by BobLI
Were the buildings at the Hammels Wye built by the LIRR when the line was elevated to the concrete structure or did ther NYCTA build them when they took over the line?
Railroad Forums
Hammels Wye Buildings
- Discussion of the past and present operations of the Long Island Rail Road.
Moderator: Liquidcamphor
by LongIslandTool
The substation and battery house, which contained the world's largest battery, were completed by the Long Island Rail Road in 1906.
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The Long Island Tool
"... overzealously discharges his duties;
...a "tool" of the administration"
The Long Island Tool
"... overzealously discharges his duties;
...a "tool" of the administration"
by BobLI
Are there any pictures of the battery building and it must be that one floor long building? I dont seem to recall seeing any pictures of it on the LIRR sites.
by CarterB
Is this it? http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?120365
N 40.59191 W 73.80895
N 40.59191 W 73.80895
Bring back the Slumbercoaches!!
by LongIslandTool
That's it. The battery building is on the right, most recently rented out as a community center. In the background on the left is the NYCTA tower built in 1955. The substation was originally red brick and resembled Woodhaven substation.
------------------------
The Long Island Tool
"... overzealously discharges his duties;
...a "tool" of the administration"
The Long Island Tool
"... overzealously discharges his duties;
...a "tool" of the administration"
by keyboardkat
Is the substation building still used by the NYCTA as a substation for the third rail traction current? I know they've replaced all rotary converter substation equipment with solid state rectifiers.
Fairbanks-Morse forever!
by BobLI
I'm not sure if its still in use as a substation but it now has scaffolding all around it and is getting the exterior refurbished. I'm sure our subway experts may know.
by LongIslandTool
The battery was installed in 1899 to provide backup power the the LIRR's first electric venture, Rockaway's Ocean Electric trolleys which shared the LIRR tracks. The Queensborough Light, Heat and Power Company (LILCO and LIPA's predecessor) had just opened its power plant in the Bayswater section of Rockaway and it was considered unreliable. The battery, it was felt, would provide continuous power for the trolleys.
At the height of the trolley operation two decades later, 6,000,000 fares were collected in the Rockaways during a ten week summer period.
At the height of the trolley operation two decades later, 6,000,000 fares were collected in the Rockaways during a ten week summer period.
------------------------
The Long Island Tool
"... overzealously discharges his duties;
...a "tool" of the administration"
The Long Island Tool
"... overzealously discharges his duties;
...a "tool" of the administration"
by krispy
I can only imagine what that looked like, an array of turn-of-the-century batteries with sufficient power to run a trolley system. Anyone photograph that? I love to see how they did that, or some of the early mega-substations along the LIRR, like that monster at ENY. Many thanks for posting!
by Doc Emmet Brown
I remember the substation just east of Bayside, near the trestle.
Its still there today, and Im sure updated.
Used to have to walk over the trestle to go to school.
We could always tell when a train was coming before we saw it, because the substation would start humming.
Its still there today, and Im sure updated.
Used to have to walk over the trestle to go to school.
We could always tell when a train was coming before we saw it, because the substation would start humming.
Marty, It runs on steam!
by BuddR32
I'm reviving this old thread for a question that may be in the wrong board.
On Wednesday I rode the R-42 trip out to Far Rockaway. I was looking at the substation at Hammels Wye, which is clearly a LIRR built building. Which is why I'm asking here.
There are no tracks leading to the building as they're elevated, but part of the substation building is a low long extension with a roll up door. On the side of the building is a sign that reads: Hammels Wye Shop.
The sign dates within the TA operation period, but is/was this a shop for rolling equipment before the tracks were elevated?
On Wednesday I rode the R-42 trip out to Far Rockaway. I was looking at the substation at Hammels Wye, which is clearly a LIRR built building. Which is why I'm asking here.
There are no tracks leading to the building as they're elevated, but part of the substation building is a low long extension with a roll up door. On the side of the building is a sign that reads: Hammels Wye Shop.
The sign dates within the TA operation period, but is/was this a shop for rolling equipment before the tracks were elevated?
by Backshophoss
Most likely the Signal maintainer shop for signal and switch motor repair.
The Land of Enchantment is not Flyover country!
by nyandw
www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/rockawaybeach ... Keller.jpg Hammel's Wye LIRR c.1924
A bit more on this area, 75% down the page:
http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/rockaw ... branch.htm
A bit more on this area, 75% down the page:
http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/rockaw ... branch.htm
by Kelly&Kelly
The substation contained two rotary converters and the world's biggest battery. It was not for rolling stock repairs, though it had a siding for power equipment where the mobile temporary substation car was often kept.