View source for Atlantic Branch

{{short description|Long Island Rail Road branch}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = Atlantic Branch
| box_width                       = auto
| color                           = {{rcr|LIRR|Atlantic Branch}}
| image                           = Atlantic Branch Map.svg
| image_width                     = 300px
| type                            = [[Commuter rail]]
| system                          = [[Long Island Rail Road]]
| status                          = Operational
| locale                          = Western [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States|USA]]
| stations                        = 8 passenger, 1 employee-only
| routes                          = {{Rail color box|system=LIRR|line=City Atlantic}} (Atlantic Shuttle)
{{rail color box|system=LIRR|line=West Hempstead}}
{{rail color box|system=LIRR|line=Hempstead}} (Peak Only)
{{rail color box|system=LIRR|line=Babylon}} (Peak Only)
| daily_ridership                 = 
| start                           = {{stl|LIRR|Atlantic Terminal}}
| end                             = {{stl|LIRR|Valley Stream}}
| open                            = 1836 (west of [[Jamaica (LIRR station)|Jamaica]])<br />1867 (east of Jamaica)
| owner                           = [[Long Island Rail Road]]
| operator                        = [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]
| linelength_km                   = 
| linelength_mi                   = 15.7<ref name="ett-20120514" />
| linelength                      = 
| tracklength_km                  = 
| tracklength_mi                  = 
| tracklength                     = 
| tracks                          = 
| gauge                           = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = {{750 V DC|conductor=third rail}}
| map                             = {{Atlantic Branch}}
| map_state                       = collapsed
}}
The '''Atlantic Branch''' is an [[railway electrification|electrified]] [[Track (rail transport)|rail line]] owned and operated by the [[Long Island Rail Road]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York (state)|New York]]. It is the only LIRR line with revenue passenger service in the borough of [[Brooklyn]].

The line consists of two sections constructed separately. The portion of the line from Atlantic Terminal to Jamaica was constructed as part of the [[Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad]] and opened in 1836, while the portion from Jamaica to Valley Stream was constructed as part of the [[South Side Railroad of Long Island]] in 1867.

==Description==
{{no refs|section|date=August 2023}}
Partly underground and partly elevated, the Atlantic Branch runs from [[Atlantic Terminal]] in [[Downtown Brooklyn]] to [[Valley Stream, New York|Valley Stream]], in [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau County]], where it becomes the two-track [[Long Beach Branch]] with the two-track [[Far Rockaway Branch]] splitting southward just east of the [[Valley Stream (LIRR station)|Valley Stream station]].

The section between Atlantic Terminal and [[Bedford Avenue (Brooklyn)|Bedford Avenue]] is underground along [[Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn)|Atlantic Avenue]]. From there the line is elevated above the [[median (highway)|median]] of Atlantic Avenue to Dewey Place (with a stop at [[Nostrand Avenue (LIRR station)|Nostrand Avenue]]) before returning underground. At [[East New York (LIRR station)|East New York]] the line rises to street level to cross above the north-south, freight-only [[Bay Ridge Branch]], then descends underground once more. Between East New York and [[Jamaica (LIRR station)|Jamaica]], the closed but intact station at [[Woodhaven Junction (LIRR station)|Woodhaven Junction]] is visible.

At 121st Street in [[Richmond Hill, Queens]], the line rises to street level and passes the [[Morris Park Facility]] before joining the elevated [[Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)|Main Line]] at Jamaica. Immediately east of Jamaica, the line turns southeast, ducking beneath the eastward Main Line tracks. It curves parallel to the [[Montauk Branch]] after a few miles and continues next to it to [[Valley Stream (LIRR station)|Valley Interlocking]] in Valley Stream.

==History==
[[File:Woodhaven Junc Power Sta 3 jeh.JPG|thumb|[[Woodhaven Junction]] power substation]]
The current Atlantic Branch is the successor to two separate lines: the [[Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad]] (opened 1836) along Atlantic Avenue from Flatbush Avenue to Jamaica, and the [[South Side Railroad of Long Island]] (opened 1867) from Jamaica to Valley Stream.

===Atlantic Terminal to Jamaica===
{{See also|Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad}}
The [[Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad]] opened the line from [[South Ferry, Brooklyn|South Ferry]] to what is now 151st Street in Jamaica on April 18, 1836.

