Atlantic Branch

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Atlantic Branch
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerLong Island Rail Road
LocaleWestern Long Island, New York, USA
Termini
Stations8 passenger, 1 employee-only
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemLong Island Rail Road
Services
  City Terminal Zone
(Atlantic Shuttle)
  West Hempstead Branch
  Hempstead Branch
(Peak Only)
  
standard gauge
ElectrificationThird rail, 750 V DC
Route map

Legend
0.0 mi
0 km
 Atlantic Terminal
"2" train​"3" train​"4" train​"5" train​"B" train​"D" train"N" train​"Q" train​"R" train
Atlantic Avenue Viaduct
1.6 mi
2.6 km
 Nostrand Avenue
"A" train​"C" train
Bay Ridge Branch
4.0 mi
6.4 km
 East New York
"A" train​"C" train​"J" train​"L" train​"Z" train
Woodhaven (closed)
Woodhaven Junction (closed)
Clarenceville (closed)
Morris Park (closed)
Montauk Branch
to Long Island City
8.5 mi
13.7 km
Morris Park Facility (Boland's Landing)
Main Line
to Long Island City & Penn Station
Dunton (closed)
Zone 1
Zone 3
9.3 mi
15 km
 Jamaica
"E" train​​"J" train​"Z" train
Hempstead Oyster Bay Port Jefferson
Ronkonkoma Montauk via Main Line
Beaver Street
(closed)
South Street
(closed)
Cedar Manor (closed)
12.2 mi
19.6 km
 Locust Manor
Higbie Avenue (closed)
13.1 mi
21.1 km
 Laurelton
Montauk Branch
via St. Albans
14.0 mi
22.5 km
 Rosedale
Queens
Nassau
Zone 3
Zone 4
15.7 mi
25.3 km
 Valley Stream
Far Rockaway
West Hempstead
Babylon Long Beach via Montauk
Distances shown from Atlantic Terminal
This diagram:

The Atlantic Branch is an

rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. It is the only LIRR line with revenue passenger service in the borough of Brooklyn
.

The line consists of two sections constructed separately. The portion of the line from Atlantic Terminal to Jamaica was constructed as part of the

Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad and opened in 1836, while the portion from Jamaica to Valley Stream was constructed as part of the South Side Railroad of Long Island
in 1867.

Description

Partly underground and partly elevated, the Atlantic Branch runs from

Valley Stream station
.

The section between Atlantic Terminal and

Woodhaven Junction
is visible.

At 121st Street in

Valley Interlocking
in Valley Stream.

History

Woodhaven Junction
power substation

The current Atlantic Branch is the successor to two separate lines: the

Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad (opened 1836) along Atlantic Avenue from Flatbush Avenue to Jamaica, and the South Side Railroad of Long Island
(opened 1867) from Jamaica to Valley Stream.

Atlantic Terminal to Jamaica

See also:
Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad

The

Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad opened the line from South Ferry
to what is now 151st Street in Jamaica on April 18, 1836.

Initially the line turned halfway between Classon and Franklin Avenues, running halfway between Herkimer Street and Schuyler Street (now Atlantic Avenue) along the line of the present Herkimer Place. It turned slightly to the southeast near Howard Avenue, crossing the centerline of Schuyler Street about one-third of the way between Hopkinson Avenue (Thomas Boyland Street) and Paca Avenue (Rockaway Avenue). It crossed into the town of

New Lots just beyond Stone Avenue (Mother Gaston Boulevard).[2]

The Atlantic Branch was one of the first lines in the LIRR system slated to be electrified. In anticipation of this the entire line to Jamaica was to be grade separated. Between 1903 and 1905 the line was depressed into a tunnel from Flatbush Avenue to Bedford Avenue, then placed on an elevated viaduct from Bedford Avenue to Ralph Avenue then depressed back into a tunnel until Manhattan Crossing located just west of East New York station. At East New York the line returned to grade level then rose onto another elevated viaduct until Atkins Ave. The rest of the line from Atkins Ave to Morris Park located just west of Jamaica remained at grade level along Atlantic Avenue with numerous grade crossings with the anticipation of grade separating the line later on. Additionally a new terminal and yard was built at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues. Electric service commenced in 1905 with the line consisting of two tracks between Flatbush Avenue and

Woodhaven Junction
and four tracks beyond that point to Jamaica.

