Mineola  

MINEOLA: Appears on the timetable of March, 1837 as "Hempstead." this was the stage connection to Hempstead.  The station does not appear on the timetables of 1838. Depot probably opened in July 1839 with opening of the LIRR branch to Hempstead.  Depot named "Branch" as a result; later named "Hempstead Branch."  Last listed as "Hempstead Branch" in timetable of June 6, 1861 and listed as "Mineola" in timetable of June 4, 1862.  Renovated: June/1872. 
2nd Depot built: May-June/1883, razed: 1923  3rd, Relocated depot in service: 9/22/23  Research: Dave Keller
 

 LIRR and CRR Mineola-Hempstead area map 1839-1878 Design: Steven Lynch

1837 track laid from Jamaica to Hicksville
1839 track laid from Mineola to Hempstead
1865 branch opened to Glen Head
1878 wooden bridge constructed over Mineola Blvd
1883 wooden depot building constructed on the south side
1889 date of the map on the Mineola waiting room wall
1890 brick signal tower opened as Tower 45
1890 second track laid from Mineola to Hicksville
1907 Tower 45 was renamed MT Tower
1910 Electric substation No. 8 put into service for Hempstead Branch
1922 MT Tower destroyed by a derailed freight car
1923 April 25th new tower opened as MT Tower
1926 third rail constructed to Mineola Station
1935 last passenger service to Hempstead (then used for freight only)
1938 Sept 18th MT Tower named changed to Nassau Tower
1965 abandoned tracks to Hempstead
1970 third rail extended from Mineola to Huntington
1971 Bill Bellmere photographed track still in Old Country Road roadbed

 Research: Dave Morrison

In July 1839 the new track to Hempstead was opened from Hempstead Branch, later Mineola, to a terminal on Main Street. The Glen Cove Branch Railroad was incorporated December 3, 1858 and opened to Glen Head January 23, 1865, to Glen Cove May 16, 1867 and to Locust Valley April 19, 1869. 
Info: Art Huneke 

At the time of the photo below left (Mineola Junction 1878), the LIRR did not yet operate all the way through to Oyster Bay, but ended its branch at Locust Valley.  The photo was shot in 1879-1880.  The LIRR reached Locust Valley in 1869, yet the depot reads " . . . Glen Cove . . . .Railroad(s)."  When constructing branches, the LIRR would form a new, temporary company for construction purposes only.  Once the construction was complete and the branch placed in service, ownership was transferred to the LIRR.  The railroad opened to Locust Valley in 1869, and the Mineola depot was reportedly renovated in 1872, so the names on the station were obviously painted AFTER the renovation.  Why the Glen Cove Railroad name was still on there at the time of this image is not known, however, as the line was not yet complete, and was to eventually reach Oyster Bay as its eastern-most terminus, the Glen Cove Railroad may still have been on the books as construction wasn't yet officially completed.  However, this doesn't explain the use of the "Hempstead Railroad" name.  Another "history mystery."   Research: Dave Keller  

Mineola Front St./Main - Express House, water tank, pump house.
View NNE with the Main line behind the structures. 1877
Archive: Richard Eikov

Mineola Junction c. 1879 View East
Photo: George Brainard Archive: Dave Keller


Mineola Junction c. 1879 View East (close-up)
Photo: George Brainard Archive: Dave Keller

Mineola map c.1880 Design/Research: Dave Keller

This loop track allowed:
1. Northbound trains from Hempstead to head EAST along the main line at Mineola via first the loop track, the passing siding, then onto the main.

2. Westbound trains along the main line to head SOUTH to Hempstead at Mineola via the passing siding then the loop track.
 

1. The single main line track heads east. Branching off from it in the left foreground is the main track of the branch to Locust Valley.

2. Just beyond the center island platform is the secondary track branching off and connecting with the track heading up towards Locust Valley.

3. Beyond that we see the east leg of the wye with the crossing track (just beyond the road crossing) from Hempstead branching off and connecting to the branch to Locust Valley.

4. Beyond the crossing we see at the right, the express house, and then the old water tank with windmill atop to draw the water as needed. Also, across from the express house, you'll see a curved high-level platform to load/offload express/baggage for trains to Locust Valley from both Mineola AS well as Hempstead.

5. At the left, you'll see the passing siding. Branching off the passing siding you will see, across the tracks, where the replacement water tower was eventually built (Emery's 1905 map) you see a solitary cluster of trees with the track off the passing siding looping around to connect southbound to the Hempstead branch connecting track (east leg of the wye).

6. Possibly a wooden crossing warning sign. Back then they were tall and stretched across the roads.

7. Turnout switch stands

8. A short, high-level platform. It may be the express platform for trains navigating the Glen Cove branch to Locust Valley. Note its proximity to the express house at #4 and its height matches that of the platform at #4. It also follows the curve to Locust Valley.  Research: Dave Keller
 

Mineola Station ground view E 
(close-up) 1879

Mineola Station ground view E c.1880

Mineola map 1889 -  Error: Main Line east as Central Extension

To the left of the station is a switch target on a long post, with lantern atop. One red and one green globe. When the switch is thrown for the spur track to Hempstead, the globe will be red for westbound trains, advising them the switch has been set against them and they must stop.

