Publius Plunkett wrote:Thank you for a photos nyandw. Is there anything left of this Branch? Does the LIRR still own the ROW?
I remember running down the Bushwick Branch and the guys talking about operating on it. That is definitely old Brooklyn!
From Wiki (my edit):
Upon the dissolution of the Manhattan Beach Branch in 1924, the line became a freight spur between the Bushwick and Bay Ridge Branches in Brooklyn. Freight traffic started to significantly decline in 1938, and on February 9, 1939, eight blocks of track, or 1,834 feet (559 m), were removed between Starr and Himrod Streets Further dismantling took place between 1957 and 1962 and throughout much of the late 20th century...The Evergreen Branch still served a few customers until the 1970s...By 1972, the line was cut back to Grove Street.
By the late 1970s, the Cooper Junction end of the line only had one remaining customer: Tulnoy Lumber, located at Putnam Avenue. After this location was closed, Conrail filed to abandon the line on September 15, 1983...The line was out of service in January 1985.
Full version here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreen_Branch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm working on finding more material, but suffice to say, it's all abandoned and paved/built over. For example:
Forgotten New York - Kevin Walsh's wonderful site: EVERGREEN BRANCH: another lost LIRR line
https://forgotten-ny.com/2000/10/evergr ... lirr-line/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
From Art Huneke's super collection. Enough material to help model the line, I feel!
https://www.arrts-arrchives.com/evgrn1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Built as part of the main line of the three foot gauge New York and Manhattan Beach Railway the Evergreen Branch consisted of two leased portions: Greenpoint to Flushing Avenue, 2.70 miles leased from the Glendale & East River, and Flushing Avenue to Cooper Avenue Junction, leased from the Brooklyn & Rockaway Beach. In 1883 the standard gauge connection from Cooper Avenue Junction to the Montauk Division at Fresh Pond was built and the lines to Manhattan Beach from Cooper Ave. Jct. And Bay Ridge were made standard gauge. The "Evergreen Branch" remained narrow gauge until 1884. During 1883, 1884 and 1885 a shuttle ran connecting at Cooper Ave. Jct. with every long island city train. In 1886 Greenpoint service was abandoned and a Bushwick shuttle was instituted which ran through the 1894 season. In 1896 - 1897 the right of way between Greenpoint and South Side crossing (Bushwick Branch crossing) was abandoned. On February 9, 1939 eight blocks length of the branch was removed from service. These crossings were closed: Himrod street; Stanhope street; Stokholm street; Dekalb avenue; Hart street; Suydam street; Willoughby avenue and Starr street. In 1965 when New York State purchased the LIRR the Bay Ridge and Evergreen Branches remained part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Subsequently they became part of Penn Central then Conrail. In 1984 the LIRR, again, took over the Bay Ridge Branch, but decided to abandon the Evergreen Branch and its sole consignee."