LIRR then ran two services along the line: the traditional commuter type services from points on eastern Long Island to Flatbush Avenue, along with what was called the "local" rapid transit type service, frequent elevated/subway like service at lower fare between Flatbush Ave and Queens Village (although referred to as a rapid transit type service, standard LIRR cars were used, and the service was operated by railroad rules, as opposed to rapid transit). At this time the line from Jamaica to East New York had many more stations along Atlantic Avenue spaced at closer intervals, much like an elevated/subway rapid transit line. The four tracks between Jamaica and Woodhaven Junction lent itself to this service with rapid transit trains using the outer two tracks while commuter trains used the inner two tracks.

In November 1925, 25 "local" trains left Brooklyn each weekday for Queens Village, 12 more ran to Hillside, and 16 more ran to Jamaica. All trains made all stops, 15 of them west of Queens Village. Fare was probably 10 cents for 13 miles Queens Village to Brooklyn, compared to about 40 cents on "express" LIRR trains making six or seven stops (but a monthly ticket good on any train was $7.10).

For a while the LIRR operated joint service along the Atlantic Branch with the

Penn Station). Nevertheless, the Interstate Commerce Commission
ended this service in 1916 when they classified different operating standards between rapid transit trains (such as BRT trains) and regular heavy rail railroads (such as the LIRR).

By the late 1930s, it was clear that the rest of the line needed to be grade separated. Much of the surrounding area along Atlantic Avenue in

Ozone Park and Richmond Hill
began their suburban development leading to more traffic along Atlantic Avenue which was plagued by the line's many grade crossings. The City of New York along with the LIRR thus allocated the funds to depress the rest of the line from Morris Park to East New York in a tunnel. Building of the tunnel commenced in 1939 (although plans to build the tunnel date back to 1893) with two of the line's four tracks being pulled out of service and the rapid transit service being discontinued.

Replacement of the Atlantic Avenue Viaduct at Nostrand Avenue in July 2011

On December 28, 1942,[3] the tunnel was completed and opened with the two remaining at-grade tracks pulled out of service. Around this time Atlantic Avenue was raised over the East New York station via a viaduct that separated the road and the railroad. The elevated trestle from East New York to Atkins Avenue was also demolished as it had been included in the new tunnel to Jamaica. Only one station was included in the new tunnel: Woodhaven Junction, where the Atlantic Branch crossed under the Rockaway Beach Branch. An interlocking and track connection was built just west of the Woodhaven Junction station to connect the two lines, but these closed after the abandonment of the Rockaway Beach Branch between 1955 and 1962.

Jamaica to Valley Stream

See also: South Side Railroad of Long Island

The portion east of Jamaica was opened by the

Springfield stations.[4][5] This formed the current configuration, where the Montauk Branch
follows this route, mostly ex-South Side, and the Atlantic Branch (then the Old Southern Road) uses the old South Side to Springfield Junction.

The line was soon reopened due to a lawsuit, but closed again by Austin Corbin as of January 6, 1881.[6]

Effective May 17, 1906, when an

Montauk Division from Springfield Junction to Valley Stream, the Old Southern Road and this new track became part of the Atlantic Division.[7]

Grade-crossing elimination work between Laurelton and Jamaica began in May 1958.[8]

Stations

East of Valley Stream, the Far Rockaway Branch continues to Far Rockaway and the Long Beach Branch continues to Long Beach.

