Rockaway Beach Branch
The Rockaway Beach Branch was a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in Queens, New York City, United States. The line left the Main Line at Whitepot Junction in Rego Park heading south via Ozone Park and across Jamaica Bay to Hammels in the Rockaways, turning west there to a terminal at Rockaway Park. Along the way it connected with the Montauk Branch near Glendale, the Atlantic Branch near Woodhaven, and the Far Rockaway Branch at Hammels.
This article is about the former rail line that originated in Rego Park. For the former rail line that originated in Hillside, see Cedarhurst Cut-off. For the operational rail line, see Far Rockaway Branch. For the subway line, see IND Rockaway Line.Rockaway Beach Branch
Out of service (Rego Park-Liberty Avenue)
In service as IND Rockaway Line (Liberty Avenue–Rockaway Peninsula)
City of New York
- Rego Park (north)
- Rockaway Park and Far Rockaway, Rockaway Peninsula (south)
19
Passenger; freight (former)
Rapid transit; disused (current)
1880 (LIRR)
1956 (subway; south of Liberty Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard)
1950 (Liberty Avenue–Rockaway Peninsula)
1962 (Liberty Avenue–Rego Park)
4.8 miles (7.7 km)
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
~35–45 mph (56–72 km/h)
After a 1950 fire, the Jamaica Bay bridge was closed and the line south of Ozone Park sold to the city, which rehabilitated the portion south of Liberty Avenue and connected it to the New York City Subway system as the IND Rockaway Line. The portion north of the subway connection was closed in 1962, and three proposals exist for the reuse of the line.
Southbound track at White Pot Junction
Underpass for northbound track
Wireless electricity pole with ceramic insulators
Former Glendale Junction remnant
Glendale Junction
IND Rockaway Line running above adjacent derelict Rockaway Beach line
Rockaway Park station before 1913
