In 2002, Me, M, and a reporter climbed up onto the old LIRR Rockaway Beach tracks in Ozone Park.
This post is one in a series covering the entire length of the former LIRR Rockaway beach branch, which ran from the current LIRR mainline in Rego Park, all the way to Rockaway. In this article, we will be looking at the viaduct that runs through Ozone Park, containing the shell of a once busy transfer station.
History
For much of its history, the LIRR made no money. Beginning in 1900 it was owned by the much larger, more profitable Pennsylvania Rail Road (PRR), which subsidized it. As the PRR’s own fortunes declined, they were forced to stop funding the LIRR in 1949.
In this pre-MTA era, service cuts were forced, and one of the worst cuts of all was to the Rockaway Beach Branch. At the time, the trestle south of Ozone Park and across Jamacia Bay was a wooden structure prone to fires. It was an expensive money pit for which the LIRR had no cash to maintain.
Thus, the tracks south of Ozone Park were sold to the city, which completely rebuilt the viaduct & bridge to Rockaway. Today, this portion of the Rockaway Beach Branch is better known as the ‘A train’ – running 24/7/365 between upper Manhattan and far Rockaway. Subway service began on June 28th, 1956, and has only been occasionally interrupted for maintenance and serious storms like Hurricane Sandy
Meanwhile, North of Ozone Park, the LIRR was still limping along in bankruptcy. The truncated route was soon deemed unprofitable. The last LIRR train ran on June 8th, 1962.
Today, transit advocates (myself included) want to see these tracks reopened, while park advocates would rather see the route turned into a greenspace. The park advocates like to claim that these tracks are ‘a failed transit route’, which is 100% not true. Had the LIRR been properly funded in the 1950s and 60s, these tracks would never have been abandoned. Another option would have been for the city to convert the entire route to subway usage, construction a connection to the Queens blvd subway in Rego Park. Had this happened, it would have created a very busy, successful subway route through Queens.
Adventure and more recent history
Climbing up here isn’t too hard, and if you don’t walk along the edges, you’re surprisingly out of view from the streets below.
Ozone Park Station
On a nice spring day in 2002 myself, M and a journalist made the climb and enjoyed the hike. We started at the north end and walked south, passing through the remains of Ozone Park station. There’s not much to see here – only high level platforms and old signals remain. The station is nevertheless amazingly long. It was built so two full length trains could be at the platform at the same time.
There was also an old control tower here once called ‘Ozone tower’. It is rumored that the NYPD built a fake wood version of Ozone tower to set up spy cameras to keep an eye on notorious mob boss John Gotti – who kept his social club/office nearby. According to local lure, one 4th of july this fake structure was set on fire by ‘unknown’ arsonists, completely destroying it.
The tracks up here were littered with car parts, dislodged rails, and trees growing through the old crossties. To the sides and above were remains of signals, cable poles and signal towers.
Just south of the station is where the huge spider dangled off a signal tower. This massive art pieces was created by an unknown artist. I could speculate who was behind it, but I don’t want to go there without strong evidence.
According to one (amazingly old and awesome) webpage, the spider disappeared in 2004.
One feature that I loved about the spider was how it drifted slightly in the wind. it would turn and spin back to its original position. From a distance, it seemed alive.
I haven’t been back to this spot since this day, so I can’t say for sure what ever became of the spider. It may be laying up there, ready to crawl back up into position anytime… I will admit I would love to see this. So much about NYC has changed over the last 15 years. The spider itself was a form of street art that existed long before such works became popular. It is a part of why I’m putting these photos back online actually. The world needs to be reminded about this spider, and about the history of these tracks, which never should have been abandoned to begin with.
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That spider had fallen down and was on the tracks when I first went in 2004 or 2005.
In that case, we need to get some rope… Heh!
Do any police or transit workers patrol the area? I’m sure not, and I’d have like to go to explore, as it looks enchanting, but I wouldn’t want any charges if I do :/
@ Lost. No police really patrol the area and there is definitely no transit workers up there. Had recently visited last month. There is a precient around the area but hopefully that shouldn’t alarm you too much. So if you do go visit, just be prepared with certain essentials like a Flashlight if you plan to go at night and gloves if need to. There are probably different ways to get up there, I used a steel beam to climb up ahead.
Its really a shame that the MTA is allowing a very useful railroad ROW to deteriorate like that. The areas served by the former Rockaway RR line could really use the extra rapid transit service.
I was born a few blocks from the station and I am a huge LIRR fan. If anyone would ever send me a small remnant of the station I would be grateful.
I actually climbed up here myself. Didn’t have money to get into the system and I had a flat tire on my bike. Had to haul it up and bring it on to the platform.
I really enjoyed reading these articles and seeing these pics. I loved those trains back in the 1950s. The southbound train went under the embankment behind my house. I used to ride on them and missed them so much when they discontinued! The last time I walked on the tracks was in 1974! Thanks so much for this!
I grew up in ozone park and remember taking the A back and forth just waiting to catch a glimpse of that spider. Sadly around 04-05 yeah it had dropped to the tracks as mentioned. It went back up for a brief period then vanished. I was sitting here watching abandoned places on YouTube and thought of this. Thanks for the nostalgia!
I’ve only discovered the ozone park station but it was cut off from the rest I gotta find another way that area was completely taken of by nature
My husband, Danny Questel, made the spider… he and his brothers had the ironworks shop underneath the old line.
That spider is a Beautiful part of iron works history ! My brother, Danny Questel, made that spider and many other unique pieces. My three brothers owned an ironwork shop beneath where it used to hang.
Lived on 99th and 101st in the early 70’s I remember the big fire on the south west corner of 99th and 101st and I was up on that old train track myself good old days
i would like to see tho old abandoned train tracks reactivated again to help make commuting much easier and faster less time consuming travels
That spider was awesome. Severely miss it.
I am retiered from LIRR in 1998 worked in the aire and i wish the the company put the tracks back and in service i think it was a big mistake to do away with the tracks, and yes the giant spider was a joke amung us RR wokers, i think the company made a big mistake. R M. Ritered LIRR. Track Dept.
I grew up on 102st between 94th and 95th Ave and spent my childhood up on the trestle. My friends and I used to walk the tracks all the wY up to forest park and south as far as we could. I don’t know when the spider was put up but it was not there from 1969 until 1980.