I saw this branch's stations in a LIRR timetable first in the 1960s and wondered how these stations in urban Queens could have so few trains. I didn't know the area then, living in Suffolk. I rode and then hiked the line in the late 1970s, and knew why. I never could find Glendale station's exact location (signs had disappeared) or understand how anyone would use remote Haberman or next-to-a cemetery Penny Bridge. Fresh Pond station was a long trek down stairs from Metropolitan Avenue. At least Richmond Hill was obtainable. Still had vintage lights and a sign or two. I actually attended a c.1996 public hearing in Glendale where LIRR officials listened to passionate pleas from the public to save the stations. (Which had to be scrapped or elevated at a cost to satisfy ADA.) So, as you explained so well, the line had an interesting history. And I participated to a very small extent!
I used to hang out on these tracks in Forest Park and been to that playground forever. This was interesting . I remember the old locomotives pulling the old LIRR cars. then 1 day they started using the new ones with the double deckers. Then only trash freight came through.
Fascinating. I wish they would revive this branch, along with other defunct lines, like the Rockaway branch, as they would give Queens residents more transportation alternatives. We do tend to be in a transit desert. Thank you for the video!
1:15 That would explain why as a kid, I once saw an LIRR double decker traveling along the bridge over Newtown Creek, and why if you were to go to that bridge, there’s a stop sign sticking out between the tracks. Also, I was slightly disappointed when you didn’t mention the part of the abandoned LIRR car near the Montauk Cutoff, but I suppose that’s cause you’re more of a historian and less of an urban explorer. Still though, love this channel and it’s content.
this line was going to be bought and used by NYC Transit for the 63rd Street Connector now used by the F line. In the late 70's and early 80's community groups along the line fought it though. When I was a kid I'd go to the Fresh Pond Rd station during PM rush. I'd watch one train make a station stop and pick up just one passenger.
I rented a room in Richmond Hill and remember seeing a freight train on this branch in 2007. I was new to NY and didn’t know anything about this line. I definitely remember the old entrance to Richmond Hill station right under the J line. You have a new subscriber from Texas though. I’ll be looking for your secrets next time I visit NYC.
LIRR has been doing Brooklyn and Queens dirty since 1924. They have the most cut stations and branches for their entire territory and would benefit the most if they existed today.
For my next video, I’m going to do the Central Railroad of Long Island so if you can get footage of that (like where the right of way would have been), I would really appreciate it. If you can’t, that’s fine. You can email the footage to me at timothyc468@gmail.com
I've seen a number of these tracks around Queens and didn't think they were just unused. The abandoned station in full view from the J train, that one always made me a little curious. So thanks for answering those questions.
Good job, except The South Side Railroad first operated between Jamaica and Patchogue. They wanted to expand to L.I.C but the L.I.R.R would not give them the rights to cross their ROW. Instead, they laid tracks from Jamaica to Bushwick Ave and Meserole St (Bushwick Depot) then eventually to S8 Street in Williamsburg. They did not go to Long Island City until the LIRR took them over.
The Interborough Express should utilize The Lower Montauk Branch as well, along with The Bay Ridge Branch & those abandoned branches in The Bronx to make The Interborough Express a new MTA transit system in New York City next to the NYC Subway, Staten Island Railway & NYC Bus.
This Long Island RailRoad Branch would make my travel to work better .Because I work in Maspeth Queens where there's no Subway and the Bus service is very unreliable Q-67 B-24 witch runs every 30 min to hour wait or more. And there's a long walk to number 7 train. Witch is'nt a good look !!!!
Ironically the two people who used the Glendale station worked in that area too, but the five stops on this branch had practically no ridership when they closed in 1998. Unless the population of the areas they serve has boomed since or there is a way to connect it to Manhattan, it is highly unlikely passenger service will come back.
They should convert it into a bike path / running path. IT WOULD BE AN AMAZING WALK WITH VIEWS TO LIC!!! would connect some KEY neighborhoods and reduce congestion and increase health and wealth. Currently its used occasionaly by freight trains
+/- 1990 the summer Friday night Cannonballs to the East End left from LIC and traveled on the Lower Montauk to Jamaica. I think Hunter's Point Ave was being worked on.
So you are telling me that The MTA could not covert this into a subway line after 2012? I did not even know that the LIRR had stop having service there.
There was practically no ridership along this branch when it was abandoned. Each station only had 1-5 riders a day when they closed. Unless there is a way to link it to Manhattan, this branch will not likely be used a lot except maybe at Glendale and Haberman. I did a film project on this branch for school eight years ago and it is on my channel.