Below the lantern is some sort of rectangular object . .. perhaps a sign. . . and the round object is actually two . .. one on either side of the rectangular sign. They are facing the opposite way, visible only to westbound trains....function unknown.

However, it IS the switch target for the junction track on the west side of the depot heading south towards Hempstead (i.e. the LIRR's original Hempstead branch prior to acquiring A. T. Stewart's road to the same destination.

Therefore, it must be some sort of warning for oncoming (westbound) trains to advise them when the switch was thrown to allow access to the junction eastbound to Hempstead and to the junction westbound from Hempstead.  Archive/Research: Dave Keller

Mineola station c. 1900.  Note the passenger train heading south to Hempstead Crossing in Garden City and perhaps on to Hempstead.  
Also note the covered platform has been added to the east side of the depot building and tower #45:1 has been constructed.

Mineola Depot MOW workers clearing the tracks for LIRR #53 4-4-0 , the first train through after the blizzard of January, 1899 Photo: Hal B. Fullerton-Queens Public Library  Restored: Chris Klug

The image also clearly shows the connection from the Oyster Bay branch south to Garden City via the east leg of the Mineola wye. Dave Keller

Emery map - Mineola 1905  Archive: Dave Keller

Mineola Station Cutoff to Hempstead Branch c.1885 There is no covered platform on the east side of the depot building and Tower #45:1 does not exist. Info: Dave Keller

Mineola D16b #219 westbound -  "MT" tower . - View E 1909
Photo: Joseph Burt  Archive/Info: Dave Keller

Note: The old brick "MT" tower covered with ivy. The tell-tales are for the "new" (1907) trestle for Mineola Blvd. which replaced the old wooden trestle that's shown in Brainerd's 1880 photo.
 

Mineola station View E - Summer, 1922. Archive: Art Huneke
Note: The covered platform on the east side of the depot has been removed and repositioned closer to the tracks 
to allow for the 1910 construction of the LIRR substation directly behind it. Research: Dave Keller 

1. Notice the old "MT" tower at the left of the substation. It was demolished as a result of a train derailment on 12/31/22.
2. It can't have been photographed any later than the summer of 1922 because of the trees fully leaved and the tower was still standing.
3. You'll notice the segment of third rail installed along the edge of the curved station platform.
4. In 1926, the new third rail was installed along the outer edge (right side) of the curved track.
5. Art Huneke believes the short segment of third rail, visibly in place in 1922, was installed for easy charging of the battery cars when stopped at this end of the run.
6. But, he also indicates: According to Felix Reifschneider part of the route was equipped with third rail in 1922 and the cars were equipped with third rail collection shoes. 
 

Tower #45: 1 c.1905 Brick tower in service 1890, south of mainline east end of wooden station platform; E of Mineola Blvd.  Renamed "MT" 1907 Archive/Info: Dave Keller

On December 31, 1922 a freight train derailed in front of the 1890-era brick "MT" tower at Mineola.  The block operator was seated at the chair visible in the upper left-hand corner of the structure.  At that time, there was a second floor back door and wooden connecting bridge between the tower and the 2nd floor of the LIRR's electric sub-station behind it.  You can make out the doorway and part of the wooden handrails just to the right of the operators chair.  The operator ran out the rear tower door and into the LIRR substation, probably saving his life. When the freight car was pulled out of the structure, the tower collapsed.  This image was probably shot the next day after the freight car was removed.  Either a lineman or the block operator has climbed the telegraph pole between the tower and the Mineola depot to keep communications open.  The current tower was built shortly thereafter and placed in service on April 25, 1923, retaining, for the time being, the call letters of "MT." (Joseph Burt photograph) Archive: Art Huneke Info: Dave Keller

1st MU Train from Valley Stream via West Hempstead and Hempstead
Branches at Mineola 10/1926  Archive: Dave Keller

LIRR G5s #48 EB at Signal LI Motor Pkwy Bridge Mineola c.1940
 Photo: Art Huneke Archive: Dave Keller

Mineola View NW c.1925 Archive: Dave Morrison

Mineola View E 9/16/1931 Archive: Dave Morrison

NASSAU Tower & Substation 8 - View E from Overpass  
 2/12/1937 (Lichtenstern-Keller)

 
Mineola Station View E 12/01/1945  Photo: Fred Weber

Mineola Station c.1925 Archive: Richard Eikov

H8sb Extra #693 plowing snow past  “Nassau" 12/1948 
(elevated view from overpass)
Photo: Ed Hermann Collection: Dave Keller

