The Bethpage Branch was a branch of the

Long Island Rail Road The Long Island Rail Road , often abbreviated as the LIRR, is a commuter rail system in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, stretching from Manhattan to the eastern tip of Suffolk County, New York, Suffolk Co ...

(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 to present-day

Old Bethpage, New York Old Bethpage is a Hamlet (New York), hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located on Long Island in the Town of Oyster Bay, New York, Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, New York (state), New York, United States. The po ...

History

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 Garden City is a village located on Long Island in Nassau County New York. It is the Greater Garden City area's anchor community. The population was 23,272 at the 2020 census. The Incorporated Village of Garden City is primarily located within ...

. 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 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 d ...

). 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 through Huntington, Smithtown, and Port Jefferson 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. Today, the former right-of-way in part is occupied by a bridle path and Thomas Powell Boulevard.

Stations

References

External links

1873 map showing railways on Long Island

* ttp://www.trainsarefun.com/lirrphotos/photos/K4s-5406-Trn4229-B-Twr-Bethpage-5-11-47.jpg B-Tower May 11, 1947br>April 24, 1966

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July 1993

1952 Photo of Bethpage Junction

{{Clear Long Island Rail Road branches Transportation in Nassau County, New York Bethpage, New York Railway lines opened in 1873 Railway lines closed in 1942