by hondajohn
While jogging on the Long Island Green Belt Trail recently, I noticed that part of the path was along what appeared to be an abandoned railroad grade. The segment begins at Stillwell Lane and can be seen in the aerial view below.
I can rule out an abandoned road because it has a long sweeping curve, consistent and gradual grade, and an enormous amount of filling and cutting to achieve that grade. It just doesn't seem consistent with the amount of effort usually put into dirt road construction. I also thought it might be the driveway to a long-abandoned Gold Coast Mansion, but it doesn't seem to lead to any distinct properties.
Through extensive research (Google, Wikipedia, and this site), I cannot locate reference to any trolley or interurban lines that ever ran through the area. The only lead came from the Port Jefferson Branch's Wiki page:
"The line from Hicksville to Syosset opened in 1854. The LIRR later planned to extend to Cold Spring Harbor, but Oliver Charlick, the LIRR's president, disagreed over the station's location, so Charlick abandoned the grade and relocated the extension south of Cold Spring, refusing to add a station stop near Cold Spring for years."
This may be the last remnant of the original LIRR grade from 1854. Unless I'm completely wrong. Anyone else have any ideas?
I can rule out an abandoned road because it has a long sweeping curve, consistent and gradual grade, and an enormous amount of filling and cutting to achieve that grade. It just doesn't seem consistent with the amount of effort usually put into dirt road construction. I also thought it might be the driveway to a long-abandoned Gold Coast Mansion, but it doesn't seem to lead to any distinct properties.
Through extensive research (Google, Wikipedia, and this site), I cannot locate reference to any trolley or interurban lines that ever ran through the area. The only lead came from the Port Jefferson Branch's Wiki page:
"The line from Hicksville to Syosset opened in 1854. The LIRR later planned to extend to Cold Spring Harbor, but Oliver Charlick, the LIRR's president, disagreed over the station's location, so Charlick abandoned the grade and relocated the extension south of Cold Spring, refusing to add a station stop near Cold Spring for years."
This may be the last remnant of the original LIRR grade from 1854. Unless I'm completely wrong. Anyone else have any ideas?
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