Initially the line turned halfway between Classon and Franklin Avenues, running halfway between Herkimer Street and Schuyler Street (now Atlantic Avenue) along the line of the present Herkimer Place. It turned slightly to the southeast near Howard Avenue, crossing the centerline of Schuyler Street about one-third of the way between Hopkinson Avenue (Thomas Boyland Street) and Paca Avenue (Rockaway Avenue). It crossed into the town of [[New Lots, Brooklyn|New Lots]] just beyond Stone Avenue (Mother Gaston Boulevard).<ref>Joseph Hutchins Colton, Map of the city of Brooklyn, 1849, [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=253354&imageID=434722&word=brooklyn%20map&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&total=432&num=252&imgs=12&pNum=&pos=256 NYPL Digital Image ID: 434722]</ref><!--how did it go in New Lots/ENY?-->

The Atlantic Branch was one of the first lines in the LIRR system slated to be electrified. In anticipation of this the entire line to Jamaica was to be grade separated. Between 1903 and 1905 the line was depressed into a tunnel from Flatbush Avenue to Bedford Avenue, then placed on an elevated viaduct from Bedford Avenue to Ralph Avenue then depressed back into a tunnel until Manhattan Crossing located just west of East New York station. At East New York the line returned to grade level then rose onto another elevated viaduct until Atkins Ave. The rest of the line from Atkins Ave to Morris Park located just west of Jamaica remained at grade level along Atlantic Avenue with numerous grade crossings with the anticipation of grade separating the line later on. Additionally a new terminal and yard was built at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues. Electric service commenced in 1905 with the line consisting of two tracks between Flatbush Avenue and [[Woodhaven Junction]] and four tracks beyond that point to Jamaica.

LIRR then ran two services along the line: the traditional commuter type services from points on eastern Long Island to Flatbush Avenue, along with what was called the "local [[rapid transit]]" service, frequent elevated/subway like service at lower fare between Flatbush Ave and [[Queens Village station|Queens Village]]. Although referred to as a rapid transit service, standard LIRR cars were used, and the service was operated by regular railroad rules. At this time the line from Jamaica to East New York had many more stations along Atlantic Avenue spaced at closer intervals, much like a rapid transit line. The four tracks between Jamaica and Woodhaven Junction lent itself to this service with the "rapid transit" trains using the outer two tracks while commuter trains used the inner two tracks.

In November 1925, 25 "local" trains left Brooklyn each weekday for Queens Village, 12 more ran to Hillside, and 16 more ran to Jamaica. All trains made all stops, 15 of them west of Queens Village. Fare was probably 10 cents for 13 miles Queens Village to Brooklyn, compared to about 40 cents on "express" LIRR trains making six or seven stops (but a monthly ticket good on any train was $7.10).

For a while the LIRR operated joint service along the Atlantic Branch with the [[Brooklyn Rapid Transit]] company (BRT) consisting of two connections, one with the [[Fifth Avenue Line (Brooklyn elevated)|Fifth Ave El]] at Flatbush Avenue, and another with the [[BMT Jamaica Line|Broadway]] and [[BMT Lexington Avenue Line|Lexington Avenue els]] with a connection built at Chestnut Street in Brooklyn. This allowed BRT trains to access the Rockaways and Manhattan Beach, while affording the LIRR a connection into Manhattan to the BRT terminal located at [[Park Row (BMT station)|Park Row]] over the [[Brooklyn Bridge]] (this service predated the opening of the [[East River Tunnels]] to [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Penn Station]]). Nevertheless, the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] ended this service in 1916 when they classified different operating standards between rapid transit trains (such as BRT trains) and regular heavy rail railroads (such as the LIRR).

By the late 1930s, it was clear that the rest of the line needed to be grade separated. Much of the surrounding area along Atlantic Avenue in [[Ozone Park]] and [[Richmond Hill, Queens|Richmond Hill]] began their suburban development leading to more traffic along Atlantic Avenue which was plagued by the line's many grade crossings. The City of New York along with the LIRR thus allocated the funds to depress the rest of the line from Morris Park to East New York in a tunnel. Building of the tunnel commenced in 1939 (although plans to build the tunnel date back to 1893) with two of the line's four tracks being pulled out of service and the rapid transit service being discontinued.
[[File:NostrandAveViaductReplacement.jpg|thumb|Replacement of the Atlantic Avenue Viaduct at Nostrand Avenue in July 2011]]

