Babylon Branch
Encyclopedia
The Babylon Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road
in the U.S. state
of New York
. The term refers to the trains serving Montauk Branch
stations from Valley Stream
east to Babylon
. (In other words, "Babylon Branch" is the railroad's designation for a set of trains that run along the Montauk Branch
. There is no track called the "Babylon Branch".) The electrification
of the Montauk Branch ends east of the Babylon station, so the Babylon Branch is mostly served by electric trains.
The west end of the "Babylon Branch" is the junction between the West Hempstead Branch
and Montauk Branch (Valley Interlocking); St Albans, the only stop on the Montauk Branch west of Valley Stream, is shown in the West Hempstead Branch timetable. Trains that continue past the east end of the Babylon Branch are known as Montauk Branch
trains; several of these use the Central Branch
between Belmont Junction west of the Babylon station and a junction at Beth Interlocking on the Main Line southeast of the Bethpage Station
, running to New York City
via the Main Line. On weekends, Babylon Branch trains typically stop at Forest Hills
and Kew Gardens
in the eastbound direction as opposed to other Main Line trains that serve other branches.
The Babylon Branch portion of the Montauk Branch is grade separated with bridges over almost all intersecting roadways.
Springfield Branch
" which the Montauk Branch was relocated to northeast of Springfield Junction
. The tracks were elevated from ground-level from the 1950s through the 1970s. Elevation of the line sparked grass-roots efforts to preserve the previous versions of Wantagh and Lindendurst Stations, the former of which resulted in the creation of the Wantagh Railroad Museum. The last station to be elevated on the branch was Massapequa Park
on December 13, 1980.
Since the 1990's, many station houses along the branch have been rebuilt. Additionally, from July 2007 to April 10, 2011 the signals, switches, and gantries were replaced between the Wantagh Interlocking and Amityville Station and replaced the old PRR position signals with colored signals that were installed during the elevation of that section in 1973.
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...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The term refers to the trains serving 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...
stations from Valley Stream
Valley Stream (LIRR station)
Valley Stream is a station on the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Branch serving the residents of Valley Stream, and is the first station in Nassau County. The station is located at Franklin Avenue and Sunrise Highway, west of Rockaway Avenue, and is 17.7 miles from Penn Station in Midtown...
east to Babylon
Babylon (LIRR station)
Babylon is a station on the Long Island Rail Road in the village of Babylon, New York at Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue. It is on the Montauk Branch, and is the eastern terminus of the Babylon Branch service...
. (In other words, "Babylon Branch" is the railroad's designation for a set of trains that run along 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...
. There is no track called the "Babylon Branch".) The electrification
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
of the Montauk Branch ends east of the Babylon station, so the Babylon Branch is mostly served by electric trains.
The west end of the "Babylon Branch" is the junction between the West Hempstead Branch
West Hempstead Branch
The West Hempstead Branch is an electrified rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York.The branch separates from the Main Line just east of Jamaica Station, and runs southeastward to West Hempstead...
and Montauk Branch (Valley Interlocking); St Albans, the only stop on the Montauk Branch west of Valley Stream, is shown in the West Hempstead Branch timetable. Trains that continue past the east end of the Babylon Branch are known as 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...
trains; several of these use the Central Branch
Central Branch (Long Island Rail Road)
The Central Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York, extending from just east of Bethpage to just west of Babylon. It was built in 1873 as part of the Babylon Extension of the Central Railroad of Long Island , which was owned by...
between Belmont Junction west of the Babylon station and a junction at Beth Interlocking on the Main Line southeast of the Bethpage Station
Bethpage (LIRR station)
Bethpage Station is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located at Stewart Avenue and Jackson Avenue, in Bethpage, New York, and serves Ronkonkoma Branch trains...
, running to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
via the Main Line. On weekends, Babylon Branch trains typically stop at Forest Hills
Forest Hills (LIRR station)
Forest Hills is a commuter rail station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road in Forest HIlls. Like other LIRR stations within New York City, passengers may take advantage of the CityTicket program on weekends...
and Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens (LIRR station)
Kew Gardens is a railroad station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road in Kew Gardens, Queens. The station is located at Austin Street and Lefferts Boulevard...
in the eastbound direction as opposed to other Main Line trains that serve other branches.
