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At the risk of taking this Forum away from any Amtrak related topic, the A Train Rockaway line was once owned by the Long Island RR; however a fire during 1950 truncated the trestle over Jamaica Bay where the video linked by Ms. Sojourner was shot.
The following quoted material is from a Wiki article:
quote:A fire on the trestle across Jamaica Bay between The Raunt and Broad Channel stations cut service on the middle section of the line on May 8, 1950.[20] The LIRR continued to operate over the line with two services: one to Rockaway Park west of Hammels via the Far Rockaway Branch through Nassau County, and the other to Hamilton Beach via the Main Line's connection to the Rockaway Branch through Whitepot Junction. The Jamaica Bay trestle meanwhile remained out of service.[21] The LIRR saw the Rockaway Beach Branch south of Ozone Park as a liability, and sought to either sell or abandon it. The city of New York, however, saw great potential in extending subway service over Jamaica Bay and purchased the line in 1955. After an extensive rebuild of all trestles and converting the line for transit operations, the city began operating it as the IND Rockaway Line on June 26, 1956 to great fanfare.[22]
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That's right, the trestle was originally part of the LIRR. As a subway line, in the past (as now) the A train went to Rockaway--but the A train used to be part of the IND subway line, back when there were three lines (IRT, BMT, IND). In the other direction, the A train famously went to Harlem, whence the Duke Ellington song. (It went there long before it was extended to go to Rockaway; that song was written in the 1930s.) I also think for a time the E train went to the Rockaways, a rush-hour express--I'm not sure exactly how that worked, since otherwise I think the E train came from Lefferts Blvd in Queens.
Shuttles connecting Rockaway Park to Broad Channel, where passengers could catch the A train, I believe had the H designation. That letter has been reinstituted for the current shuttle.
Late at night and sometimes on weekends, instead of people using the shuttle, I believe the A train did a "round robin"--went across the trestle via Broad Channel but then to Rockaway Park before going back to Far Rockaway Mott Avenue.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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You know Ms. Sojourner, when I make mention to my Niece, 35 or two Nephews, 44,42 - all of whom reside in Brooklyn, terms like IRT, BMT, IND, I get the Whhhattt?
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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You won't get that from me, Gil. Before I became a railfan (of sorts), I was a subway fan.
Since I also like the ponies, I wish to point out that the "A" train serves Aqueduct Racetrack in S. Ozone Park, Queens.
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Don't miss the photos of the 300 cheerleaders waiting for the C train!
dilly Member # 1427
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: When I make mention to my Niece, 35 or two Nephews, 44,42 - all of whom reside in Brooklyn, terms like IRT, BMT, IND, I get the Whhhattt?
Several of Brooklyn's subway lines run mainly outdoors, and were actually built as privately-owned steam railroads during the 1800s.
Their grade-level tracks were eventually lowered into trenches or raised into the air on trestles and embankments. Their original wooden rural train stations have been replaced. And they're now simply part of the New York City subway system, with most riders completely unaware of their history as railroads.
Nevertheless, in the borough's less trendy, more tradition-bound neighborhoods, born-in-Brooklyn baby boomers and their elders still "take the train" into Manhattan, and refer to their neighborhood stop as "the train station" (rather than "subway station").
Just like their parents, grandparents, and great grandparents did before them.
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Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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And every real Chicagoan still calls the Ogilvie Transportation Center "North Western Station."
RRRICH Member # 1418
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That's true, Henry, and I, as a former Chicago area citizen, still refer to the Willis Tower at the Sears Tower, and I still refer to U.S. Cellular Field as "Comiskey Park."
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