
Train #650 LIRR #271 eastbound at Greenlawn team track 8/1987 Photo/Archive: Jay Bendersk |
Greenlawn - Third rail test track for newly arrived DM Locomotives view NW 5/22/1998 Archive: Dave Keller |
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Greenlawn Station entrance sign 6/12/2019 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison
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Greenlawn Station - totem pole 6/12/2019 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison |
Greenlawn Station interior - 6/12/2019 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison
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Greenlawn Station - pot belly stove 6/12/2019 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison |
Greenlawn Station interior display 6/12/2019 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison |
Greenlawn Station interior historic photo display 6/12/2019 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison |
Greenlawn - LIRR #160-150 dropping rail west of the station. MTA PD is seen protecting the crossing, as the train was moving at a walking pace making frequent long stops. 11/13/2021 Photo/Archive: Thomas Farmer |
OLD NORTHPORT BRANCH (Abandoned 1899) | |||
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The Hicksville & Cold Spring Branch Railroad was built from Hicksville to Syosset in 1854. It was leased to the Long Island Railroad, and sold to it in 1863. Syosset was at this time an important terminal, and people came from Huntington and Northport in their carriages down to Syosset to take the trains. A few wealthy members of the Jones family of Cold Spring Village, undertook the enterprise of grading the road to their village, which they did in 1862. This road enters Cold Spring along the west side of the stream and mill ponds. But after the line had been graded a dispute arose between the members of the Jones family and the Long Island Railroad as to the exact location of the terminal. As the parties could not agree, the railroad finally abandoned the idea altogether, and when the road was finally extended to Northport the route was a more inland one, leaving Cold Spring to the north. In 1867 a right-of-way and depot site in Huntington had been granted by the town to the Long Island Railroad, but Oliver Charlick got into a dispute with certain landholders, and with characteristic obstinacy, refused to yield. The road fell through, the more liberal terms of Northport being accepted. The Long Island Railroad extended the branch to Northport Village, leaving Huntington Village to the north, in April, 1868. For quite a few years there was no station opposite Cold Spring, the passengers from that village being obliged to go to either Syosset or Huntington. This aroused the antagonism of the villagers to a great extent. Soon after, however, a station called "Cold Spring Harbor" was established at the small settlement of Woodbury. The Long Island Railroad stimulated the building of a further extension by a subsidiary company, the Smithtown & Port Jefferson Railroad Company, in 1870. This extension left the old line at Northport junction, on the highlands back of Northport Village, and continued to Port Jefferson. The first station, known as East Northport, soon became known merely as Northport Station, the line into the village from Northport junction being abandoned. Research: Felix E. Reifschneider |
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July 4, 1880 ETT shows "Old Northport" and "New Northport". Train #505 ran as a passenger train to Old Northport then as a mixed train to Port Jefferson. |
LIRR timetable from 1890 lists "Northport East Station", "Northport", and "Northport Junction". |
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Emery Old Northport Branch 1906 Archive: SUNY Stony Brook |
Archive: SUNY Stony Brook |
Archive: SUNY Stony Brook |
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1917 Belcher Hyde - Old Northport map Northport Lumber & Coal Co., Railroad Ave
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Northport 1941 Hagstrom map |
Emery map - Old Northport Branch 5/1958 Archive: Dave Keller |
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Later Axinn & Son's Lumber |
Northport Lumber Co. at Church St.-View E c.1960's |
Axinn & Son's Lumber at ex-Washington St. crossing (now Ft. Salonga Rd.- 25A) to the original Old Northport Station location. - View NE |
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Axinn & Son's Lumber at ex-Washington St. crossing (now Ft. Salonga Rd.- 25A) to the original Old Northport Station location. - View SE c. 1978+ Currently a King Kullen Shopping Center; 2020. |
RDC's #3101, #-3121 Old Northport 9/1956 Special (Rugen-Huneke) |
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NORTHPORT | |||
BUILT: MAY-JULY/1873. ALSO KNOWN AS "NEW
NORTHPORT". APPEARS ON ETT #10 EFF: 06/28/1899 AS "NORTHPORT (EAST STATION)."