On December 28, 1942,<ref name="AtlanticAveLIRR">
* {{cite news|title=NEW RAIL TUNNEL TO OPEN MONDAY; First Trains for Public to Run in the Underground Route in Atlantic Ave.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/12/26/archives/new-rail-tunnel-to-open-monday-first-trains-for-public-to-run-in.html|access-date=April 23, 2015|issue=December 26, 1942|publisher=New York Times Company|date=December 26, 1942}}
* {{cite news|title=ATLANTIC AVE. TUBE OPEN; First Long Island Train Passes Through at 2:47 A. M.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/12/28/archives/atlantic-ave-tubeopen-first-long-island-train-passes-through-at-247.html|access-date=April 23, 2015|issue=December 28, 1942|publisher=New York Times Company|date=December 28, 1942}}
* {{cite news|title=Tunnel Opened on Atlantic Avenue for L.I. Trains; Project Eliminates 20 Hazardous Grade Crossings in Its Run|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Forest%20Parkway%20NY%20Leader%20Observer/Forest%20Parkway%20NY%20Leader%20Observer%201940-1942/Forest%20Parkway%20NY%20Leader%20Observer%201940-1942%20-%201233.pdf|access-date=April 23, 2015|issue=December 31, 1942|pages=1|publisher=Leader Observer (Queens/Brooklyn, NY)|date=December 31, 1942}}</ref> the tunnel was completed and opened with the two remaining at-grade tracks pulled out of service. Around this time Atlantic Avenue was raised over the East New York station via a viaduct that separated the road and the railroad. The elevated trestle from East New York to Atkins Avenue was also demolished as it had been included in the new tunnel to Jamaica. Only one station was included in the new tunnel: Woodhaven Junction, where the Atlantic Branch crossed under the [[Rockaway Beach Branch]]. An interlocking and track connection was built just west of the Woodhaven Junction station to connect the two lines, but these closed after the abandonment of the Rockaway Beach Branch between 1955 and 1962.

===Jamaica to Valley Stream===
{{See also|South Side Railroad of Long Island}}
The portion east of Jamaica was opened by the [[South Side Railroad of Long Island]] on October 28, 1867, as part of its initial line from Jamaica to [[Babylon (village), New York|Babylon]]. With the consolidation of the South Side into the [[Long Island Rail Road]] system in 1876, all passenger trains were rerouted to use the LIRR main line from [[Berlin Junction]] (west of Jamaica) to [[Rockaway Junction]] and the LIRR's [[Cedarhurst Cutoff|Rockaway Branch]] to [[Springfield Junction (Long Island Rail Road)|Springfield Junction]], where it crossed the South Side. This change took effect June 25, 1876, and resulted in the closure of the South Side's Berlin, Beaver Street (Jamaica), [[Locust Avenue (LIRR station)|Locust Avenue]], and [[Springfield (LIRR Atlantic Branch station)|Springfield]] stations.<ref name=Seyfried>[[Vincent F. Seyfried]], [[s:The Long Island Rail Road: A Comprehensive History, Part One: South Side R.R. of L.I.|The Long Island Rail Road: A Comprehensive History, Part One: South Side R.R. of L.I.]], © 1961</ref><ref>{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=Railroad Changes|date = June 27, 1876|page=2}}</ref> This formed the current configuration, where the [[Montauk Branch]] follows this route, mostly ex-South Side, and the Atlantic Branch (then the '''Old Southern Road''') uses the old South Side to Springfield Junction.

The line was soon reopened due to a lawsuit, but closed again by [[Austin Corbin]] as of January 6, 1881.<ref>{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=Without Railroad Accommodation|date = February 22, 1881|page=4}}</ref><!--when did it reopen?-->

Effective May 17, 1906, when an [[electrified (rail)|electrified]] third track opened alongside the [[Montauk Division]] from [[Springfield Junction (Long Island Rail Road)|Springfield Junction]] to Valley Stream, the Old Southern Road and this new track became part of the Atlantic Division.<ref>[http://arrts-arrchives.com/51706.html Employee timetable], May 17, 1906</ref>

Grade-crossing elimination work between Laurelton and Jamaica began in May 1958.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Raudenbush |first=Henry |date=May 1958 |title=Tidbits |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/1950s/1958/1958-05-bulletin.pdf |journal=The New York Division Bulletin |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=3}}</ref>

==Stations==
East of Valley Stream, the Far Rockaway Branch continues to {{lirrs|Far Rockaway}} and the Long Beach Branch continues to {{lirrs|Long Beach}}.