As of February 27, 2023, the Atlantic Terminal, Nostrand Avenue, and East New York stations are primarily served by a shuttle running between Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica. These stations are also served by trains on the West Hempstead Branch, as well as a limited number of weekday trains on the Hempstead and Babylon branches. Other trains traveling east of Jamaica run to Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, or Long Island City.[9][10]

Zone[11] Location Services Station
Miles (km)
 Date
opened 		Date
closed 		Connections / notes
AT FR LB
1
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn South Ferry
Henry Street
Clinton Street
Pacific Park, Brooklyn ● Atlantic Terminal Disabled access 0.0 (0.0)[12] 1877
New York City Bus: B37, B41, B45, B63, B65, B67
, B103
Originally named Flatbush Avenue
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Vanderbilt Avenue 1877[13] before 1890[14]
Washington Avenue c. 1878[15] before 1890
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Grand Avenue 1877[13] c. 1878[15]
Bedford 1.2 (1.9)[14] c. 1842[16] c. 1900[12] Formerly Franklin Avenue; Connected to the
Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railway
● Nostrand Avenue Disabled access 1.6 (2.6)[14] 1877[13] Long Island Rail Road: Atlantic Terminal shuttle, West Hempstead Branch, Babylon Branch (limited service), Hempstead Branch (limited service)
New York City Subway:
B44 SBS, B65
, B49
Brooklyn Avenue 1877[13] before 1890[17]
Kingston Avenue
Albany Avenue 1877[13] before 1890
Troy Avenue 2.3 (3.7)[14] 1877[13][17] c. 1899[14]
Schenectady Avenue c. 1878[15] before 1890
Utica Avenue 2.6 (4.2)[14] 1877[13][17] c. 1899[14]
Rochester Avenue 1877[13] before 1890
Ralph Avenue 1877[13] before 1890
Brownsville, Brooklyn Saratoga Avenue
Hopkinson Avenue 1877[13] c. 1878[15]
Rockaway Avenue c. 1878[15] before 1890
East New York, Brooklyn
Stone Avenue 1877[13] c. 1878[15]
● East New York 4.0 (6.4)[14] c. 1848[18] Long Island Rail Road: Atlantic Terminal shuttle, West Hempstead Branch, Babylon Branch (limited service), Hempstead Branch (limited service)
New York City Subway:
Q56

Originally named Manhattan Beach Railroad Crossing
Howard House
 4.1 (6.6)[14] c. 1843[19] 1905 Originally named East New York
Pennsylvania Avenue
Wyckoff Avenue c. 1878[20]
Bradford Avenue 1899[14][21]
Van Siclen Avenue c. 1878[22]
Warwick Street 4.9 (7.9)[23] 1905 1939[24]
Linwood Street 5.0 (8.0)[14] c. 1878[15] c. 1899[14] Originally named Van Wicklens
Norwood Avenue 5.3 (8.5)[14] c. 1890[17] 1915[25]
Cypress Hills, Brooklyn
 Cypress Avenue c. 1853[26] c. 1890[17]
Cypress Hills c. 1849[27]
Autumn Avenue 5.8 (9.3)[12] 1905 1939[25] Originally Railroad Avenue
Adamsville 1872[25][28] 1876[25]
City Line
Woodhaven, Queens Unionville
Union Course 6.3 (10.1)[12] c. 1842[29] 1939[25]
Woodhaven
 6.7 (10.8)[14] c. 1848[30] 1939[25] Originally named Woodville
Trotting Course Lane 1837[25] 1842[25]
Woodhaven Junction
 7.2 (11.6)[14] c. 1890[17] 1977[31]
Richmond Hill, Queens
Chester Park
Clarenceville
 7.8 (12.6)[14] c. 1874[28] 1939[25]
Lefferts Avenue c. 1867 1870[25]
Morris Park
 8.1 (13.0)[14] c. 1890[17] 1939[25]
Morris Grove
 1878 1886
●
Boland's Landing
 8.5 (13.7)[1] 1889 Long Island Rail Road: Atlantic Terminal shuttle
Employee-only station to serve the Morris Park Facility
Berlin
Berlin Junction
Dunton
 8.9 (14.3)[14] 1869 1939 Originally named Berlin, then Van Wyck Avenue
3 Jamaica, Queens ● ● ● Jamaica Disabled access 9.3 (15.0)[1] 1836 Long Island Rail Road: Atlantic Terminal shuttle,
n4
AirTrain JFK
: Jamaica Station Route
Beaver Street
 9.6 (15.4)[12] 1867 1913 Also known as
Jamaica—Beaver Street
South Street
 1917 1922
South Jamaica, Queens Cedar Manor 10.8 (17.4)[12] 1906 1959 Originally named Power Place
Locust Manor, Queens ● ●† Locust Manor 12.2 (19.6)[1] 1869 New York City Bus:
Q85
, QM21
Originally named Locust Avenue
† Served by Far Rockaway Branch weekdays, Long Beach Branch weekends
Springfield Gardens, Queens Higbie Avenue 12.6 (20.3)[12] 1908 1960 Originally named Springfield
Springfield
 1867 1906
Laurelton, Queens ● ●† Laurelton 13.1 (21.1)[12] 1907 New York City Bus:
Q85

