Huntington Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Huntington Railroad was established on July 19, 1890 (although some sources claim it was in May 1890) with a trolley line between Huntington Village
and Halesite
(now partially in the Village of Huntington Bay
). It was eventually extended to Huntington Railroad Station
, then along what is today mostly NY 110 through Melville
, Farmingdale
, and as far south as the docks of Amityville
. Huntington Railroad had only one line throughout its history, although the length varied through the years.
line between Halesite, New York
through Downtown Huntington
to Huntington Railroad Station
. The Long Island Rail Road
acquired control of this company on March 5, 1898, and transformed it into an electric trolley on June 17, 1898.
Control was transferred to Long Island Consolidated Electric Companies. The extension of the Huntington Railroad by the LICEC from Huntington to Amityville, was completed and put in operation on August 6, 1909. This line was 18.50 miles in length and reached from the harbor at Huntington to Great South Bay at Amityville, thus transformed Huntington Railroad into the only cross-island trolley on Long Island. Attempts to create other cross-island trolleys by the South Shore Traction Company and Suffolk Traction Company failed. Nassau County had trolleys that spanned the county, but they were never run by a single company.
From north to south the streets that the railroad ran along included Wincoma Drive, East Shore Drive, New York Avenue, Walt Whitman Road, Amityville Road, Broad Hollow Road, Conklin Street
, Main Street(Farmingdale), Broadway, Sterling Place, Greene Street, Bennett Place, Richmond Avenue. Part of the right-of-way in Melville between Duryea Road and north of Old Country Road
is today a realigned segment of NY 110. The former section is now known simply as Walt Whitman Road.
As a cross-island line, the Huntington Railroad served all three Long Island Rail Road stations in its vicinity: Huntington Station, Farmingdale Station
and Amityville Station
. A tower at Farmingdale Station was the sub-station for powering trolleys. Between Sterling Place and Greene Street in Amityville, another separate ROW leading to a bridge for trolleys over the Montauk Branch
existed just along the west side of Amityville Station. In addition, Amityville Station also provided a connection to the Amityville Line of the Babylon Railroad, which was established in 1910, and lasted two years after the original line of the Babylon Railroad ceased to operate.
Trolley service began to decline at the end of World War I
, due to the cost of the war and the rise in the use of automobiles. Therefore, the LIRR prepared to remove involvement with trolleys. Huntington Railroad service ended on September 23, 1919, however, that was not the end of trolleys in western Suffolk County.
. The company ran the line only as far south as Jericho Turnpike
in South Huntington, and used the same wires from the Huntington Railroad. Huntington Traction Company only used Wincoma Drive, East Shore Drive, New York Avenue, and Walt Whitman Road along its route. With the increasing use of buses, Huntington Traction couldn't compete either. The line was finally abandoned in 1927.
Huntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. Huntington is part of the New York metropolitan...
and Halesite
Halesite, New York
Halesite is a hamlet in Huntington on the North Shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Named after Nathan Hale, a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War who was captured at a tavern in Halesite. There is a rock with a tribute to him at the...
(now partially in the Village of Huntington Bay
Huntington Bay, New York
Huntington Bay is a village in Suffolk County, New York on East Neck on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the village population was 1,496.The Village of Huntington Bay is in the Town of Huntington.-Geography:...
). It was eventually extended to Huntington Railroad Station
Huntington (LIRR station)
Huntington is a station on the Port Jefferson Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located near New York Avenue and Broadway in Huntington Station, New York, but is also accessible from Lenox Road and Fairground Avenue near East Second Street....
, then along what is today mostly NY 110 through Melville
Melville, New York
Melville is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of Huntington in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, 14,533 people resided there.-Location:...
, Farmingdale
Farmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
, and as far south as the docks of Amityville
Amityville, New York
Amityville is a village in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. The population was 9,441 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. Huntington Railroad had only one line throughout its history, although the length varied through the years.
