IN APRIL 1868 RESIDENTS OF HEMPSTEAD INCORPORATED THE HEMPSTEAD & ROCKAWAY RAILROAD TO RUN FROM THEIR VILLAGE TO A CONNECTION WITH THE SOUTH SIDE RAIL ROAD AT VALLEY STREAM.   SURVEYORS WERE PUT TO WORK AND A CONTRACTOR HIRED.   FINANCIAL AND LEGAL PROBLEMS DELAYED CONSTRUCTION UNTIL JANUARY 1870. THE BACKERS THEN INCORPORATED THEMSELVES AS THE NEW YORK & HEMPSTEAD PLAINS RAILROAD WITH PLANS TO BUILD TO THE EAST RIVER AT BAY RIDGE.   ON SEPTEMBER 28, 1870 THE LINE TO VALLEY STREAM OPENED AS THE HEMPSTEAD BRANCH OF THE SOUTH SIDE RAIL ROAD WITH STATIONS AT BRIDGEPORT, NORWOOD AND WOODFIELD.   MORE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS RESULTED IN THE MERGER OF THE TWO COMPANIES AND REORGANIZATION AS THE NEW YORK & HEMPSTEAD RAILROAD. THE N.Y.&H.R.R. WAS LEASED TO THE SOUTH SIDE RAIL ROAD IN 1873 AND SOLD UNDER FORECLOSURE NOVEMBER 14, 1874.   THE NEW YORK & HEMPSTEAD WAS BOUGHT BY THE SOUTHERN HEMPSTEAD BRANCH RAILROAD COMPANY WHICH HAD BEEN ORGANIZED JULY 1, 1875.

THIS MAY 14, 1877 TIME TABLE FROM THE HEMPSTEAD INQUIRER SHOWS DAILY
SERVICE BETWEEN HEMPSTEAD AND NEPTUNE HOUSE, ROCKAWAY BEACH.