The Lower Montauk Branch, 1854-2012 (Caterina Campagna)

[@prchristman]

This line has fascinated me for some reason. Probably because a neglected passenger line in such an urban area seemed contradictory, and the station names were unusual (Fresh Pond, Penny Bridge, Glendale). I hiked the line, more or less, in 1977 and 1997, photographed it, rode it several times, collected it (1902 timetable, 1997 abandonment booklet), and attended an abandonment hearing in Glendale in 1997. And paid it more attention than all of its passengers combined. There were pleas at the abandonment hearing to have the branch serve as a light passenger line, and I could conceive Fresh Pond, Glendale, and Richmond Hill as a source of revenue (not Haberman and Penny Bridge, one in the middle of nowhere and the other by a cemetery). Now, 20 years later, few miss it. Typically, I do. I'm left wondering how it would have done with decent train service, but admit that high-level platforms and other upgrades to a branch with so few passengers was a tough sell, even to me.

[@arifakyuz7673]

I have always found the lower montauk branch to be quite fascinating. It honestly blows my mind that there are GRADE CROSSINGS in the city!

[@USArailfan2000]

Very informative...Thank you!

[@LongIslandCityLayout]

Very cool, thanks for sharing! I have actually never seen a Lower Montauk schedule before.

[@GeorgeBerberian]

Thanks for the history lesson! I had no idea that line existed in all my years living in NYC!

[@AmoMe2009]

For real. Me too.

[@DjsOgaugeTrains]

I enjoyed this and used to ride on the lower montauk branch in the late 90's on a port Jefferson train. Good history lesson

[@MelGibsonFan]

It’s a shame they didn’t keep this line up and running. For context, I lived, went to school and worked within walking distance of this line for nearly 14 years. I spent at least of 8 of those years having to drive that route. If this hadn’t been abandoned I could utilized mass transit instead.

Very nice job thanks!

[@howardmunro5464]

In Days of Old you had the Railroad line going from Manorville to Sag Harbor. You had the old section of Queens called NEWTOWN. You had the community of Island Trees.

[@joeahearn4413]

Interesting film and history lesson. Nicely done. Hope you got a good grade on the workshop!

[@DeniseWilcox]

Looks good .

[@GLee-oe3op]

I live on that branch. In West Islip, right between the Babylon and Bayshore stations

[@rrrglynn]

The thing is there is no PTC on the Greenport Branch so that could not be the reason for them not using the line.

[@rrrglynn]

@ They still used the line for 14 years with the new diesel trains and no stations along the line...I did listen to the video. What you just said does not explain why they all of a sudden stopped using the line in 2012.

[@anotherluckyone]

My guess would be that if it’s your job at LIRR to try to lower costs then PTC would be another reason you can add to the list that justifies closing it. I love trains but I understand the need to be practical about it so they are using it for freight only now. What I like about this is that in years to come if they ever felt the need to run some new light rail or whatever then they still have a right of way.

[@rrrglynn]

@@anotherluckyone As of a couple of days ago PTC is now a requirement so that is certainly a reason. However I believe non passenger trains still do in fact use the line from time to time.

[@1575murray]

@@rrrglynn It is now under control of the NY and Atlantic and is considered secondary track which does not require PTC. The LIRR can still use it but has to get permission to do so.

[@AmoMe2009]

you forgot to mention Springfield Gardens in Queens.

[@nancyboots3862]

I used to live there, service was downgraded with each timetable change until it was only ONE train a day by the "glorious" MTA scum......they said, well, NOBODY used the one train, so we have to discontinue the station, and so it went.......the station was demolished in the early 2000's and nothing remains

[@PerseusToons]

What's up with the Western Land music from Mario Party 2? That's so cool!

[@NaYawkr]

Someone needs to explain to Caterina how to pronounce Haberman ( HAYbur-Man) and Oyster Bay ( Oy Ster - Bay )

[@howardmunro5464]

Synonymous with EAST PATCHOGUE is HAGERMAN.

[@nancyboots3862]

She's obviously NOT a Noo Yawkr.........Outsiders MURDER a lot of New York names...Her HY-BERMAN and mas-PETH get damned annoying throughout the whole video

[@MagicMike-rd8mz]

The Lower Montauk Branch LIRR is still owned by the MTA. And the MTA should run some type of Rail service along the area. Because there's a decent amount people who work in Maspeth Glendale areas of Queens .witch does'nt Subways service. Alot of Bus service the operators in these areas are unreliable. And plus the area of Maspeth / West Maspeth is getting much busier now days. On average the Bus in the area of western Maspeth and Glendale and Western LIC run likeevery 20-30 minutes during the rush hours and like every 30 40 minutes off the rush hours and over the weekends start walking 🚶‍♂️Q-67 B-24 And Q-39 all does'nt run that great !!!!

[@aqua2poweros699]

Actually Mta gave it to the Atlantic Railway, a freight train company. Hopefully, this line will come back.

[@johnniebee4328]

Sad story, nice job

[@SuperTrainStationH]

Long island rail road + mario party 2 music oh wow i love this

[@KFCJones]

Hyberman?

[@kenjiharima23nep91]

She's trying to say Haberman.

[@OortCloud]

Its suprizing how the LIRR is the only real railroad around here lol. Metro North is so unreal if you think of it

[@arifakyuz7673]

I mean, Metro North literally goes into another state. Also, does Amtrak not exist?

[@rontroy3843]

Has the narrator ever made the connection between the remains of the HPA LIRR station and the #7 train? It's not just a few yards, it is not handicapped accessible, it is for many a very hard and difficult climb up or down with a long walk between that during winter becomes very dangerous. Doesn't have to be that way, but that seems to be how TA prefers it - difficult and dangerous. As to the LIRR station, it's mostly rotting away. As you walk the platform, a good chunk of which is rotting wood, you bounce up and down. What BS!

[@rontroy3843]

@ Could've been better if we had not chased out Amazon.

[@rontroy3843]

The problem has been there for decades. LIRR wanted to rebuild, apparently TA attitude of NIH syndrome stopped that, plus TA does not want even more LIRR passengers. Horrible situation, wonder how many heart attacks, bad falls from winter ice, etc. have happened there. We need both rebuilt, especially LIRR side, with covered walkway into the side of the 7 station, ramps down to a new platform set on LIRR side. One way or another, if AOC and friends had not chased Amazon out of LIC, we might have had a couple stations rebuilt to modern code with easy connections 7 to / from LIRR. Since LIRR seems determined to make sure that diesel country passengers don't get direct GCT access anytime in the next several decades (they CHOSE in 1996 or so to buy equipment that wouldn't fit in the tunnels), and since I see little chance of an easy, across the platform Jamaica transfer), we need something. FYI, I've been asking LIRR since 1996 when they gave us members of the then LIRR ESA Citizens Task Force a tunnel tour. Not a single answer in 24 years.

[@dgrullon9596]

Now let’s reactivate the lines!

[@anotherview9604]

Haberman - long a as in hAy. Not Hiberman. Maspeth, Not Maspath. e not a.

[@hectorhardy4528]

like lirr

[@byronchavarria4954]

MONTAUK BRANCH TRAINS NOW COME FROM PENN STTION MANHATTN

Byron Chavarria another schmuck Montauk branch trains don't exist except for freight ,stop with the caps idiot