The Babylon Branch portion of the Montauk Branch is grade separated with bridges over almost all intersecting roadways.
History
The South Side Railroad of Long Island in the 1860s built what was to become the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. The Babylon Branch as a separate operational entity began as the electrification of the Montauk Branch between Valley Stream and Babylon on May 20, 1925. Eventually, this would also include the former "Springfield Branch
Cedarhurst Cut-off
The Cedarhurst Cut-off was a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The line split from the LIRR's Main Line at Rockaway Junction and ran south via Springfield Gardens and Cedarhurst and on to Far Rockaway...
" which the Montauk Branch was relocated to northeast of Springfield Junction
Springfield Junction (Long Island Rail Road)
Springfield Junction was a junction between the Long Island Rail Road's Montauk Branch and Atlantic Branch in Laurelton, Queens, New York City, United States...
. The tracks were elevated from ground-level from the 1950s through the 1970s. Elevation of the line sparked grass-roots efforts to preserve the previous versions of Wantagh and Lindendurst Stations, the former of which resulted in the creation of the Wantagh Railroad Museum. The last station to be elevated on the branch was Massapequa Park
Massapequa Park (LIRR station)
Massapequa Park is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located on New York State Route 27 and Park Boulevard in Massapequa Park, New York, although there are parking lots along Front Street and north of the station. All parking lots require Village of...
on December 13, 1980.
Since the 1990's, many station houses along the branch have been rebuilt. Additionally, from July 2007 to April 10, 2011 the signals, switches, and gantries were replaced between the Wantagh Interlocking and Amityville Station and replaced the old PRR position signals with colored signals that were installed during the elevation of that section in 1973.
Stations
| Station/ location |
Station link |
Miles to Penn Station Pennsylvania Station (New York City) Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also... |
Connections/notes | |
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| For continuing service to Jamaica Jamaica (LIRR station) Jamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers... and points west, see City Terminal Zone City Terminal Zone The City Terminal Zone is the name given to a collection of rail lines of the Long Island Rail Road in New York City. Specifically, it refers to all stations that lie in fare zone 1 , which is the set of stations west of Jamaica.-Stations:- Routes : There are three routes that are considered part... |
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| Saint Albans St. Albans (LIRR station) Saint Albans is a station on the Long Island Rail Road located in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens in New York City. Located at Linden Boulevard and Montauk Place , the station has an island platform between the two tracks. Listed as a West Hempstead Branch station, it is mostly served by... (some trains) Linden Boulevard and Montauk Street, Saint Albans |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=083 | 14.0 | New York City Bus New York City Transit buses New York City Transit buses, marked on the buses MTA New York City Bus, is a bus service that operates in all five boroughs of New York City, employing over 4300 buses on 219 routes within the five boroughs of New York City in the United States... : Q4 |
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| New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... / Nassau County Nassau County, New York Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532... border |
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| Valley Stream Valley Stream (LIRR station) Valley Stream is a station on the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Branch serving the residents of Valley Stream, and is the first station in Nassau County. The station is located at Franklin Avenue and Sunrise Highway, west of Rockaway Avenue, and is 17.7 miles from Penn Station in Midtown... (eastbound, late nights only) Franklin Avenue and Sunrise Highway, Valley Stream Valley Stream, New York Valley Stream is a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population in the village of Valley Stream was 37,511 at the 2010 census... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=087 | 18.3 | LIRR 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... : Far Rockaway Branch Far Rockaway Branch The Far Rockaway Branch is an electrified rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch begins at Valley Interlocking, just east of Valley Stream station; the Long Beach Branch also begins there, heading east and south to Long Beach,... trains Long Island Bus: N2 |