APPEARED ON 1901 TIMETABLE AS "NORTHPORT EAST." MOVED TO PRIVATE LOCATION:
1927. USED AS OFFICE FOR A SIGN COMPANY. RAZED: 1959. |
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Northport station as it looked c. 1910 with a Northport Trolley behind the depot. Archive: Dave Keller |
Northport Station - H3 2-8-0 #162 First train from Penn Station - Northport Traction #601 9/08/1910 Archive: Dave Keller |
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Northport Station - Traction Car #602 c.1912 |
Northport Station - View E c. 1927+ Archive: Jim Gillin |
LIRR #111 Northport Station - View W 1952 |
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Notes: The low-level
platform (above) between the main track and the passing siding, similar
to what was in place at the time at Smithtown. It was smart because it allowed
passengers to board or get off the train if their train had |
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LIRR #113 Northport Station - View E 1952 Photo: John Krause |
Northport MP39 - View E c.1950 Archive: Northport Public Library |
Northport Station original building in private use 1957 Archive: Dave Keller |
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Emery map - Northport MP38-39 9/1957 Archive: Dave Keller |
East Northport MP40+ - VA Hospital siding new 1934 removed 1950 per Emery map below - 1947 USGS topographic map
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LIRR 1966 map - Northport map #57 FA1 #616 westbound at Old Northport Junction View E 2/26/1977 (Madden-Keller) |
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Northport Station - LIRR C-420 #207 - Train #4234 View W 12/04/1974 Photo: Richard Makse |
ALCO FA1 #615 - Push-Pull train westbound on Bread and Cheese Hollow Rd. Trestle 11/1980 (Mazzarone-Keller)
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Northport Station - View W 2020 |
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Northport Station - 6/12/2019 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison
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Northport Traction Co. plaque 6/12/2019 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison |
Northport Station interior - 6/12/2019 Photos/Archive: Dave Morrison |
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KINGS PARK | |||
BUILT: NOV-DEC/1872 AS ST. JOHNSLAND. RENAMED “KINGS PARK”: 6/1891 (Per V. F. Seyfried) RAZED: 1948 2nd DEPOT BUILT: 1948. REMODELED: ? AGENCY CLOSED: ? |
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G5s #50 Train westbound at Kings Park State Hospital Station 3/1936 (Harrison-Keller) |
Kings Park station and "JO" unattended block station signals viewed east - c. 1934 (Jeff Winslow photo, Dave Keller archive)
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Looking west at the old Kings Park station (above) on August 30, 1934, notice the station sign identifies the stop as "King's Park" using the possessive apostrophe. As the manned block office closed in June, 1932, the "JO" unattended block station signals visible lower down on the signal mast trackside were used in conjunction with clearance ("K") cards. Semaphore signals were no longer in use and the blades were removed from the mast sometime afterward. This image shows that as of the date of this photo, the semaphore blades had been removed from the mast. The boxcar at the far right was on the spur which once ran behind the depot and eastward to Kings Park State Hospital. The distant water tower was just east of the start of the spur and the sight of the February 16, 1947 wreck of eastbound train #4612 pulled by PRR K4s #5406. (Fred Weber photo / Dave Keller data). |
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Kings Park Hospital Spur Emery Map 9/1957 Archive: Dave Keller |
MP43-44 Kings Park Emery Map 9/1957 Archive: Dave Keller
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Wreck at Kings Park 2/16/47 Aerial view shortly after the wreck. Photo: Daily News |
H10s #113 freight backing onto hospital siding behind Kings Park station 08/25/55 (Higginbotham-Keller) |
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RS3 #1551 Train #4647 westbound at Kings Park State Hospital Station 1964 (Schneider-Keller) |
C40 #209 westbound at Kings Park State Hospital Station (KPHS) 11/1969 (Emery-SUNY-Stony-Brook) |
RS-3 #1558 view E c.1964+ |