@@thesubwaynut2 Of course there were no ridership, because it was part of the LIRR , with only a few stops in Queens with no service to Manhattan. Who would pay a LIRR fare for that? This is why I said that the MTA should covert it to a subway line and connect it to another subway line in Long Island city via new tunnel connection. 7 (Flushing Line) around the Hunters Point Ave Station F (63 St) around Queensbridge Station E/M (53rd St) around Queens Plaza Station If the MTA can not covert it to a subway line because some of the line is on the street level (Grade Crossings) then they should covert this branch into MTA's first Light Rail line in NYC.
I explored a large portion of this track as i was in high school if you walk it long enough they park lirr trains aswell as have a depot for the freight tracks
The South Side Railroad did not open to LIC. The Flushing rail;road would not grant them the rights to cross their road. They could not build a trestle crossing Newtown Creek because it would interfere with barge traffic so it had to terminate at Buschwick Depot (Buschwick Ave and Meserole Street. It wasn't until the LIRR took over the SSRR just after the financial panic of 1873 that they connected it to the Hunters Point Ferry Terminal.
I used to use this branch I would take it to Long Island City walk a block north to the Vernon Blvd station number 7 train and take that one stop to Grand Central Station.
I saw this branch's stations in a LIRR timetable first in the 1960s and wondered how these stations in urban Queens could have so few trains. I didn't know the area then, living in Suffolk. I rode and then hiked the line in the late 1970s, and knew why. I never could find Glendale station's exact location (signs had disappeared) or understand how anyone would use remote Haberman or next-to-a cemetery Penny Bridge. Fresh Pond station was a long trek down stairs from Metropolitan Avenue. At least Richmond Hill was obtainable. Still had vintage lights and a sign or two. I actually attended a c.1996 public hearing in Glendale where LIRR officials listened to passionate pleas from the public to save the stations. (Which had to be scrapped or elevated at a cost to satisfy ADA.) So, as you explained so well, the line had an interesting history. And I participated to a very small extent!
I caught a New York Atlantic railway freight train on this line, the drivers of the NYAR are so nice. I’m happy they took over the line
I used to hang out on these tracks in Forest Park and been to that playground forever. This was interesting . I remember the old locomotives pulling the old LIRR cars. then 1 day they started using the new ones with the double deckers. Then only trash freight came through.
Fascinating. I wish they would revive this branch, along with other defunct lines, like the Rockaway branch, as they would give Queens residents more transportation alternatives.
We do tend to be in a transit desert.
Thank you for the video!
Half of Rockaway Beach branch from rego Park to ozone Park will be turn into a park.
Their actually reactivating the Rockaway Beach Branch.
1:15 That would explain why as a kid, I once saw an LIRR double decker traveling along the bridge over Newtown Creek, and why if you were to go to that bridge, there’s a stop sign sticking out between the tracks. Also, I was slightly disappointed when you didn’t mention the part of the abandoned LIRR car near the Montauk Cutoff, but I suppose that’s cause you’re more of a historian and less of an urban explorer. Still though, love this channel and it’s content.
this line was going to be bought and used by NYC Transit for the 63rd Street Connector now used by the F line.
In the late 70's and early 80's community groups along the line fought it though.
When I was a kid I'd go to the Fresh Pond Rd station during PM rush. I'd watch one train make a station stop and pick up just one passenger.
Of course community groups (called NIMBY's today) fought for it not to happen, which is why we can not get new service expansion in this city.
I rented a room in Richmond Hill and remember seeing a freight train on this branch in 2007. I was new to NY and didn’t know anything about this line. I definitely remember the old entrance to Richmond Hill station right under the J line.
You have a new subscriber from Texas though. I’ll be looking for your secrets next time I visit NYC.
I always take the j and peep the Richmond hill abandoned station all the time and I always wondered what happened
Low ridership and not enough money to update the station.
@@kenjiharima23nep91 very low ridership.
LIRR has been doing Brooklyn and Queens dirty since 1924. They have the most cut stations and branches for their entire territory and would benefit the most if they existed today.
I would love to see the bushwick branch! Could also help you with footage of some bits if you need
For my next video, I’m going to do the Central Railroad of Long Island so if you can get footage of that (like where the right of way would have been), I would really appreciate it. If you can’t, that’s fine.
You can email the footage to me at timothyc468@gmail.com
Awesome job!!! 👍
Nice i love these videos Keep it up they are so informational! 👍🔥
I've seen a number of these tracks around Queens and didn't think they were just unused. The abandoned station in full view from the J train, that one always made me a little curious. So thanks for answering those questions.