Originally named Central Avenue
† Served by Far Rockaway Branch weekdays, Long Beach Branch weekends
Rosedale, Queens ● ●† Rosedale 14.0 (22.5)[1] New York City Bus:
Q85
, X63
Originally named Foster's Meadow
† Served by Far Rockaway Branch weekdays, Long Beach Branch weekends
4 Valley Stream ● ● Valley Stream Disabled access 15.7 (25.3)[12] 1869 Long Island Rail Road: West Hempstead Branch
Nassau Inter-County Express:
n1
, Elmont Flexi

See also

  • Lower Manhattan-Jamaica/JFK Transportation Project
    – A defunct proposal to use the LIRR Atlantic Branch in a new direct JFK connection to Lower Manhattan

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Long Island Rail Road (May 14, 2012). "TIMETABLE No. 4" (PDF). p. VI. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  2. ^ Joseph Hutchins Colton, Map of the city of Brooklyn, 1849, NYPL Digital Image ID: 434722
  3. ^
  4. ^ Vincent F. Seyfried, The Long Island Rail Road: A Comprehensive History, Part One: South Side R.R. of L.I., © 1961
  5. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . June 27, 1876. p. 2.
  6. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . February 22, 1881. p. 4.
  7. ^ Employee timetable, May 17, 1906
  8. ^ Raudenbush, Henry (May 1958). "Tidbits" (PDF). The New York Division Bulletin. 1 (1): 3.
  9. ^ "LIRR full service begins Monday, 2/27, at Grand Central Madison; train schedules to change". ABC7 New York. February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  10. ^ Castillo, Alfonso A. (February 26, 2023). "East Side Access completed, LIRR riders get full service to Grand Central Madison Monday". Newsday. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  11. ^ "New Fares — Effective April 21, 2019". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i Employee timetable, May 17, 1906
  13. ^
    Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . August 12, 1877. p. 4.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Employee timetable, June 28, 1899
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Employee timetable, November 4, 1878
  16. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . May 13, 1842. p. 2.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Employee timetable, June 24, 1890
  18. ^ Timetable
  19. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . March 4, 1843. p. 3.
  20. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . November 22, 1878. p. 4.
  21. ^ Employee timetable, September 17, 1899
  22. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . November 14, 1878. p. 4.
  23. ^ Employee timetable, September 20, 1905
  24. ^ LIRR Notice for November 1, 1939
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Long Island Railroad Station History" (PDF). August 12, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  26. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . June 16, 1853. p. 4.
  27. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . April 9, 1849. p. 2.
  28. ^ a b Timetable, November 8, 1874
  29. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . October 3, 1842. p. 3.
  30. ^ Timetable, May 1, 1848
  31. ^ Nassivera, Joan (December 29, 1976). "LIRR Ending Service To Woodhaven Jan. 7". Newsday. Hempstead, New York. Retrieved July 15, 2021.

External links

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