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RS-3 #1560 in Goodfellow Gray view E Winter 3/25/1962 |
Station view NE 01/1966 Notice the LIRR MOW truck in the right background. It looks like an old REA truck, but it's got Dashing Dan in the round yellow circle. Also, look behind the depot at the left. There appears to be a hospital train laying up back there. Info/Archive: Dave Keller |
LIRR #214 westbound - Bread & Cheese Hollow Rd., Kings Park 12/1966 (J.Guthrie - Emery SUNY-Stony Brook) |
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DOT GTE 4 car train westbound at Kings Park State Hospital Station 11/1977 (Madden-Keller) |
Kings Park Station - c.1980's view W Photo: Fred Lindauer Archive: Steve Lynch |
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C424 #218 at MP34 westbound |
C420 #223 "Smoking It Up" Photo: Mike Koehler c.1983 |
Photo: Mike Koehler c.1983 |
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Indian Head Road view west C53 on the rear, 223 on the head end. Photo: Mike Koehler c.1983 |
LIRR #228 Kings Park State Hospital spur view taken from the hill south of Old Dock Road, looking N toward Patiky Street c. 1985 Photo: Dave Flynn |
Kings Park Station interior 6/12/2019 Photo/Archive: Dave Morrison |
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SMITHTOWN | |||
BUILT:
NOV-DEC/1872, CLOSED: 11/6/1936, WITH GRADE CROSSING ELIMINATION OF ROUTES 25 AND
25A.
MOVED TO PRIVATE LOCATION: EARLY IN 1937. |
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Smithtown Station view SE in 1878. The large structure to the right of the station is the Trainor Hotel, which was a very popular rest spot for travelers coming through on both by train, and by horse and buggy. The hotel unfortunately succumbed to a horrible fire on December 5, 1909 and was never rebuilt. Photo: George Brainerd Archive: Brooklyn Museum Digital Archive |
Smithtown Station, Express House and Freight House at far left. View is SE c. 1910 from the Rte. 25-25A crossing Archive: Carol Mills |
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Smithtown Station - View N c.1900 Archive: Tommy Farrell |
Riverside Inn - Nissequogue River, Smithtown view SW c.1900 Library of Congress LIRR trestle embankment in left background |
Emery - Smithtown MP46-47 9/1957 Archive: Dave Keller |
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Smithtown - Semaphore D.S. & SI MP46.5 Last month of a semaphore in service 12/1963 View NE Photo/Archive: Art Huneke |
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"LIRR Agrees To Find New Smithtown Freight Yard" 10/03/1968 - The Smithtown News |
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Railroad trestle in Smithtown, 1878 |
Smithtown wooden trestle location 1878 Emery map |
Smithtown wooden trestle view NE c.1890 Archive: Emery SUNY |
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Booth & Arthur General Store on Jericho Turnpike
(across from where the statue of the bull now stands) at the junction
of Route 25A and Jericho Turnpike. It was also called the River Store
and was operated by Ethelbert L. Arthur. Research: David Bauer Photo: George B. Brainerd Archive: Brooklyn Museum |
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Smithtown station 1878 view E Photo: George Brainerd |
Smithtown steel trestle LIRR class D56 American 4-4-0 |
Smithtown - LIRR Trestle at Frank Friede's Riverside Inn post card - View NW |
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Smithtown station c.1878 Photo: George Brainerd Archive: Brooklyn Public Library |
Smithtown station 1903 view SE |
Smithtown station 1905 view N Archive: Tom Muratore |
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Smithtown station 1906 view S |
Smithtown station c. 1905 Archive: Tom Muratore |
Smithtown station 4-4-0 class D16b and train westbound c. 1910 Archive: Tom Muratore |
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Smithtown station winter 1925 view E |
Station Smithtown c. 1928 Archive: Maggie Land Blanck |
Smithtown station 1935 view SE
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Once
high-level platforms were installed at the station to handle the new
push-pull service, the overhanging eaves trackside had to be cut back
to allow for passenger clearance overhead, totally ruining the
architectural lines of the depot building. When
it was decided to eliminate the grade crossing in
Smithtown
and construct a new depot building, the old, original structure was
