LONG ISLAND'S HIDDEN HISTORY - EPISODE 1

Long Island - We love it, we hate it, we are all too familiar with it. But no matter how many times you've sat in traffic on the Southern State Parkway, you may have never noticed some piece's of Long Island's history hiding right in plain sight.
Installment 1 of this Docu-Series explores some hidden relics of Long Island's railroading past.
Instagram: / christianbarbamedia
Facebook: / christianbarbamedia
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[@memonk11]

It amazes me that at one time you could actually use the Long Island Rail Road to get around Long Island.

[@Epck]

XD

[@justynjonn]

Right?

[@ramencurry6672]

I think you can take a bus to Jones beach though

[@BikerDad49]

Thanks for sharing this fascinating history. I grew up in Mineola and still recall some freight service running on the Hempstead and Central branches. Also attended a Boy Scout/Cub Scout jamboree in Mitchell Field, 1960.

[@MetroCollectablesandvlogs]

Miss it, really thinking about moving bk. I know it has it's down falls, but all places do

[@iamken716]

Love these videos dude! Keep them coming!!!

[@erikalynnpennella2667]

Great job!!! Thx!!

[@incrediblesimilarity5858]

Very informative and entertaining. I must give you credit for doing great research work and putting together a great presentation. You obviously put a lot of research into this project before you upload it to KZbin. Great photographs, great maps, and wonderful explanations. Your use of those color moving lines made the route easy to follow as you explained it. Again congratulations with your serious dedication to the LIRR history. 👍👍

[@paulhenderson1462]

The video would be better without the loud background synthesized music. I can barely hear the commentary.

[@chartwel1990]

Went to NCC '71-'73 and watched the Ringling train move into position as close to the coliseum as possible. Thank you for including the Central RR. I learned a lot.

[@foxecho727]

Very informative, the best source of the Abandoned Rails, and Mitchel field I have seen in a long time.

[@paulmokidespaul5347]

We wish we were still there.

[@moshiach2]

Wow! I live walking distance to the West Hempstead stop and never knew there was right-of-way going so much further! Thank you!

[@saulchapnick1566]

Yes. Growing up in West Hempstead in the 60s you could see the trail went much further than the terminus.

[@andrewjaus6567]

Well done

[@ChristianBarba]

Thank you sir

[@gallosworldofexploring2390]

I recently made a short video of some abandoned railroad tracks i found just outside Roosevelt field.

[@rty1955]

As an emmy award editor I just want to say that this was VERY well put together. I went along at a good pace, the V/O was done clearly with bed music at the right levels. I saw all 5 parts I subscribed!!

[@ChristianBarba]

Thank you so much!!!

[@ChrisBarnesComedy]

I live on beech street in garden city next to the parking lot of Hempstead crossing. Had no idea it’s history.

[@elsi54098]

I live on Long island in Nassau county

[@danielcohn3338]

There’s a lot of history about the old motor Parkway

[@ChristianBarba]

Check out Episode 3!!!

[@michaelstewart3719]

That's not an abandoned train car, it's an old construction trailer

[@jackilynpyzocha662]

Whether or not Amityville's alleged haunted house is so, is still steeped in murder. I couldn't live there in that house. Even if you paid me. I still like the original movie.

[@lescobrandon3047]

A lot of this has changed since the video was produced. It needs updating.

[@ChristianBarba]

What are you referring to? I am going to revisit all past episodes in a future video and would like to include anything that has changed. Thanks!

[@lescobrandon3047]

@@ChristianBarba - I just watched the video again and apologize. As a retired Nassau Police officer, I had had training at the Mitchell NCPD training facility, mostly for EVOC, (Emergency Vehicle Operation Course) where Federal and other law enforcement agencies trained alongside us. The facility has been gone for years now. That was the only update needed but had attracted my attention because of my prior professional service. Again, sorry.

[@GUANAKOFERRAGAMO]

🤘🏽😈💰

[@birdeljackson9263]

I was part of the Nassau County Public Works Dept survey crew in 1965 who surveyed parts of Mitchell Field prior to the construction of the coliseum. I also took summer classes at NCC that same summer.

[@ejreagan]

Great job, however, I think you're looking at a motorhome and not a train car at Mitchel Field.

[@travisburgjr]

Watching from Babylon

[@mrmrlee]

Excellent presentation, I only have one difference of opinion as to the object shown at 9:31, as a railroad buff I believe it is not in fact a rail car but a construction trailer which was abandoned, coincidentally on the train tracks. The various angles showing how it was constructed and particularly the rubber tired trailer wheels and the lack of any railroad style trucks with steel wheels along with a lack of couplers, and being of far too lightweight construction clearly demonstrate that this is a road vehicle, not a railcar.