History
The Huntington Traction Company was chartered in May, 1890, and began operating on July 19, 1890 as a three mile horsecarHorsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
line between Halesite, New York
Halesite, New York
Halesite is a hamlet in Huntington on the North Shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Named after Nathan Hale, a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War who was captured at a tavern in Halesite. There is a rock with a tribute to him at the...
through Downtown Huntington
Huntington (CDP), New York
Huntington is a hamlet located in the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The Census Bureau has also defined a census-designated place with the same name that corresponds to the most densely populated area, however local understanding of the hamlet may differ somewhat...
to Huntington Railroad Station
Huntington (LIRR station)
Huntington is a station on the Port Jefferson Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located near New York Avenue and Broadway in Huntington Station, New York, but is also accessible from Lenox Road and Fairground Avenue near East Second Street....
. The Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
acquired control of this company on March 5, 1898, and transformed it into an electric trolley on June 17, 1898.
Control was transferred to Long Island Consolidated Electric Companies. The extension of the Huntington Railroad by the LICEC from Huntington to Amityville, was completed and put in operation on August 6, 1909. This line was 18.50 miles in length and reached from the harbor at Huntington to Great South Bay at Amityville, thus transformed Huntington Railroad into the only cross-island trolley on Long Island. Attempts to create other cross-island trolleys by the South Shore Traction Company and Suffolk Traction Company failed. Nassau County had trolleys that spanned the county, but they were never run by a single company.
From north to south the streets that the railroad ran along included Wincoma Drive, East Shore Drive, New York Avenue, Walt Whitman Road, Amityville Road, Broad Hollow Road, Conklin Street
New York State Route 24
New York State Route 24 is an east–west state highway on Long Island in New York in the United States. The route is split into two segments, with the longest and westernmost of the two extending from Interstate 295 and NY 25 in the Queens Village section of the New York City...
, Main Street(Farmingdale), Broadway, Sterling Place, Greene Street, Bennett Place, Richmond Avenue. Part of the right-of-way in Melville between Duryea Road and north of Old Country Road
Old Country Road
Old Country Road is a major east–west thoroughfare through central Nassau County and extending into western Suffolk County on Long Island, New York. It serves many of the major shopping centers in central Nassau County including Roosevelt Field Mall...
is today a realigned segment of NY 110. The former section is now known simply as Walt Whitman Road.
As a cross-island line, the Huntington Railroad served all three Long Island Rail Road stations in its vicinity: Huntington Station, Farmingdale Station
Farmingdale (LIRR station)
The Farmingdale Railroad Station is a historic railroad station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located off Secatogue Avenue, on Front Street and Atlantic Avenue, in Farmingdale, New York, however, the actual station is on Eastern Parkway...
and Amityville Station
Amityville (LIRR station)
Amityville is the westernmost station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road in Suffolk County, New York. It is located on John Street in Amityville, New York, but the official description of its location isn't as precise. The MTA describes the station as being located on John Street...
. A tower at Farmingdale Station was the sub-station for powering trolleys. Between Sterling Place and Greene Street in Amityville, another separate ROW leading to a bridge for trolleys over the Montauk Branch
Montauk Branch
The Montauk Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch runs the length of Long Island, 115 miles from Long Island City on the west to Montauk on the east...
existed just along the west side of Amityville Station. In addition, Amityville Station also provided a connection to the Amityville Line of the Babylon Railroad, which was established in 1910, and lasted two years after the original line of the Babylon Railroad ceased to operate.
Trolley service began to decline at the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, due to the cost of the war and the rise in the use of automobiles. Therefore, the LIRR prepared to remove involvement with trolleys. Huntington Railroad service ended on September 23, 1919, however, that was not the end of trolleys in western Suffolk County.
Huntington Traction Company
The Huntington Traction Company was the successor to the Huntington Railroad Company, inheriting the original line between Huntington Railroad Station and HalesiteHalesite, New York
Halesite is a hamlet in Huntington on the North Shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Named after Nathan Hale, a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War who was captured at a tavern in Halesite. There is a rock with a tribute to him at the...
. The company ran the line only as far south as Jericho Turnpike
New York State Route 25
New York State Route 25 is an east–west state highway in downstate New York in the United States. The route extends for just over from east midtown Manhattan in New York City to the Cross Sound Ferry terminal at Orient Point on the end of Long Island's North Fork...
in South Huntington, and used the same wires from the Huntington Railroad. Huntington Traction Company only used Wincoma Drive, East Shore Drive, New York Avenue, and Walt Whitman Road along its route. With the increasing use of buses, Huntington Traction couldn't compete either. The line was finally abandoned in 1927.