Re: (rshsdepot) Excellent 1898 western Long Island transportation map

[CoolGuy127_@_aol.com]

In a message dated 6/10/2003 10:06:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
luckyshow_@_mindspring.com writes:

> <A HREF="http://www.lirrhistory.com/oct2001/1898map.jpg">http://www.lirrhistory.com/oct2001/1898map.jpg</A> 
> 

       What I find fascinating with the map is its confirmation that the 
route of the Central Railroad of Long Island, from Creedmor to Flushing, had 
already been abandoned by then.  I had the following to say about this line in the 
Seventh Edition of the New York Walk Book, for which I served as editor:

       "The route that this path [i.e., the Brooklyn/Queens Greenway] 
follows, the Kissena Corridor Park, is actually the right-of-way of the former 
Central Railroad of Long Island, constructed about 1870 from Flushing to Babylon via 
Floral Park, and abandoned in 1879.  Hardly any trace of this original use 
can be seen over a century later, but the fortuitous circumstance of the 
railroad following this route has resulted in its preservation as an open space 
corridor through this now heavily-populated area."

       Of course, when abandoned in 1879, the railroad went through an area 
that was unihabited, so there didn't appear to be any need, even then -- in the 
height of the railroad era -- to preserve this line for local transportation 
purposes.  This must be one of the earliest railroad abandonments in the area.

                Daniel Chazin
                Teaneck, NJ

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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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