[@juanap2230]

I grew up in long island,Ny. And loved taking the LIRR into Manhattan.

[@magyaradam8957]

I went there for holiday from Australia and I also like to taking the train from Long Island to Manhattan and then go for a walk around and get some food

[@ramencurry6672]

Much easier than driving

[@lideadhead]

Used to take the buses to the mall there in late 80/ early 90 as a teen. We would walk the abandoned tracks and break the windows of the abandoned warehouses around there. Still live here and it looks pretty much deleted except for that overpass. Lowes is now on the east side of that bridge.

[@maryburke3607]

I work by NCC and walk around the campus on my lunch hour. It's like stepping through a time machine. Great video!

[@leonardodalongisland]

As an Islander stepped in our history (and trying to make a first-of-its kind) documentary about the history of LI: Thanks for this. well done.

[@linlee5162]

Just watched a Bay House video, ….mind blown again, !!!leafing so much from YT!🤓💜👌🏼

[@tomy.1846]

I remember when LIRR #35 was sitting out by the end of the Mitchel Field extension in the early 90s before moving to Oyster Bay! Interesting area and a great video!!

[@linlee5162]

🤓Omg… thank you for such a great piece of history, that’s why Roosevelt Field is like that…..mind blown! I’m a 70’s baby from Mineola., I didn’t know. Thank you again! 👍🏼

[@RandyZimmerman-pp5wj]

I grew up in Franklin square in the 60s 70s now live in Florida miss long island ❤

[@adammiller2246]

I have fond memories of Mitchel Field. When I was a kid in 1969, a friend at the time brought 2 go-carts. We rode them fom Juniper ave in Mineola to the Mitchell. We had all of the run ways to our selves back then. Thanks, Bob for the fun. . Would like to see an episode on Mitchell.

[@richardbennett4365]

I think the author of the script forgot what he was writing, or his/her mind slipped, because what does "hidden in plain sight" mean? If something is hidden, then it isn't by definition of the word in plain sight. It would be visible if in plain sight.

[@elsi54098]

The music very relaxing not gonna lie Also what's the music called

[@Narrowgaugefilms]

I grew up in Garden City South (Nassau Blvd. was our home station). When I was a little kid, I remember the tracks south to West Hempstead and north to Mineola being in place through the windows of my Parents' car when we went shopping in Hempstead, West Hempstead or out to Roosevelt field. They disappeared right around the same time: I estimate 1969, although how reliable a one-time seven year old is as a witness is up to you! I remember the spur curving south from the Central Extension too, but that was late 1970s into the 1980s. LIRR #35 was at the end of this spur for several years after she was removed from Eisenhower Park. I was once there with several teenage friends and we talked to the volunteers working on her. Not very long afterwards, she started to look kind of abandoned and I took note of her whenever I drove past. Today I live in East Northport: let me tell you about the Northport Spur sometime! (My son and I ride bikes on the rail-trail there!)

[@nikmills]

Very interesting. Well done. But I hope further episodes leave out their musical score. It's so loud and distracting. Totally unnecessary too.

[@John-ny5vh]

Left in 83 to join the service...

[@John-ny5vh]

Long Island was a great place to grow up

[@jasonjohnson1690]

That was great man, love to see what used to be once upon a time. Thank you.

[@gallosworldofexploring2390]

at 9:40 that is not a train car but a mobile office trailer.

[@Bandolero8000]

Super interesting! I always wondered about those tracks by NCCC.

[@charlesgreene9467]

Very nice well researched post. Narrator is far above the pack. I would like to add that the CRRLI terminated at the Babylon Boat Dock on Fire Island Ave and later in the 1870’s it terminated at Patchogue. The LIRR line from Mineola to Valley Stream once hosted a round trip summer Sunday train between Oyster Bay to Rockaway Park 1893 to 1824. Later when the line was electrified in 1926 there were frequent loop trains beginning in Jamaica via Valley Stream, Hempstead Crossing, Mineola, Floral Park and back to Jamaica, running in either direction.

[@michaelbarba9666]

Awesome stuff! Need one about Sweet Hollow Road next

[@michaelkoukos5396]

Scary!

[@bebebrez-kal9136]

That's where I grew up in the 60s and the 70s

[@themisstra7708]

Hi do you have any information on Coram NY. It’s always a dead end for me in information.

[@rontroy3843]

Please, ease off on the music - hard to hear voice over it. And 'Beloved' LIRR? Not for commuters.

[@FirstNameLastName-kt3zn]

This is fascinating. When I was a kid, sometimes I would bike from Baldwin to Roosevelt Field, and I would travel over that rail bridge. I never knew what it was for.

