NEW YORK DIVISION BULLETIN - FEBRUARY, 2006
ROCKAWAY LINE by Bernard Linder (Photographs from the author’s collection) Interlocking closed on October 20, 1950. Rockaway Park service was discontinued on October 2, 1955. The last Rockaway Park train left Flatbush Avenue at 9:53 PM and the last train departed from Rockaway Park at 11:29 PM, after which all trains terminated at Far Rockaway. Trains still used the station built for the grade
Most LIRR Rockaway trains were routed across Jamaica Bay on a wooden trestle where fires occurred frequently. On May 7, 1950, another fire on this trestle gutted the timbers supporting it. When it became apparent that the bankrupt railroad was unwilling to spend large sums of money to repair it, the City of New York decided to purchase it. On June 11, 1952, the Rockaway Line was sold to the city for $8.5 million and the portions still operated by the Long Island Rail Road were leased back to it. NYC Transit replaced the old wooden trestle with an embankment built of sand dredged from Jamaica Bay. Tracks were supported by steel and concrete pilings. Two new bridges were built and several stations were rebuilt. Tracks in Rockaway Park Yard were rearranged. After the trestle fire, Long Island Rail Road service was rearranged. Trains operated via Valley Stream and
Rockaway Park station, August 27, 1955.
The Long Island Rail Road’s Far Rockaway station, looking west, August, 1954.
Nassau County to Far Rockaway and Rockaway Park. There were still some Far Rockaway short-turns until later in the year, probably discontinued when ROCK
Far Rockaway station, looking east from Mott Avenue, August, 1954.
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