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 Long
island City( Montauk Branch)
By Peggy
Darlington and Wayne Whitehorne
We will begin our city journey at Long
Island City station, which is a 2 car hi-level island
platform with one stair and one wheelchair ramp alongside Borden
Ave. The platform is newly relocated, and is sandwiched in
between yard tracks (they are Tracks #2 and #3). The original
low platform was against the old chain link fence on Track #1.
The station first opened on May 9th, 1861 and has its
platform and station house enlarged over the next 20 years. A
second station house was built in 1891 and was restored in 1903 from
a fire the year before. However, the station house was a
victim to Robert Moses and his Queens Midtown Tunnel in 1938, as the
tunnel portals actually run one block to the north of the station.
The Queens Midtown opened for passenger car service in 1940
The Montauk Branch
contains 5 stations that were closed due to low usage in 1998.
Leaving
here trains have a choice of the Montauk branch or going on to
Hunter's Point and the line from NY Penn Station
Penny Bridge
Located at grade near the intersection of Review Avenue and Laurel
Hill Blvd. There may have been a wooden shed there at one time,
according to some historic photos.
Haberman
At grade, 50 Street at 56 Road. There was no platform here, just a
sign, which has since been removed.
Fresh Pond
Below grade, Admiral Avenue at Fresh Pond Road. There was a metal
stair leading to street level; only a sign at trackside.
Glendale
At grade, 73 Street at Edsall Avenue. There was never a station as
such; only a small clearing at trackside.
Richmond Hill
Island platform on an embankment; 118 Street between
Metropolitan and Hillside Avenues. This was the only stop on this
line that could technically be called a 'station'. It had a concrete
platform and a modest canopy, both of which are still in place.
There were no platform lights (at least none that we could find
evidence of)
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