[@pilates68]

I’m not so sure that the abandoned railroad car you identify is actually a railroad car. It looks like an abandoned office trailer made of wood and aluminum siding. Though it might share a similar shape and length, that’s definitely not a rail car.

[@hollyalbro6081]

Genuinely enjoyed this

[@ChristianBarba]

Thank you!!! ❤️

[@mikeviscome4491]

VERY ANOYING MUSIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE THE SHOW.

[@rickzoehfeld6679]

You are doing a marvelous job Chris. Happened upon your video browsing KZbin. Born in Woodmere I am retired now n Miami Florida, however, grew up in Hicksville. The LIRR ran near my block next to Frumman Aircraft ACompany. As kids played alot along the tracks. I remember the old Mitchel Field AF Base. My Uncle flew out of there in a BooxCar to South Korea with the USMC .We hope you do a segment on the North Branch of the LIRR which took you to Oyster Bay... Keep up the good work!..

[@pegk789]

Looking forward to more episodes. Thank you.

[@georgiavanhouten9360]

I grew up in North sea,A Community North Of Southampton village,Precious and painful memories ,Would'nt trade it for anything,Thank you for this,I subbed

[@bassmonk2920]

Music is too loud

[@deejay4170]

That was great and it brought back a lot of memories.keep them coming.

[@philliplyn2692]

Loving this one thanks for sharing very information blessed love to all knowledge is power hopefully everyone pays attention keep up the good work 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@ras124]

Dude, there's heavy traffic everywear

[@Hendo614]

Fabulous memories of life there. Miss

[@liamwelsh7837]

Salisbury hamlet native

[@kevino3129]

Can't thank you enough for this trip down memory lane. Grew up just west of Mitchell Field in the 50's through mid 60's. We used to hop the fence to get casings from the shooting range. Feeling a bit melancholy missing those days.

[@billconserva1461]

Music is a bit to loud, we care about the history, more than music.

[@VirginiaWolf88]

Great Video. Love the photos.

[@shoesandahs]

I grew up in Mineola and Garden City in the 50s and 60s. I remember Mitchell Field when it was still in operation. I remember the shuttles going to Roosevelt Raceway on the Commercial Avenue tracks. I also remember when the LIRR bridge over Mineola Blvd had a huge smear of a black stain from coal powered steam engines that sat underneath the bridge when the trains were in the station. This has been a journey down the back roads of my memory. Thank you for putting the series together.

[@sumanhome]

Very informative and well-made video. I’ve read elsewhere that the portion of old runway on the current NCC property just north of Lindbergh Boulevard (where I believe you mentioned the new police academy is being built) was where they shot the infamous Sonny Corleone assassination scene from The Godfather. I didn’t really believe it until I saw a still photo of the scene on IMDB which clearly showed the Coliseum in the background (but that angle shot was left out of the movie for obvious reasons).

[@Xac7idX]

do u live on this island???

[@terrencegillon]

This was fantastic! Looking forward to more episodes. I will say that the background music is a bit eerie, though.

[@docfmb1]

Agreed, no reason for that music, its a distraction.

[@SamRossman]

Agreed, I was sure the entire video was leading up to describing a grizzly murder. It's also too loud with respect to the narration.

[@banhouse]

"Beloved Long Island Rail Road"... That's generous

[@ChristianBarba]

Lol. Much sarcasm embedded in that line

[@jackgerien6210]

Really enjoyed. Great work. Would love to see a partner piece covering the CRRLI from Flushing to Babylon. One of the first complete pieces of rail to run from the north west shore to the south East shore, from Queens to Suffolk. Nicely done, can’t wait for more.

[@chriswhelan3412]

My wife was born at Mitchell Field hospital in 1954 and in 1975 she got her military spouse's ID card just after I joined the Navy. Great series and very well written and produced.

[@neverforget3940]

The hospital building still stands.

[@davidkastin4240]

Good ole Levittown where I grew up in the 70s ☺

[@1superloki]

Well done

[@happyfreeliferc]

The "DEVILS BELT "

[@rei793]

Awesome stuff brother

[@strongisland9268]

Pretty cool to see that. I grew up in that area. Looking forward to the next one

[@AlphaOne2009]

You did an awesome job!

[@christineamodeo920]

Unfortunately when the old was abandoned, it was left just to decay! NY is a state of ruins! 😱 I left LI 27 years ago and glad I did. Just look at what is going on today.😟

[@oldtimedrumcorps]

Same here 30 yrs ago lived there for 40 yrs . Went to visit Jan '20 What a dump . Family still there , that I miss and what it once was .There is soo much better and they dont even realize it .