moved south of the location to
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Smithtown station 1942 View SE |
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“POST” INTERLOCKING (R.C.) EAST
OF SMITHTOWN (REMOTE FROM “DIVIDE”. IN SVC: 12/20/63. NAMED AFTER
RETIRED SIGNAL DEPARTMENT CIRCUIT |
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POST CTC Cabin at Smithtown 1969 operated remotely from "DIVIDE." In 1977 it became "POST 2". Photo/Archive: Dave Keller |
HARE CTC Cabin west of Smithtown 1969 In 1977 renamed "POST 1" Photo/Archive: Dave Keller |
LIRR FA2 #602 Smithtown within POST 2 Interlocking View E c.1982 Photo/Archive: David Flynn |
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ex-Smithtown Station view N 2014 Archive: Google |
ex-Smithtown Station view W 2014 Archive: Google |
ex-Smithtown Station view W 1/04/2017 Photo: Mike Tarq |
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Smithtown Rte.25-25A crossing shanty view E c.1935 |
According to my LIRR call letters history, "ST" block station had unattended block signals added in 1928. The block office was taken out of service some time after that (I don't have a date, unfortunately), but placed BACK into service on 6/23/35. It remained in service until it was taken out of service on 11/6/36 and transferred over to a temporary block office south of the tracks for the grade crossing elimination project. As this image shows the block signals in service AND the unattended block signals are attached to the mast at about mid-height, it's safe to say this image was photographed sometime between June 23, 1935 and November 6, 1936 and while I see NO activity indicating the start of the grade crossing elimination, and I see leaves on all the trees, I'd say Summer, 1935. If it were Summer, 1936, then there would be signs of excavation. Research: Dave Keller
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Smithtown wood-framed station 1953 view SE |
LIRR 2-8-0 H10s crossing Smithtown trestle (P466) view E from Rte.25 1953 |
LIRR #2401 FM CPA-24-5 (C liner) Smithtown view E 1955 |
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Smithtown MP47 view NE 11/23/43 at the turnout for the 37 car passing siding. Photo: Fred Weber |
Smithtown bridge over Rte.25-25A view SW 11/23/43 Photo: Fred Weber |
Smithtown station view SW Call box at left 10/08/43 Photo: Fred Weber |
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Smithtown station view SW - whistle post at left and LI Ice Corp. far left 10/08/43 Photo: Fred Weber |
LIRR #113 H10s freight meet with superior passenger class LIRR #38 G5s westbound Smithtown view E 1951 Photo: Norman Kohl |
LIRR caboose #14 on the Smithtown passing siding view NW 1952 |
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It's a little past noon, one mild February day in 1953 and the place is Smithtown. As LIRR H10s No. 107 takes the side track, the rear brakeman swings off the caboose step to reset the switch for the main track (above left). That done, the seven-car peddler freight pulls up toward the station (center view SW). Finally, in classic conjunction of the steam and diesel ages, a youthful Fairbanks-Morse LIRR H16-44 No. 1506 breezily overtakes the veteran workhorse. The engineer's oilcan, seemingly at attention, and long skirts on mother and daughter add memorable ingredients to this bygone moment (right view NE) Photos: John Krause Material above courtesy of Dave Morrison; except as noted. This fourth tank constructed AFTER the 1936-37 grade crossing elimination east of the elevated depot on the north side per Krause's photo (2/1953). Research: Dave Keller |
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First tank west of the depot in Brainerd's c. 1880 view E |
Second tank east of the depot in the c. 1890 colorized view SW |
Third tank across from the 1903 depot on the north side |
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Smithtown - Northport Ticket 11/05/1963 Archive: Brad Phillips |
LIRR #35 taking water 10/16/1955 Photo: Walter Broschart Archive: Dave Morrison Note: LIRR G5s #35 and final "Steam Special" at Smithtown Station ready to depart on the very last LIRR steam train run, October 16, 1955. |
LIRR 1966 Smithtown Map #59 |
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ST. JAMES | |||
ST. JAMES: OPENED: 10/1873, AGENT'S QUARTERS
LOCATED ON SECOND STORY.
