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(rshsdepot) "Long Island May Abandon Station, Hempstead Spur"

In re-reading the following article I realize the Hempstead branch was not
abandoned as stated (the dead-end line)...others can comment on all the
rest...[the loop service I don't know if that ever happened, now the West
Hempstead branch is also dead end...Also Dick is probably right that this
was the freight depot he remembers because I am not sure any of the
following was ever approved..There was never a Hempstead station at North
Franklin as far as I know...Wait until the "busses" part!


From the Nassau Daily Review Sept. 10, 1931  [front page]

"Long Island May Abandon Station, Hempstead Spur"

Village Committee Hears Plans of Railroad That Include Removal Of Freight
Shed; Double Tracking, Too

  Removal of The Hempstead freight station from Main Street as advocated by
the association of commerce, can be accomplished in plans now being studied
and considered by the Long Island railroad, George LeBoutillier,
vice-president of the Pennsylvania system in charge of the Long Island
division, told a committee from the commerce organization at a conference at
the Hempstead city club yesterday.

      The Changes Proposed

   The plans, said Mr. LeBoutillier, involve the following proposed changes
affecting the Hempstead branch:

  1.--Abandoning of the Hempstead spur to the Fulton Avenue passenger
station from Garden City.

  2.--A new Hempstead passenger station on the West Hempstead branch at
North Franklin street near the Garden City line.

  3.--Double tracking of the West Hempstead branch which forms a loop
running through the north-western section of Hempstead.

  4.--The unloading of freight consigned to Hempstead at a station near the
fairgrounds in Mineola.

  5.--Electrification of the central extension past Mitchel Field,
eventually to Babylon, to serve the eastern section of the Hempstead area.

       We Ask More Details

   Although the conference was arranged by the association of commerce
primarily to discuss shifting the freight station from Main street, the
revelation the railroad considered eliminating the spur that terminates at
the Hempstead passenger station gave the meting an added importance.

   Mr. LeBoutilier was accompanied by L. J. Caruthers, railroad attorney.
The association of commerce committee was: Charles J. Futz; chairman, George
H. Blanchard, president; Arthur W. Brierley, Cyril E. Marshall, J. Eugene
Geaf, Charles W. Walker, Franklin M. Mollireaux, K. B. Van  de Water,
Charles W. Walker and Paul Price.

  It was suggested the railroad's plans, which are in a tentative state, be
submitted in more detail to a smaller committee. Mr LeBoutillier said he
would have the complete plan drawn, showing reasons why it is more workable
than the present system.
[In middle of second sentence the article was continued on page three. with
a new sub-heading reading: Railroad Reveals Plans For Quitting Spur From
Garden City...and a photo with caption which will be mentioned at end of
article...]

   In advancing the plan, the railroad is considering, the company official
said, it took into account four tracks for the present line into Mineola,
double tracks where necessary, on the West Hempstead branch between Mineola
and Valley Stream, which with the present line between Garden City and
Floral Park, would provide loop service over two routes in each direction
between the stations in this area and the city terminal.

     Electrification Discussed

   In answer to a question, it was stated that on the loop extension through
Mineola the running time of the trains would be lengthened about three
minutes, while on the loop through Garden City the time would remain
substantially as it is.  Reasons given by the railroad officials for the
contemplated abandoning of the Hempstead branch are that it is a dead-end
line and does not fit in with the projected loop systems.

   Regarding the freight business, Mr LeBoutilier aid it had been suggested
the Hempstead freight business could be combined with a new freight terminal
to be set up in the vicinity of the Mineola fair grounds to serve all
adjacent communities both in freight and express service.

   While it is a remote plan, the electrification of the central extension
line from Garden City east to Babylon was also touched upon by the railroad
official. He foresaw Hempstead developing largely to the east and feeding
railroad transportation in the future. Locations of railroad stations in
villages make little difference, said Mr. LeBoutillier. He pointed to places
where stations are somewhat removed from business districts. Routing of
busses is simple he held.

   Mr. Le Boutillir, however, was careful to point out that the plans he was
unfolding were merely being studied, would take from five to ten years to
accomplish. It may even be dropped, he said, if there is considerable
opposition.

   In discussing the removal of the freight yard from Main street, Mr.
LeBoutillier said while it could be accompanied in the general scheme he had
outlined, it also meant that Hempstead industries served by freight siding
would have to be considered. The setting up of a new central freight yard
near the fair grounds, he held, would build up a new industrial area, with
motor trucking, the haul would not mean much, he remarked. He added that he
would send a representative to interview those in Hempstead who have freight
sidings and sound them out on the possibility of their removal to new
locations.  Three Hempstead concerns, the Nassau Lumber Co., Garrett Busch
and Mollineaux Bros, have freight sidings on the Hempstead branch.


[There was a photo of the freight yard, very dark on the old microfilm and
totally dark on the copy from that film. The header above the photo read
"This View May Pass If Plans Go Through," and the caption read: "Hempstead's
freight house and yards, shown above, would be done away with entirely and
shipments for the village unloaded at a proposed central station near the
Mineola fair grounds, according to plans revealed by George Le Boutellier,
vice-president in charge of the Long Island railroad, to a committee from
the association of commerce yesterday. Removal of the freight depot in the
interests of the improvement of Main street has been agitated by the
commerce organization."]



This article was to right of "Republicans Due To Adopt Relief Idea Of
Governor"  [Roosevelt], and to the left of "Depression's End Nearing; Strawn
Points To Trends" Proving that economic experts were just as brilliant back
then as no..

Paul

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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #382
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=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org