The
East New York Tunnel was built in 1914 as part of the Long Island Railroad’s
grade crossing elimination project. The East New York tunnel is 3,900 feet
long and was constructed utilizing the cut and cover method.
The
East New York Tunnel was built in 1914 as part of the Long Island Railroad’s
grade crossing elimination project. The East New York tunnel is 3,900 feet
long and was constructed utilizing the cut and cover method.
The tunnel has four portals. At one time, the tunnel contained
the East New York station for the LIRR Bay Ridge branch. You can see remnants
of the station platform in between the two rightmost portals. The tunnel
was designed to efficiently service local passenger service (via the East
New York Platform) and also service freight operations (the two leftmost
portals). The train from which this photo was taken was located on the
freight tracks.
The
BMT L Canarsie Line elevated subway train structure hovers high above the
Bay Ridge branch ROW. As you will see in the following photographs, the
Canarsie Line runs about a mile or so along the Bay Ridge Branch ROW.
The
Canarsie Line runs along the left of the ROW. Several street crossings
were elevated during the LIRR Grade Elimination Project in 1917. Typical
LIRR engineered street overpasses line the ROW.
If you want to see some old pictures of the LIRR Grade
Elimination crossing in action, please visit Paul Matus’ excellent site
Rapidtranist.net.
His site contains "Reports of the Brooklyn Grade Crossing Elimination Commission".
Pictures, maps, and historical descriptions are provided at this link.
A
close-up view of the Canarsie Line. Notice the large cement support pillars
that support the steel stanchions. A retaining wall marks the property
line for the Canarsie Line and the Bay Ridge Branch.
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the East New York Tunnel and ROW!