[@whitenas]

Agreed

[@suzannemistretta9275]

amazing!

[@vpfluke]

I used to walk frequently on my lunch hour from MTA Long Island Bus to the NCC campus, Hofstra, and surrounding areas. 1997-2017.

[@billy1673]

I was born and raised in Syosset, and even went to Nassau CC. I moved off Long Island 24 years ago. This video is making me homesick. Very cool history that even I didn’t know! Well done.

[@susyshepard320]

Good video but I wish the music wasn't there it makes it difficult to hear what he's saying.

[@ifazhowl5381]

Awesome!

[@matirose9174]

10:04 That piece of runway, after I got to know some scene of Godfather was shot there, I went there once in 2015. The google satellite at that time shows there is plenty of tire tracks on that piece of runway, probably people do drifting or donut there. When I got there, the gate was locked. The outer ring part of road there, I always use that road to get to DJ's buffet. Then at some point the road was blocked.

[@bobphe]

Enjoyed this, well done!

[@Traderjoe]

For years I have been trying to find information on a zeppelin airport that existed and which the Hindenburg had landed at prior to flying off to New Jersey where it exploded. It was either in Mineola or near the area that’s now Holy Rood cemetery.

[@jeep-gw5so]

You may be confusing the Hindenburg with the British Airship R-34 That landed at Roosevelt Field July 6-9 1919. after it's transatlantic crossing, the first dirigible to do so. Special concrete and iron anchors were constructed to moor the 643 foot long dirigible and 4 spectator areas and grandstands were also constructed. The rectangular landing field measured one and half mile north and south and one half mile east and west. A series of 20 ton, concrete mooring blocks sunk eight feet deep, seven feet across, and flush with the earth were staggered in the shape of an 8000 foot equilateral triangle. An iron ring with steel cables to hold the R-34 is set in the center of each block. It was estimated over 100,000 people saw the ship's arrival and 3 day stay. The mooring was between old country road and Stewart Ave. basically running north south approximately in the Zeckendorf Blvd area between Fortunoff Way and East Gate Blvd. I am sure those concrete blocks were never removed and still lie somewhere beneath the industrial/commercial developed landscape. To my knowledge the Hindenburg never landed anywhere else in the US except for Lakehurst NJ, including 10 times in 1936, prior to its disastrous demise in May 1937. Excerpts from my forthcoming book on the history of Mitchel Field "Beneath the Shadow of Wings" Untold stories from Mitchel Field. Copyright 2021 by Paul R. Martin III mitchelfield.weebly.com/

[@kathleenkupinsky7455]

Very interesting! I look forward to more episodes.

[@DJTV30]

Immediately my favorite series on the platform. Thank you!

[@8721superboat]

Nice work!

[@eddiekay9019]

Wonderful.

[@americanpatriot9225]

Great documentary. Having gone to NCC over many years Ive noticed the many sites, if not all of them including the train car. I had friends live in the military housing connected to NCC I can attest to their upkeep and grandeur. Active duty members of the Marine Corps Reserve unit 2-25 near by live in those grand homes till this day and they are very well preserved. Keep up the good work.

[@SloopADoopy]

Fantastic video! Went to Hofstra and was one of the few people that knew the link back to Mitchell Field.

[@nancylyon7317]

Thank you! Looking forward to another episode.

[@ChristianBarba]

Thank you!!

[@jimjohnson8079]

Cool video. Thanks!

[@DayTrippingAdventurer]

Great video series! Totally the vibe I was attempting to achieve in my Merrick Road video, the history that is hidden right in front of your eyes and often over looked. You just accomplished it far better than I was. I grew up playing in what we called 'The Woods' in Bethpage which used to the, I believe, the Old Motor Parkway and riding on the Train I was always curious about the old unused rail lines I'd see out the window. So, I have a life long interest in the old grown over routes all over the Island. Great work, keep it up.

[@vwandtiny3769]

thank you from a smithtown native...

[@nickyz_5532]

sick brother

[@ladytame1130]

Thank you for this informative video. I work in one of the buildings along Charles Lindbergh Blvd and see these sites quite often. I drive along these paths often as I both live and work in Uniondale. Nice to have the history of the area.

[@karenmend8066]

Love these LI videos thanks for doing them!

[@Schil517]

This is amazing!! I work near Hofstra/Commercial Ave and always wondered what the deal with the abandoned tracks was. Sharing it for sure!

[@billymuellerTikTok]

great content - keep it up. the only thing I like better in the other 2 videos so far is the background music.. this one is a little spooky... speaking of spooky, gotta do one on amityville house and the haunted mental hospitals