Evmrony OF Ammonmn RAILROAD ruams or WAY ( i 5:- NEW YOR.K(STATl). ms-^* DEPARTDMH OF TRANSPORTATION . 4 REAL PROPERTY DIVISION. *:3 REGION #1o COMPRISDJG THE COUNTIES OF: BRONX, IC[NGS,,NASSAU, NEW YORK, QUEENS, RICHIDND, SUFFOLK 9 1974
GLOSSARX ' BALLAST - Crushed rock or gravel, used in railroad beds to provide ground stability for laying `ties and tracks. 9 BERM - A longitlxlinal mound of earth used to deflect water; a narrow ledge or shelf. CULVER'1` - Am structure not classified as a bridge which provides an opening under am' roadway. PRISM - As applied to canals, the entire area encompassing A the sides which are parallelogranm. '1'RESTLE - A braced framework of timbers , piles or steelwork for carrying a railroad over a depression. |v"`; R.R. - Railroad Rte. or Rt. - Route R.(5.W, - Right of Way E/s - East side w/s .. west side B & M - Boston and Ihine D & H - Delaware and Hulson E P. C. - Penn Central
G. E. - General Eldctric Company E C. R. - County Road T/6 - Tenninatian/origin II
TABLE OF CONTENTS | @ ' @ O @ O @ ' I O @ ` O . * I @ R @ @ O . | | @ I I I @ @ O * O @ I @ @ I I I O ` I @ O O @ @ O @ ' @ @ IV REGION #10 CASE STUDIES OF ABANIDNMENT LOCATION MAP CODE PAGE 10-*1 LongIslardRai]Ioad..a.ao*`pose'.--,10*1 Garden `City-Kissena Corridor 10-2 | West Hempstead-Mineola. 10-3 | Port Jefferson-Wading River 10**4 Ipnglshndmnroedccamoaatoocaas-so10*5 lhnorville-Eastport 10-5 I.OngIelandRailroad.oceacaoceoacaaes| West of Meadowbrook Parkway-East to Farmingdale 10**6 LOngIsle=1w.Railroada..co**contact-as10**7 Bridgehamptonggag Harbor 10-7 StatenIslandRapidTransit*.mceases-seam| St. George-Chfton Junction-South Beach III
A. Approximate length 9 miles
B. Approximate width oo feet 0. General Conditions Historically, the line ran from the main line in Bellrose to the Port Washington Branch in Flushing. However, title was lost on October 8, 1879 for that portion from approximately 235th Street to its intersec- tion with the Port Washington Branch at Flushing. The abandoned area has been improved with parklands and homes, etc. throughout its length. The balance of the line from 235th Street to Route 25 is approximately 1 | miles long. The approximate width of the Right of Way is 66 feet. However, in some places it appears to be wider. The general condition of the roedbed is good. There appeared to be no evidence of any washouts, landslides or flooding, There may be some encroachments since some gardens and fencing of the Railroad property by the abutting residences were noted. All Railroad facilities, with the exception of a portion of a trestle at the Jerioho Turnpike, have been removed. It is my understanding that a future State contract is scheduled to demolish this structure in 1972 (P.I.N. o5z7.oo). The Registrar's office in Queens indicated that portions of the line have been sold to various individuals, as follows: 7 Miriem Biskins Jdky 2, 1948 4 Liber 5684 Pages 84,87,91
J. A. Wigmore Land Co. April 26, 1940 Liber 4199 Page 321 Liber 4311 Page 515 Miriam Biskins May 18, 1948 Liber 5592 Page 583 Mastro Construction Co. June ll, 1954 Liber 6690 Page 648 Cons. $15,000 H & J Serno and DeAngelis February 7, 1963 Liber 7498 Page 221 cans. $5oo 10-1
D. J. Higgins February 18, 1958 Liber 70/+3 Page 158 Cons. $700
F. Fitzgerald July 31, 1958 Liber msg Page 425 cons. $1000 According to officials, the balance of the property remaining in Railroad ownership is presently being negotiated to sales. The area through which the line passes is improved with single family and multi-family residences. Some businesses are noted. The recreational possibilities of the route are nil. The line is in close proximity to the Jericho Turnpike, Belt Parkway and Hillside Avenue. 10-2
B. Approximate width 50 to 70 feet
C. General Conditions The general condition of the road bed is level and is overgrown from Hempstead Turnpike north to St. James Street. From St. James Street north to llth Street, the tracks are still in place. From llth Street north to the Mineola Station of the Long Island Railroad, the tracks have been removed. This section is not owned by the Long Island Rail- road and it will become a parking area for B1oomingdale's Department Store. Approximately 1600 feet of Right of Way was sold by the Long Island Railroad to the Garden City Company in 1965. (Liber 7230 Page 142) Long Island Railroad Right of Way from llth Street to one block north of Old Country Road was put up for bid May 14, 1971. All abut~ ting owners were notified by the Long Island Railroad and also anyone who displayed an interest in the property. The nature of the terrain through which this Right of Way passes var- ies from Residential to light Industrial and Commercial and the Resi- dential neighborhood is in the it5o,ooo to $150,000 class. The prin- cipal land use of abutting properties is Residential, light Industrial and Commercial. The recreational possibilities of this route may be limited since for the most part the road runs through a fairly exclusive section of West Hempstead and Garden City and some opposition may arise. Proximity to existing transportation facilities is excellent since bus lines and railroad stations are nearby. In 1969 the County of Nassau proposed using this abandoned railroad Right of Way for a County Road. It was called County Boulevard and the original consideration for building this,dates beck to 1955. A public hearing was held on May 9, 1969 and the opposition from the ~ residents of the im|ediate area prompted the Nassau Public Works Com- mission to state that the improvement would not be built. 10-3
A. Approximate length 10 miles
B. Approximate width oo feet