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| Lynbrook Lynbrook (LIRR station) Lynbrook is a train station in Lynbrook, New York at Sunrise Highway and Peninsula Boulevard on the Long Island Rail Road. The station is elevated and is wheelchair accessible through elevator access.-History:... (some trains) Sunrise Highway and Peninsula Boulevard, Lynbrook Lynbrook, New York Lynbrook is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 19,427 at the 2010 census. The Village of Lynbrook is inside the Town of Hempstead. The Village of Lynbrook's current mayor is William Hendrick.... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=100 | 19.9 | LIRR 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... : Long Beach Branch Long Beach Branch The Long Beach Branch is an electrified rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch begins at Valley Interlocking, at Valley Stream station, where the Atlantic Branch tracks from the west are redesignated Long Beach Branch and the... trains Long Island Bus: N4, N25, N31, N32, N36 |
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| Rockville Centre Rockville Centre (LIRR station) Rockville Centre is a station along the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially at North Village Avenue and Front Street north of Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre, New York, but the station property spreads west to North Center Avenue and east to North Park Avenue... North Village Avenue and Front Street, Rockville Centre Rockville Centre, New York Rockville Centre is a village located in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 24,023. The town is made up of middle to upper middle class residents, most of the wealthier residents residing on the north side of town near the... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=106 | 21.5 | Long Island Bus: N14, N15, N16 | |
| Baldwin Baldwin (LIRR station) Baldwin is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located on Sunrise Highway and Grand Avenue in Baldwin, New York, although it also includes Milburn and Brooklyn Avenues... Sunrise Highway and Grand Avenue, Baldwin Baldwin, Nassau County, New York Baldwin is a hamlet located in the town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 24,033 at the 2010 census.Baldwin is also a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road.... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=107 | 23.4 | Long Island Bus: N35 | |
| Freeport Freeport (LIRR station) Freeport is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located in Freeport Plaza between Henry Street and Benson Place just north of NY 27 in Freeport, New York.... Henry Street and Benson Place, Freeport Freeport, New York Freeport is a village in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, USA, on the South Shore of Long Island. The population was 42,860 at the 2010 census. A settlement since the 1640s, it was once an oystering community and later a resort popular with the New York City theater community... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=108 | 24.9 | Long Island Bus: N4, N19, N36, N40, N41, N43, N62 (N88 summer service to Jones Beach Jones Beach State Park Jones Beach State Park is a state park of the U.S. state of New York. It is located in southern Nassau County, in the hamlet of Wantagh, on Jones Beach Island, a barrier island linked to Long Island by the Meadowbrook State Parkway, Wantagh State Parkway and Ocean Parkway .The park is renowned for... ) |
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| Merrick Merrick (LIRR station) Merrick is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located on Sunrise Highway, between Hewlett Avenue and Merrick Avenue, in Merrick, New York... Sunrise Highway, between Hewlett Avenue and Merrick Avenue, Merrick Merrick, New York Merrick is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 22,097. The name "Merrick" is taken from Meroke, the name of the Algonquian tribe formerly indigenous to the area... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=109 | 26.3 | Long Island Bus: N51 | |
| Bellmore Bellmore (LIRR station) Bellmore is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located on the north side of Sunrise Highway between Bedford and Centre Avenues in Bellmore, New York, however the actual land area occupied by the station's several parking lots begins west of Centre Avenue and... Sunrise Highway and Bedford Avenue, Bellmore |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=110 | 27.8 | Long Island Bus: N45, N46, N50 | |
| Wantagh Wantagh (LIRR station) Wantagh is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located on Wantagh Avenue and Railroad Avenue near NY 27 in Wantagh, New York... Wantagh Avenue and Railroad Avenue, Wantagh Wantagh, New York Wantagh is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=111 | 28.8 | Long Island Bus: N73, N74 | |
| Seaford Seaford (LIRR station) Seaford is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located at New York State Route 27 and Jackson Avenue in Seaford, New York, however parking areas stretch as beyond Washington Avenue east of this corner, and west towards the interchange with New York State... Sunrise Highway and Jackson Avenue, Seaford Seaford, New York Seaford is a census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 15,294 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Seaford is located at .... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=112 | 29.9 | Long Island Bus: N54 | |
