Just wondering if anyone here remembers the early 1950s train stops along the Far Rockaway line? As I see it, after doing a lot of searching, is that prior to 1950, the LIRR had a train which went thru Jamaica Bay and ended up in Rockaway Park (Beach 116th street). A seperate train ran through Valley Stream, etc to Far Rockaway. After they stopped the Jamaica Bay run due to a couple of fires, my question is whether the Far Rockaway (The East end of Rockaway) train continued on to Rockaway Park (The West end). After riding the LIRR for 8 years solid, attending High School and College in Brooklyn, I heard the following refrain about 1000 times, so it is ingrained in my memory more than anything my teachers tried to stuff in there.
" This train stops at Cedar Manor, Locust Manor, Higbie Avenue, Laurelton, Rosedale, Valley Stream, Gibson, Hewlett, Woodmere, Cedarhurst, Lawrence, Inwood & Far Rockaway."
But also in that memory, are similar sequences that end with "Rockaway Park". I just can't fill in the details. A look at a 1954 timetable would clarify it. I saw info saying that the last passenger train Far Rockaway to Rockaway Park was 10/2/55.
Pretty sure you're right-- after the trestle fire circa 1950 they ran Valley Stream to Rockaway Park.
Before the fire, trains would run NY Penn to Valley Stream to Far Rock and back to NY Penn via the bay. Connect at Ozone Park with the Rockaway Park to Brooklyn train.
I thnk they did run all the way down the branch at first. Then when they were able to sell the Rockaway line to the city subway system, they made the last stop at Far Rockaway while the MTA runs across Jamaica Bay to both Far Rockaway and the Rockaway Park ("A" train). But there is about a quarter to half mile between LIRR Far Rockawy and A train Far Rockaway stations. Have taken tours along all routes within the last two or three years. LIRR TO A train is a bad neighborhood walk and not reccomended at night especially, and definitely not alone.
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In high school, Columbia Grammar Preparatory in Manhattan, I served two years as the student Football team manager, and took responsibility for transportation. Both years we played Woodmere Academy. There were two different routes to use from Penn Station to Woodmere. But five different train services. One could to Woodmere via Valley Stream, the juction with the line to Babylon and Montauk (and also with a branch to Long Beach), on either a train to Rockaway Park, or a train that would simply go around the loop, back thorugh Ozone Park, ending up either back at Penn Station or at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues in Brooklyn. In addition to these three services, one could go across Jamaica Bay, through Far Rockaway, to Woodmere, on a train that would end up back at Penn Station or, again, via Jamaica, to Atlantic and Flatbush in Brooklyn.
After the fire, the LIRR continued to serve Rockaway Park, with trains from both Brooklyn and Penn Station, all via Valley Stream and Far Rockaway. The line was cut back to the LIRR Far Rorckaway station just before construction began on rebuilding the line across Jamaica Bay for the subway system. To me, the back between the two Far Rockaway stations is a typical New York City discgrace. At the same time the remaining Jamaica Bay service, two rush hour trains from Ozone Park to Penn in the AM and from Penn to Ozone Park in the PM was ended. This was the last place the original steel cars, the MP-47 "Gibbs Cars" were used on the LIRR.
daveklepperAfter the fire, the LIRR continued to serve Rockaway Park, with trains from both Brooklyn and Penn Station, all via Valley Stream and Far Rockaway. The line was cut back to the LIRR Far Rorckaway station just before construction began on rebuilding the line across Jamaica Bay for the subway system. To me, the back between the two Far Rockaway stations is a typical New York City discgrace. At the same time the remaining Jamaica Bay service, two rush hour trains from Ozone Park to Penn in the AM and from Penn to Ozone Park in the PM was ended. This was the last place the original steel cars, the MP-47 "Gibbs Cars" were used on the LIRR.
My daughter pointed out that I must have heard the conductor say his phrase 1440 times: 180 school days times 8 years. It is unlikely I would remember something from before 1950 when the trains traveled through Jamaica Bay, but there would be the period from 1952 when I started traveling the LIRR and 1955 when they stopped going past Far Rockaway. (Which I think my friends pronounced "Far a Rockaway") Then he would have mentioned, possibly, Edgemere, Rockaway Beach, Playland?, and Rockaway Park. I found a picture someone posted elsewhere, of an MP-54 at Rockaway Park. I don't know whether it got there via the Bay or from Far Rockaway.
henry6 wrote:
"LIRR TO A train is a bad neighborhood walk and not reccomended at night especially, and definitely not alone."
I can see the gap using Google Earth. But way back when, I am sure the tracks were connected. Presently it looks like the LIRR tracks are at ground level, while the Subway tracks are elevated.At the time the Google picture was taken, you can see trains at each terminus.
The 4/52 weekday timetable shows 22 trains Brooklyn to Rockaway Park, and 12 trains NY Penn to Rockaway Park with 8 more to start on 23 June (summer-only service I assume). There were 11 trains each weekday from NY Penn to Hamilton Beach; at some point those got pruned back to Ozone Park, and the last train NY Penn to Ozone Park ended in 1961 or 1962.
timzThe 4/52 weekday timetable shows 22 trains Brooklyn to Rockaway Park, and 12 trains NY Penn to Rockaway Park with 8 more to start on 23 June (summer-only service I assume). There were 11 trains each weekday from NY Penn to Hamilton Beach; at some point those got pruned back to Ozone Park, and the last train NY Penn to Ozone Park ended in 1961 or 1962.
Do you actually have the 1952 timetable? That most likely has the station sequence I am looking for. I know how it goes from Jamaica to Far Rockaway, but could you fill in the blanks between that and Rockaway Park? Is this timetable on line anywhere? I have been looking all over for it.
The system public timetable for 27 Apr 1952 shows the following-- mileages are from NY Penn, presumably via the Atlantic Branch.
22.9 Far Rock
23.6 Wave Crest (Beach 25th St)
24.0 Edgemere (Beach 35th St)
24.5 Frank Ave (Beach 44th St)
25.2 Arverne (Straiton Ave) (Beach 60th St)
25.6 Arverne (Gaston Ave) (Beach 67th St)
26.6 Holland (Beach 90th St)
27.0 Playland (Beach 98th St)
27.4 Seaside (Beach 106th St)
28.1 Rockaway Park (Beach 116th St)
timzThe system public timetable for 27 Apr 1952 shows the following-- mileages are from NY Penn, presumably via the Atlantic Branch. ...
Thank you for taking the time. The sequence does not yet sound familiar, but it is probably rattling around in my brain (or whats left of it) somewhere.
At the end of the list of stations, the conductor would say "All others change at Jamaica".
There are subway stations at each of the former LIRR stations today. Of course the tracks were connected. Many of the subway stations along the beach were the LIRR stations, since most of the line was elevated. All the trains I rode as football manager 1947-1949 were MP-54's, mostly the arch roof types, but occasionally a railroad roof. Hamels wye is still occasionally used by revenue trains and is a popular route for subway fan trips (to run Rockaway Park - Far Rockaway or reverse).
IT is still a fun ride for railfans today...I have incorporated the old line into my group railfan rides in NYC...either via the LIRR to Far Rockaway and walk to the "A" train, or just the "A" and "S" trains via Howard Beach. Anyone wanting to join one of my trips or wants a listing of trips, let me know.
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