C. General Conditions The general condition of the line is good. No evidence of any wash- outs, landslides, flooding or encroach|ents were noted. All structures owned by the Railroad were removed. The records of the County Clerk's office in Suffolk County revealed that the line for the most part was sold to the Leland Corporation on January 9, 1940 Liber 2086, Page 98 for a consideration of $e,ooo. The Leland Corporation is the Real Estate branch of the Long Island Lighting Co. The nature of the terrain through which the line passes is rolling and at grade. The land use category of abutting owners in general, runs from umimproved, to farm land and developed Residential proper- ties. The subject property has been improved throughout its length by the Long Island Lighting Company with high tension lines support- ed by twin towers at least 50 feet high an| also with a supported transmission line on wooden poles. The recreational possibilities of the route are nil. However, some evidence that the Right of Way is being used by trail bikes can be seen. The line is in close proximity to a major East West Highway, State Route 25A. lO-4 '
Inventory of Abandoned Railroad Rights of Why
Inventory of Abandoned Railroad Rights of Why
A. Approximate length 6.2 miles
B. Approximate width 65 feet
C. General Conditions The approximate length is 6.2 miles and ru|s from West of Meadowbrook Parkway East to Farmingdale. The approximate width of the Right of Way is 65 feet. The general condition of the Right of Way is level and partly overgrown with vegetation. The entire length of the Right of Way is now leased to the Long Is- lend Lighting Company and is used by them for high transmission power lines, carried on overhead towers. The high transmission lines are underground in that area that crosses Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. All Railroad tracks, Railroad ties, Signal Facilities etc. have been removed and it does not appear that any part of this Right of Way is owned by private individuals, but there are certain areas that are being used for recreational purposes, ie: baseball diamonds etc. The nature of the terrain through which this Right of Way passes is a County Park, mostly Residential area and a few Commercial areas. The principal land use of abutting properties is for Residential pur- poses. The recreational possibilities will probably be opposed, since the abutting properties are primarily Residential. Proximity to existing transportation facilities would be covered by many North and South bus routes. A few years ago the Cou|ty proposed a transit Expressway for this abandoned Right of Why, but nothing ever came of it. 10-o '
Inventory of Abandoned Railroad Rights er way
A. Approximate length 4.8 miles
B. Approximate width 66 feet
C. General Conditions The line was approximately 4.8 miles long. Its principal termini on the South was et Bridgehampton and on the North the Incorporated Vill- age of Sag Harbor. The approximate width er the Right er Way was 66 feet. The general condition of the line noted at 3 points was good. There appeared to be no washout, landslide, or any evidence of flooding or encroaohments. Very little overgrowth could be seen. All Railroad structures had been previously removed. At a specific location, part of the old roadbed appears to make up a portion of the front lawn of a residence. It appears the occupants purchased this area from the Railroad. The County Clerk's office in Suffolk County was checked and indicated that the entire line was sold to various individuals, as follows: Roy P. & Carolyn E. Dippee November 20, 1945 Liber 2512 Page 542 ceheid. $2,500 James MbMahon April 19, 1946 Liber 2629 Page 299 ceneid. $4oo 4 Long Island Lighting Company September 13, 1946 Liber 2635 Page 542 aeneid. $500 James MoMahon July 3, 1945 Liber 2524 Page 280 ceheid. $1,500 The terrain through which the line passes is level and at grade, The abutting properties for the most part are unimproved woodlands. In one section there are some homes. In the area there are several small lakes so that the recreational possibilities of these lakee could be more accessible to the general public, if the line were to be utilized as bicycling and horse back riding trails. The line is also in close proximity to the Bridge- hempton Sag Harbor Turnpike, a heavily traveled County Road. 10-7
A. Approximate length 2 miles
B. Approxjgnate width 66 feet a. General Conditions The south Beach line or the Staten Island Rapid Transit arigmany ran from St. George to South Beach. The section between South Beach and Rose Bank, a distance af approximately 2 ½ miles with an average width of 66 feet was abandoned many years ago, but is still owned by the Staten Island Rapid Transit (subsidiary or the B & o Railroad). The general condition of this abandoned Right of Way is now overgrown and the area is covered with debris. There are trestles and ovez-passes wherever the Right of Way crosses an intersedtion and most of the Right of Way is in a depressed section and the embanlanents have eroded through the years. All Railroad tracks and ties and | signals have been removed but the decrepit remains of station platforms and poles rexmin. (Our planning section is aware of this abandoned R.O.W.) There is no private ownership of the Right of Way. The terrain appears to be level for the most part. The abutting properties are mostly Re- sidential and the Right of Way runs through built up areas, a sma]1 part of which is Industrial. It appears that this abandoned Right of Way could be used for recrea- tional purposes such as bicycle paths, etc., but some opposition may arise since most of the Right' of` Way abutts the rear yards of Residen- tial properties. lhny bus lines and crossroads traverse the Right of Way so connecting transportation can be considered good. V