Bethpage Branch
Encyclopedia
The Bethpage Branch was a branch of the Long Island Rail Road
(LIRR), running from the present-day split between the Ronkonkoma Branch
and Central Branch
(then called the Bethpage Junction and now called Bethpage Interlocking) north about 1¾ miles (2.8 km) to present-day Old Bethpage, New York
.
This branch was originally built by the Central Railroad of Long Island
(CRRLI) in June 1873, primarily for the purpose of serving Alexander Turney Stewart
's local brick manufacturing plant (Bethpage Brickworks),
so he could deliver bricks for his project building the planned community of Garden City, New York
. Several pickle factories near the brickyards also used the line to deliver their freight.
Though passenger usage was not part of the original plan, one passenger stop at each end of the branch was instituted. The passenger stop at the northern terminus of the branch was called Bethpage, located near present-day Winding Road and Battle Row (just north of the old Stewart brickworks, and south of the present-day Old Bethpage Village Restoration
).
The stop at the southern end, called Bethpage Junction, was also a transfer point. From Bethpage Junction CRRLI (replaced after 1876 by LIRR) trains went north to Bethpage, and southeast to Babylon and beyond. CRRLI (and later LIRR) trains went west towards Garden City (and beyond), while LIRR trains went west to Jamaica (and beyond), and east towards Ronkonkama (and beyond).
Proposals to extend the branch north to Huntington were abandoned after amalgamation of the CRRLI with the LIRR in 1876. Designated a siding as of May 24, 1909,
the Bethpage Branch was abandoned on November 10, 1942.
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
(LIRR), running from the present-day split between the Ronkonkoma Branch
Ronkonkoma Branch
The Ronkonkoma Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. On LIRR maps and printed schedules, "Ronkonkoma Branch" refers to trains running along the railroad's Main Line from Hicksville east to the line's terminus at Greenport.The section of the...
and Central Branch
Central Branch (Long Island Rail Road)
The Central Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York, extending from just east of Bethpage to just west of Babylon. It was built in 1873 as part of the Babylon Extension of the Central Railroad of Long Island , which was owned by...
(then called the Bethpage Junction and now called Bethpage Interlocking) north about 1¾ miles (2.8 km) to present-day Old Bethpage, New York
Old Bethpage, New York
Old Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island in the Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, USA. The population of the CDP was 5,523 at the 2010 census.It is served by the Old Bethpage Post Office, ZIP code 11804....
.
This branch was originally built by the Central Railroad of Long Island
Central Railroad of Long Island
Central Railroad of Long Island is a former railroad on Long Island built by Alexander Turney Stewart, who was also the founder of Garden City. The railroad was established in 1871, was merged with the Flushing and North Side Railroad in 1874 to form the Flushing, North Shore, and Central Railroad,...
(CRRLI) in June 1873, primarily for the purpose of serving Alexander Turney Stewart
Alexander Turney Stewart
Alexander Turney Stewart was a successful Irish American entrepreneur who made his multi-million fortune in what was at the time the most extensive and lucrative dry goods business in the world....
's local brick manufacturing plant (Bethpage Brickworks),
so he could deliver bricks for his project building the planned community of Garden City, New York
Garden City, New York
Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
. Several pickle factories near the brickyards also used the line to deliver their freight.
Though passenger usage was not part of the original plan, one passenger stop at each end of the branch was instituted. The passenger stop at the northern terminus of the branch was called Bethpage, located near present-day Winding Road and Battle Row (just north of the old Stewart brickworks, and south of the present-day Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
The Old Bethpage Village Restoration is a recreated living museum village in Old Bethpage, New York. The village opened in 1970 with dozens of historic structures that had been saved from demolition by Nassau County. Costumed actors provide demonstrations of 19th century life. Major funding...
).
The stop at the southern end, called Bethpage Junction, was also a transfer point. From Bethpage Junction CRRLI (replaced after 1876 by LIRR) trains went north to Bethpage, and southeast to Babylon and beyond. CRRLI (and later LIRR) trains went west towards Garden City (and beyond), while LIRR trains went west to Jamaica (and beyond), and east towards Ronkonkama (and beyond).
Proposals to extend the branch north to Huntington were abandoned after amalgamation of the CRRLI with the LIRR in 1876. Designated a siding as of May 24, 1909,
the Bethpage Branch was abandoned on November 10, 1942.
| Station | Miles to Fulton Ferry Terminal | Location | Start | Station | Notes | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethpage Junction | 29½ | at current LIRR Bethpage Interlocking site -- between present-day Bethpage (LIRR station) Bethpage (LIRR station) Bethpage Station is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located at Stewart Avenue and Jackson Avenue, in Bethpage, New York, and serves Ronkonkoma Branch trains... and Farmingdale (LIRR station) Farmingdale (LIRR station) The Farmingdale Railroad Station is a historic railroad station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located off Secatogue Avenue, on Front Street and Atlantic Avenue, in Farmingdale, New York, however, the actual station is on Eastern Parkway... |
First listed on timetable in June 1873 | platform only | Also a transfer point, originally between LIRR and CRRLI | appears on LIRR timetable for 1924; reconfigured in 1925 to connect Main Line to Babylon |
| Bethpage | 31¼ | near Winding Road and Battle Row (just north of old Stewart brickworks) in present-day Old Bethpage, New York Old Bethpage, New York Old Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island in the Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, USA. The population of the CDP was 5,523 at the 2010 census.It is served by the Old Bethpage Post Office, ZIP code 11804.... |
November 9, 1874 as an accommodation to farmers | platform only | Northern terminus of Bethpage Branch | One round-trip a day. During 1876 and 1877, summer service only was provided. Appears on LIRR timetable for March 1879. Siding only in 1909 |
External links
- 1873 map showing railways on Long Island
- Bethpage Branch Track Maps by Bob Emery (Unofficial LIRR History)
- B-Tower May 11, 1947
- B-Tower, April 24, 1966
- B-Tower; 1986
- B-Tower July 1993
- 1952 Photo of Bethpage Junction
- The L.I.R.R.'s Bethpage Branch (Arrt's Archives)
- Bethpage Junction History (Arrt's Arrchives)
- Trains Are Fun: Bethpage