PART TIME AGENCY PER "L.I.R.R.
TICKET OFFICES OPEN FOR SALE
OF TICKETS" OF 9/12/55.
DEPOT
RESTORED: 1964.
CONSTRUCTION
OF 12-CAR-LENGTH HI-LEVEL PLATFORM
WITH SHELTERS BEGUN:
MID-AUG, 1986.
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Westbound steam at St. James March 1953 Photo: John Krauss |
Freight-Express House LIRR H10s #113 Freight West St. James 8/25/55 (Higginbotham-Keller)
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St. James view NE 1978 Photo: Steven Lynch |
St. James view N 1993 |
St. James view NW 2010 Source: Wikipedia |
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LIRR St. James Station Historical Restoration Project Booklet March 21, 1997 | Newsday
"St. James station to be restored" 3/22/1997 Archive: Dave Morrison |
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St. James Station 3/2017 St. James Station 6/12/2019 |
St. James Station doorway 3/2017, 6/12/2019 below |
St. James Station window 3/2017, 6/12/2019 below |
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Photos/Archive: Dave Morrison | |||
FLOWERFIELD | |||
OPENED: 1909-10. AGENCY CLOSED: BETWEEN 10/10/43 (ETT #5) AND 6/11/44
(ETT #6) |
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Flowerfield Map 1934 - Emery SUNY-Stony Brook
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CPA24-5 #2404 Train #621 westbound past Flowerfield Station 8/26/1955 (Higginbotham-Keller) |
Flowerfield Station View N 4/1958 Archive: Dave Keller |
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STONY BROOK | |||
BUILT: 1873, GREATLY REMODELED: 1917. CONSTRUCTION OF HI-LEVEL PLATFORMS WITH SHELTERS BEGUN: 3/88. TRACK REALIGNMENT RESULTED IN RELOCATION OF S. PLATFORM WHICH WAS PLACED IN SVC: 11/14/88. N. PLATFORM WITH SHELTERS COMPLETED: SPRING/1989. TEMPORARY WAITING ROOM AND TICKET OFFICE SET UP IN TRAILER DURING RENOVATION OF OLD DEPOT. EXTERIOR RESTORED TO ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR REMODELED NON-HISTORICALLY. AGENCY CLOSED: 9/7/96. NEW SHELTERS CONSTRUCTED: 11/2008 TO EARLY 2009. (Derek Stadler research re: Shelters) |
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SETAUKET SETAUKET FREIGHT STATION BUILT: 2/1877 AND USED AS DEPOT. ACTUAL
DEPOT BUILT: JAN-FEB/1883 AGENCY CLOSED: ? RAZED: 10/3/60. |
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Setauket - View NW c.1900 Archive: Dave Morrison The freight ramp has been relocated to the east side of the freight house and the station platform extended east of the old freight office and former depot, including a Dietz kerosene platform lamp. |
Setauket 1930 Photo: James V. Osborne The freight house has been removed (along with the "AU" block signal semaphore blades) but a short high-level express platform is still in place. Research/Archive: Dave Keller |
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Setauket Station LIRR #107 - View E 1952 Photo: John Krause |
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Setauket Station 1958 view NW - Robert Emery holding up lamp post. Photo: Bill Slade Archive: Art Huneke |
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Setauket Station 1959 view E Photo/Archive: Art Huneke |
C420 #202 east on trestle over Old Town Rd, east of Setauket 12/1971 Photo: Dave Keller |
Setauket station shelter shed and platform View E 8/12/73 Archive: Dave Keller |
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Emery Map Setauket - 1941 Archive: SUNY-Stony Brook |
Port Jefferson Branch - Setauket to Port Jefferson Track profile map 1994 |
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PORT JEFFERSON
OPENED: 1/13/1873, BURNED:
2/1/1874. |
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One of the earliest if not THE earliest
of LIRR railfan photographers was George Brainerd who worked for the
Brooklyn Union Gas Co. Back in the late 1870s, he lugged his large
glass plate negative camera and tripod out east from his residence in
Brooklyn and photographed many of the original station buildings along
the South Shore, Main Line, Locust Valley (rails had not yet reached
Oyster Bay) and Port Jefferson branches. This terrific image shot
by Brainerd in 1878 shows an old 4-4-0 American-type locomotive laying
up with a two-car train westbound at the original Port Jefferson station
and freight house west of Coram Rd. (Main St. - current SR #112).