G5s #43 Train #4223 westbound at Mineola 12/28/1948 
Archive: Dave Keller

LIRR #108 H10s (2-8-0) on westbound Greenport Freight L-63 approaching NASSAU Tower, Mineola crossing Willis Avenue, passing old Knickerbocker Ice House and  automatic speed control cutout sign, mid-1955  Photo/Archive: Art Huneke

 
G5s #22 eastbound at Mineola 4/16/1950 (Hermanns-Keller)

MU train eastbound at Mineola 1954 (Edwards-Keller)

LIRR CP-20-5 #2006 westbound at Mineola 5/03/1953
Photo:  Jim Gillin

LIRR #21 G5s 4-6-0  eastbound at Mineola 1955

Emery Mineola 1921 page 12
Archive: SUNY Stony Brook

Emery Mineola 1921 page 13
Archive: SUNY Stony Brook

Emery Mineola 1928 page 19
Archive: SUNY Stony Brook

LIRR #1559 Mineola view W 
c. Spring '63 (Krause -Everhart)

Emery 1943 - Archive: Dave Keller

Emery MP18-MP19  5/1958 - Archive: Dave Keller

Wilson & Co. - RS1 #465 - View N c.1950 
Archive: Mineola Historical Society

 
Mineola view S c.1950 Photo/Archive: Art Huneke

Circa 1950, Mineola looking south from Third Street toward Old Country Road crossing protected by a wooden diamond crossing sign. In the distance is the Garden City - Mineola Freight House.

Emery Roslyn Ave., Mineola 1928 page 24
Archive: SUNY Stony Brook

 
 Eastbound entering Oyster Bay Branch 1950
Photo: (J.P. Sommer - Dave Keller)

Mineola view S - 5/1969 Photo/Archive: John Schaub

Passing Nassau Tower 1950 view west
Photo: J.P. Sommer  Archive: Dave Keller


C420 #211 westbound NASSAU Tower - Mineola View E 
4/20/1969  (Smith-Keller)

Mineola, Willis Ave.  view W 1946 Archive: MTA

Swift & Co. Roslyn Rd., Mineola at MP19 location map above.
Archive: Mineola Historical Society  

  In addition to meatpacking, Swift sold various dairy and grocery items, including Swiftning shortening, Allsweet margarine, Silverleaf lard, Brookfield butter, cheese under the Brookfield, Pauly, and Treasure Cave brands, and Peter Pan peanut butter. Swift began selling frozen turkeys under the Butterball brand in 1954. Gustavus Swift also championed the refrigerated railroad car. Info: Wikipedia

LIRR Map #48 - 1966

Long Island Motor Parkway trestle over the Main Line east of MP19 
View E  3/19/78 (Madden-Keller)

The Motor Parkway trestle crossing the Main Line was truncated 
on either side, so it looked like a pedestrian crossover prior to 
demolition in 1983. One of the two last remaining; the other at
East Williston/Albertson on the Oyster Bay Branch. Info: Dave Keller

C420 #228 is entering the Oyster Bay branch at Mineola with an eastbound train. The old wooden section shanty is visible directly behind the stanchion for the crossing lights. This 1975 view, looking northeast, was taken from "NASSAU" tower. (Dave Keller archive)

LIRR #615 - Train- #4551 exits the Oyster Bay Branch  8/1986
Photo/Archive: Jay Bendersky
 

Nassau Tower Cannonball c. 1969
Photo: Richard Glueck

Alco FA-2 601  1971
Photo: Richard Glueck

LIRR Alco  FA # 616 at Nassau /06/16/92 Train 4555
Photo: Kevin Gulau from top of the municipal parking garage

LIRR #200 as delivered (note: fuel tanks) at Mineola eastbound passing under Mineola Blvd. - 1963 Photo: Robert B. Dunnet Archive: John Scala

LIRR #1553 C420 at Mineola 1/1971 Photo/Archive: Brad Phillips
 

LIRR  MP15-AC #165 at Nassau 02/26/84 Train 4553 
Photo: Kevin Gulau from the Mineola Blvd. overpass

There was a track circuit problem on Track 1 during the AM rush causing the trains to move slowly and bunch up together to the point that the crossing gates remained down; before the crossings could be protected. Train #2015, last stop Bethpage, came up Track 2 at MAS and struck the automobile whose driver had lost patience and operated around the downed gates. The accident happened at Willis Avenue and the car was dragged along by the train causing the engine block to be propelled into the building. The train stopped in Mineola station.

The building was a MOW section house used to store material and shelter employees between assignments. My recollection, which may not be correct, is that the building was damaged by the fire, but remained in service. I specifically recall that Ed Wheeler was the Section D train dispatcher and Marian Carbone was the operator at Nassau. Bob Alley, Jr., now retired, was the engineer. Bill Jeffries responded to the scene. 
Account compliments of: Ray Kenny

Photos/Archive:  Dave Morrison

Mineola's New Railroad Station
LIRR Information Bulletin -  Vol. II No.7 12/03/1923
Archive: Dave Morrison

Mineola Station 100th Anniversary

Photos:  9/22/2023  MTA/LIRR