Brick Shanty, Atlantic Branch, 150th St Jamaica

Where the Atlantic Branch underjumps the main, east of Jamaica at 150th St, there was until now a small brick building trackside, protruding from the wall. Door and windows missing for decades, (not bricked over)

They just demolished it this last week.

Does anyone know what it was for?

I never got a response to my photos of it. But a retiree thought it may of had something to do with third rail power. Maybe a Breaker House?

EdwardHand is correct, and last use was by signal for battery storage. Last used glass batteries were in there, and no one wanted to deal with cleaning them up. Maintainer trainees were threatened to the task if the lunch order was bungled, etc.

Post grade elimination work at site of old Jamaica station. Completing Breaker House. Old meat market structure at right. New station visible in distance. Tracks to Old Southern Road in foreground and at left in tunnel. View looking west: 7/14/1914 Archive: Dave Keller

Thank you all. That is a GREAT photo, actually building it. Looks like the windows had blinds on them too then.

Great shot that last pic. Lots of changes coming to that area soon, the trackage above the shanty was old E Yard. At some point soon, they'll build a track from both the West Lay-up and East Lay-up into old E yard and continue into Platform C. The Atlantic Branch should stay the same, that's 1 Atlantic rising up into the Cluster signal area of Hall.