| Massapequa Massapequa (LIRR station) Massapequa is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road in Massapequa, New York. It is officially located on Sunrise Highway east of Broadway and NY 107 and parking lots are located far beyond its given location. The station serves the Babylon Branch, which leads to the Montauk... Sunrise Highway east of Broadway (NY 107), Massapequa Massapequa, New York Massapequa is a hamlet located in the suburban Nassau County, New York. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 21,685.Massapequa is located on the South Shore of Long Island.... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=113 | 30.9 | Long Island Bus: N54, N55, N80, N81 | |
| Massapequa Park Massapequa Park (LIRR station) Massapequa Park is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located on New York State Route 27 and Park Boulevard in Massapequa Park, New York, although there are parking lots along Front Street and north of the station. All parking lots require Village of... Sunrise Highway and Park Boulevard, Massapequa Park Massapequa Park, New York The Village of Massapequa Park is a village located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 17,008 at the 2010 census.-History:... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=114 | 31.7 | Long Island Bus: N54, N55, N80, N81 | |
| Nassau County Nassau County, New York Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532... / Suffolk County Suffolk County, New York Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came... border |
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| Amityville 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... John Street, between Sunrise Highway and Montauk Highway Montauk Highway Montauk Highway is one of the original through highways of Long Island, New York, extending from Jamaica, in the New York City borough of Queens to Montauk Point in Suffolk County, a distance of approximately 100 miles .... (NY 27A), 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:... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=115 | 33.5 | Long Island Bus: N54 Suffolk County Bus: 1A, S1, S33 |
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| Copiague Copiague (LIRR station) Copiague is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, located in Copiague, New York. The station is located on Marconi Boulevard and Great Neck Road , one block north of Oak Street . Copiague Station was originally built in 1902, and was rebuilt with temporary high level... Marconi Boulevard and Great Neck Road, Copiague Copiague, New York Copiague is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 18,037 at the 2007 census. Once Copiague was a thriving Italian community. Many years ago a part of Copiague was named after Marconi. The ethnic makeup of the hamlet is quite diverse, making Copiague a rich... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=116 | 34.6 | Suffolk County Bus: 1B, S20, S31 | |
| Lindenhurst Lindenhurst (LIRR station) Lindenhurst is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located at Wellwood Avenue and East Hoffman Avenue in Lindenhurst, New York.-History:... Wellwood Avenue and East Hoffman Avenue, Lindenhurst Lindenhurst, New York Lindenhurst is a village in Suffolk County, New York, on the southern shore of Long Island in the Town of Babylon. The population was 27,819 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lindenhurst is located at .... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=117 | 35.9 | Suffolk County Bus: 1B, S20, S35 | |
| Babylon Babylon (LIRR station) Babylon is a station on the Long Island Rail Road in the village of Babylon, New York at Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue. It is on the Montauk Branch, and is the eastern terminus of the Babylon Branch service... Railroad Avenue just west of Deer Park Avenue, Babylon Babylon, New York Babylon, New York can refer to:* Babylon , New York, in Suffolk County, New York, USA* Babylon , New York, in the town of Babylon... |
http://lirr42.mta.info/sfweb/faces/station.jspx?name=118 | 38.8 | Transfer between diesel and electric trains LIRR 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... : 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... trains Long Island Bus: N19, N72 Suffolk County Bus: S20, S23, S25, S27, S29, S40, S42 (S47 seasonal service to Robert Moses State Park Robert Moses State Park (Long Island) Robert Moses State Park - Long Island is a state park that is located in the state of New York.The park lies in southern Suffolk County on the western end of Fire Island, one of the central barrier Islands off the southern coast of Long Island... ) |
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| For continuing service to Montauk Montauk (LIRR station) Montauk is the terminus of the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, and as such is the easternmost railroad station on Long Island. The station is located on Edgemere Street and Fort Pond Road west of Montauk Harbor, New York.... , see 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... |
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