The view is looking east and the depot building, which resembled the
structure at St. James, and which survived from 1903 until the mid-1960s
as the freight/express house, is at the far left. The tracks would
not yet extend to Wading River for another 20 years. (George
Brainerd photo, Dave Keller archive)
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Another example of
George Brainerd's 1878 photos of an 4-4-0
American-type locomotive at Port Jefferson. Here we have an example of
the link and pin coupler system utilized at the time. (George
Brainerd photo, Brooklyn Public Library archive)
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Port Jefferson view E c.1903 Note: Hopper on team track for Loper Bros Coal. south of main on team track. Eastbound semaphore behind train.
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An interior view of the Port Jefferson ticket office and "JF" block station with the block operator talking with the dispatcher on the flexi-phone at the operator's desk which was built into the ticket office bay window to allow visibility in each direction down the track. Note the table machine to operate the block signal and also note that this machine was originally manufactured to control two block signals, eastbound and westbound, but the eastbound one, including large round indicator dial, was removed in 1938 with the end of service east of this station to Wading River. This view is c. 1945. (George Christopher photo, Dave Keller archive)
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Emery map - Port Jefferson 1936 Archive: SUNY Stony Brook |
Port Jefferson REA truck 2/1941 Photo: Robert Emery Archive: SUNY Stony Brook |
Port Jefferson Crew Train #635 1941 Photo: Robert Emery Archive: SUNY Stony Brook |
M. Remz Bros. Feed View S 1978 Photo: Steven Lynch |
Robert M. Emery map of Port Jefferson pre-1920 MP57-58 (Dave Keller archive)
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Port Jefferson - Setauket 1/01/1967 Archive: Brad Phillips
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Port Jefferson Freight/Express House/Office View W zoom Photo: 11/06/1947 (Weber-Morrison) Loper Bros. Lumber (far left), Wilson Mill (left), 'JF' (right) unattended block station signal mounted lower-down on the block signal mast The two-story structure just west of Rt. 112 is the former 2nd depot on-site, built 6/1875 to replace the original which burned 2/1/1874. After the 1903 depot was built on the east side of what today is Rt. 112, the wooden depot became the express house/office. It was razed in April, 1963. Photo: 11/06/1947 (Weber-Morrison) |
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A local professional photographer whose studio was in Port Jefferson for many years was Arthur S. Greene. In 1905 he photographed the 2-year-old station building at Port Jefferson. This depot was built by the developers of nearby Belle Terre, and resembled the architecture of the two pergolas they erected overlooking the Long Island Sound. Built on the northeast quadrant of the crossing of Patchogue-Port Jefferson Road (later route 112) this new brick structure replaced the original wooden one shown previously which was located on the northwest quadrant of that crossing. This view is looking northwest and shows Greene's signature pinto pony and wagon . . . usually found in many of his photographs. Also visible is the block signal out front of the depot building, with two semaphore blades, one eastbound and one westbound as the branch now extended further east to Wading River. (Thomas R. Bayles collection, Dave Keller archive) |
Port Jefferson Station - View NE c.1930's Archive: eBay Info: Dave Keller Unattended block limit station signals were installed lower down on the mast effective 5/23/28 until end of service to Wading River 10/09/1938
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Also laying up in the West Yard, at the west end near the ashpit tracks is G5s #32. This c. 1935 view, looking northeast, was photographed just a short distance east of where the yard branched off the main, and was, for a number of years, adjacent to a turntable, which was later replaced bye a wye track located east of the station and south of the yard. (Dave Keller archive)
