Though the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway ended passenger service in 1953, and freight service east of Arlington some years later, a short stretch of extant tracks can still be found north of Richmond Terrace at about Bard Avenue. This photo comes from about five years ago, before Hurricane Sandy, and the Kill may have absorbed even more of the railroad since then. The trackways, overpasses and stations have been left to nature for over 60 years.

Stations of the SIR

Staten Island Railway

Also: see Mark Pitanza’s excellent 2015 book on the SIR.

6/30/15