THE ABANDONED LIRR ROCKAWAY BEACH BRANCH

Urban NYC
Urban NYC
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Published 2021-01-21
Opened in 1880 as the New York, Woodhaven and Rockaway Railroad, the line originally operated as a steam railroad at street grade. It was sold to the owner of the LIRR in 1887, and was reorganized as the New York and Rockaway Beach Railway (NY&RB), and until 1922, was operated independently before being turned over to the LIRR. The line south of Woodhaven Junction was electrified first in 1905, and the line was built upward to connect to the mainline at Whitepot Junction in Rego Park around 1908. By 1910, the entirety of the line all the way to Penn Station was electrified. The wooden trestle crossing over Jamaica Bay caught fire in 1950 and service to Rockaway Beach ceased shortly after, with the line being truncated at Ozone Park, and the section south of it sold for $8.5 million to the City of New York in 1952. The New York City Transit Authority then repurposed the elevated trackways into the IND Rockaway line, opening in 1956 with a new connection to the existing IND Fulton Street Line. The 3.5 mile portion north of Ozone Park remained in service, although ridership and train service drastically decreased. On June 8, 1962, the LIRR made the decision to shut down the line permanently. Post-abandonment, there have been numerous proposals to reactivate the tracks, either back to the LIRR, or as a subway link from the IND Queens Boulevard Line just north of Whitepot Junction. Another proposal was to create a "QueensWay", an elongated park similar to the High Line Park in Manhattan, which would offer pedestrian and biking trails down to Southern Queens. As of right now, city funding for any kind of rehabilitation on this line is close to zero, so the future remains uncertain. If you enjoyed watching this, be sure to like and subscribe for new videos like this one!


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All Comments (21)
  • @thrashmetalfan85
    Such a in depth exploration, drone friendly video of parts of the LIRR's neglected infrastructure. It's been 60 some years since the abandonment of the Rockaway beach line and it could use subway transportation from Queens Bvld's 63rd drive, as the original pre war plan kinda implied. Service from 63rd drive to join the A train towards the Rockaways could be needed. Queens can use a subway in the middle of its core, for less straining and overcrowding. We need some action on this structure as it is still useful for planning.
  • @markrhuett
    It's incredible that after about 60 years the line is still there and nothing has been done to it.
  • @agr804
    This is the part of the Branch I’ve always wondered about based on looks! Amazing Job!!!
  • @spideraxis
    Curious seeing familiar streets I have been on for decades from a different point of view. This line really needs to be reactivated. It would alleviate so many transportation problems in southern Queens.
  • @arifakyuz7673
    The MTA should make use of this. Another Crosstown line would greatly benefit Queens commuters.
  • @NeoTurboManiac78
    I remember the days of walking along this line, which was 30 years ago. I used to enter it through the stairs of the Woodhaven Junction station before they were sealed.
  • @seymorebutts2687
    You should do a part 2. The junction station tunnel portal connecting to Atlantic Ave lirr line and south of ozone pk station leading to the “A” train
  • @johnmoore7926
    The boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn are getting overcrowded and useful public transportation without going through Manhattan is extremely high in demand.
  • @ericbecker7249
    I used to walk that same section thirty years ago and little has changed; that thick brush between Jamaica Ave and Atlantic was a pain, even then. I wish I still had that third rail insulator I managed to find, though.
  • @barfoonisland5239
    Walked this line from Whitepot to Woodhaven Jct and back. That was twenty nine years ago. Really overgrown since then.
  • @edwinromandotcom
    I wish you had walked a little further! Otherwise, well done! Your drone footage helped me to understand how it connected.
  • @kenmckeown3004
    Thanks for this - Grew up 2 blocks from here off Atlantic Ave in the 70s as a kid. We would take this route from Atlantic Ave to Forest Park and back home. Lots of shady activity back then. We would also go down to the underground LIRR decommissioned station on Atlantic Ave. A bunch of kids died down there playing on the tracks with the LIRR trains speeding by.
  • @MercOne
    That last part is perfect for a walking/biking trail. I could see rail service being useful here too. Amazing stuff.
  • @landocalrisian2014
    I'm a recent subscriber and glad I did. You have fascinating content. As a former New Yorker who moved away in 89, this information is like a dope history lesson 👏🏾👏🏾
  • @prchristman
    Fine video. I remember seeing the turnoff from the main line in the early 60s, and the tracks looked usable. It all became overgrown very fast.