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Commemorating the last day of steam on Long Island, a railfan extra (fan trip) was held on October 16, 1955, pulled by G5s #35. In this view we see the locomotive, tender and lead car just having been cut from the train preparing to back onto the wye track east of the Port Jefferson station. After being turned on the wye, it will head up the west leg of the wye track, connect to the front of the train it just pulled eastward, and head back west with its complement of railfans of the day. (Dave Keller archive)
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Laid up in the Port Jefferson yard in September, 1963 is combination RPO (Railway Post Office) and baggage car #7737. The car still sports modernization number 487 which it's worn since it was renovated in the LIRR's modernization program of cars which began in December of 1954 and lasted several years. Visible across the small door accessing the postal facility is the swing bar that would be rotated perpendicular to the car and catch, while traveling non-stop, leather mailbags hung from a trackside mail crane to be sorted and cancelled en-route. Also note the bars across the windows protecting the mail compartment from burglary. U. S. Railway Mail Service employees carried side arms in the completion of their duties. (Wm. Lichtenstern photo, Dave Keller archive) |
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Fairbanks-Morse model H16-44 #1507 is seen here laying up in front of the former and original wooden depot building at Port Jefferson on October 24, 1962. Once the new brick depot was constructed in 1903, this old depot was relegated to freight and express use and lasted until the mid-1960s. This view is looking northeast. The station is at the far right, on the other side of the crossing of Route 112. The cars visible are in the station parking lot. (George E. Votava photo, Dave Keller archive) |
Looking due east in the West Yard in 1957, we see ALCO RS3 #1554 laying up alongside a Fairbanks-Morse C-liner. In the distance at the right is M. Remz's Feed store, many years a landmark, with its notable "Checkerboard Square" pattern, which was Purina Chow's logo. In the left background is visible the original depot in use as a freight / express house and the 1903 depot beyond. For fun, compare this image side-by-side with Brainerd's 1878 image! (Jules P. Krzenski photo, Dave Keller archive) |
Fairbanks-Morse C-liner (model CPA24-5) #2401 is backing an RPO-Baggage car onto the wye east of the Port Jefferson station in 1955 so its train can head back west again. View is looking southwest. This area today is all built-up commercially. (W. H. Higginbotham photo, Dave Keller archive) |
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Fairbanks-Morse C-liner (model CPA20-5) #2008 is laying up in the late afternoon sun in the yard at Port Jefferson c.1963 (Dave Keller archive)
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GENERAL
ORDER #1006C, EFFECTIVE 3/29/39: SINGLE
TRACK FROM A POINT 1,550’ EAST OF EAST LEG OF WYE, PORT JEFFERSON
STATION TO WADING RIVER WESTWARD
LOWER QUADRANT SEMAPHORE DISTANT SIGNAL LOCATED This view, looking due east, shows that point of single track "1,550' east of east leg of wye" as it looked in 1968, disappearing into nothing . . . . not even a bumper block or crossed railroad ties. With the rebuilding of the yard and installation of modern facilities east of the station, this last vestige of rails to Wading River was torn out. (Dave Keller photo and archive)
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The Port Jefferson depot midday view NE in the Spring/Summer of 1963. A playbill for "Enter Laughing" starring Alan Arkin, Vivian Blaine, Sylvia Sidney, Michael J. Pollard, and Alan Mowbray is attached to the platform light pole at the left. Archive: Brad Phillips
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Port Jefferson Station 10/10/2016 |
Port Jefferson Station stove 8/17/2017 |
Port Jefferson Station 6/12/2019 |
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Port Jefferson Station stove 6/12/2019 |
Port Jefferson Station ticket office 8/17/2017 |
Port Jefferson Station ticket office 6/12/2019 |
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Photos/Archive: Dave Morrison |
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