It’s a shame they closed it. That area in Glendale has almost no train transit.
Most business rely on the NYAR (the freight company that uses the track). Most of there trains stop in Glendale and it helps local businesses
Good job, except The South Side Railroad first operated between Jamaica and Patchogue. They wanted to expand to L.I.C but the L.I.R.R would not give them the rights to cross their ROW. Instead, they laid tracks from Jamaica to Bushwick Ave and Meserole St (Bushwick Depot) then eventually to S8 Street in Williamsburg. They did not go to Long Island City until the LIRR took them over.
Welp, the LIRR made there wish come true.
Would be cool if you did the wading River to Port Jefferson connection
Now the interboro Express it's supposed to utilize some of those abandoned tracks which is good!
The Interborough Express should utilize The Lower Montauk Branch as well, along with The Bay Ridge Branch & those abandoned branches in The Bronx to make The Interborough Express a new MTA transit system in New York City next to the NYC Subway, Staten Island Railway & NYC Bus.
This Long Island RailRoad Branch would make my travel to work better .Because I work in Maspeth Queens where there's no Subway and the Bus service is very unreliable Q-67 B-24 witch runs every 30 min to hour wait or more. And there's a long walk to number 7 train. Witch is'nt a good look !!!!
Ironically the two people who used the Glendale station worked in that area too, but the five stops on this branch had practically no ridership when they closed in 1998. Unless the population of the areas they serve has boomed since or there is a way to connect it to Manhattan, it is highly unlikely passenger service will come back.
cool video and do a video on lefferts blvd and do a station tour of the a line
You should try checking out the abandoned ALP-44s- or maybe the abandoned Lower Boonton Line.
They should convert it into a bike path / running path. IT WOULD BE AN AMAZING WALK WITH VIEWS TO LIC!!! would connect some KEY neighborhoods and reduce congestion and increase health and wealth. Currently its used occasionaly by freight trains
+/- 1990 the summer Friday night Cannonballs to the East End left from LIC and traveled on the Lower Montauk to Jamaica. I think Hunter's Point Ave was being worked on.
So you are telling me that The MTA could not covert this into a subway line after 2012? I did not even know that the LIRR had stop having service there.
There was practically no ridership along this branch when it was abandoned. Each station only had 1-5 riders a day when they closed. Unless there is a way to link it to Manhattan, this branch will not likely be used a lot except maybe at Glendale and Haberman. I did a film project on this branch for school eight years ago and it is on my channel.
@@thesubwaynut2 Of course there were no ridership, because it was part of the LIRR , with only a few stops in Queens with no service to Manhattan. Who would pay a LIRR fare for that? This is why I said that the MTA should covert it to a subway line and connect it to another subway line in Long Island city via new tunnel connection.
7 (Flushing Line) around the Hunters Point Ave Station
F (63 St) around Queensbridge Station
E/M (53rd St) around Queens Plaza Station
If the MTA can not covert it to a subway line because some of the line is on the street level (Grade Crossings) then they should covert this branch into MTA's first Light Rail line in NYC.
I explored a large portion of this track as i was in high school if you walk it long enough they park lirr trains aswell as have a depot for the freight tracks
I remember when Richmond hill station closed. abandoned track in Richmond hill by key food
Enjoyed the video. But "Maine Line"? I didn't think that the LIRR left New York.☺
Man it’s hard to comprehend a commuter train station in North America with less than 1 passenger a day. Bravo, Long Island City.
The irony is, LIC is a Manhattan-lite.
Hipsters don't take trains - they're only allowed to ride vintage bikes.
Where is the freight train go on the lower Montauk branch?
Do you have a roller coaster channel as well ?
Did the lower montauk go over metropolitan ave? Near fresh pond?
The South Side Railroad did not open to LIC. The Flushing rail;road would not grant them the rights to cross their road. They could not build a trestle crossing Newtown Creek because it would interfere with barge traffic so it had to terminate at Buschwick Depot (Buschwick Ave and Meserole Street. It wasn't until the LIRR took over the SSRR just after the financial panic of 1873 that they connected it to the Hunters Point Ferry Terminal.
I've been here many times
I used to use this branch I would take it to Long Island City walk a block north to the Vernon Blvd station number 7 train and take that one stop to Grand Central Station.
All that trouble just to go to the post office?
Was there a station at 88th Street in Glendale? or only 73th st
73rd
Maine line?
Guess it takes you north to Maine.