{{As of|2023|02|27|df=US}}, the Atlantic Terminal, Nostrand Avenue, and East New York stations are primarily served by a shuttle running between Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica. These stations are also served by trains on the West Hempstead Branch, as well as a limited number of weekday trains on the Hempstead and Babylon branches. Other trains traveling east of Jamaica run to {{lirrs|Penn Station}}, {{lirrs|Grand Central Madison}}, or {{lirrs|Long Island City}}.<ref name="ABC7 New York 20230227">{{cite web |date=February 27, 2023 |title=LIRR full service begins Monday, 2/27, at Grand Central Madison; train schedules to change |url=https://abc7ny.com/lirr-train-schedule-grand-central-madison-opens/12887154/ |access-date=February 27, 2023 |website=ABC7 New York}}</ref><ref name="Castillo 20230227">{{cite web |last=Castillo |first=Alfonso A. |date=February 26, 2023 |title=East Side Access completed, LIRR riders get full service to Grand Central Madison Monday |url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/transportation/grand-central-madison-east-side-access-lirr-gpwsijw3 |access-date=February 27, 2023 |website=Newsday}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!rowspan=2|Zone<ref name=zone>{{cite web |url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/about/TicketInfo/Fares.htm |title=New Fares — Effective April 21, 2019 |publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] |access-date=April 27, 2020}}</ref>
!rowspan=2|Location
!colspan=3|Services
!rowspan=2|Station
!rowspan=2|[[Railway milepost|Miles (km)]]
!rowspan=2|Date<br />opened
!rowspan=2|Date<br />closed
!rowspan=2|Connections&nbsp;/ notes
|-
!{{abbr|AT|Atlantic Terminal shuttle}}
![[Far Rockaway Branch|{{abbr|FR|Far Rockaway Branch}}]]
![[Long Beach Branch|{{abbr|LB|Long Beach Branch}}]]
|-
|rowspan=53|1
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|rowspan=3|[[Cobble Hill, Brooklyn]]
|| || || || [[South Ferry (LIRR station)|South Ferry]]|| || || ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Henry Street (LIRR station)|Henry Street]]|| || || ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Clinton Street (LIRR station)|Clinton Street]]|| || || ||
|-
|[[Pacific Park, Brooklyn]]
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|
|align="center"|
|[[Atlantic Terminal]] {{LIRR acc}}
|0.0 (0.0)<ref name="1906 timetable">[http://arrts-arrchives.com/oldsouthernroad.html Employee timetable], May 17, 1906</ref>
|1877
|
|[[Long Island Rail Road]]: Atlantic Terminal shuttle, [[West Hempstead Branch]], [[Babylon Branch]] (limited service), [[Hempstead Branch]] (limited service)<br />[[New York City Subway]]: {{NYCS Atlantic-Pacific}} (at [[Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center (New York City Subway)|Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center]])<br />[[New York City Bus]]: B37, {{NYC bus link|B41|B45|B63|B65|B67}}, B103<br />Originally named Flatbush Avenue
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|rowspan=2|[[Prospect Heights, Brooklyn]]
|| || || || [[Vanderbilt Avenue (LIRR station)|Vanderbilt Avenue]]|| ||1877<ref name=RT>{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=Steam Motors|date = August 12, 1877|page=4}}</ref> ||before 1890<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/> ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Washington Avenue (LIRR station)|Washington Avenue]]|| ||{{circa|1878}}<ref name="1878 timetable">[http://arrts-arrchives.com/RAPIDTRANSIT.html Employee timetable], November 4, 1878</ref> ||before 1890 ||
|-
|rowspan=12|[[Crown Heights, Brooklyn]]
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Grand Avenue (LIRR Atlantic Line station)|Grand Avenue]]<!--only on the "complete list" http://www.lirrhistory.com/mar99/atlstas.jpg-->|| || 1877<ref name="RT"/> || {{circa|1878}}<ref name="1878 timetable"/> || 
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Bedford (LIRR station)|Bedford]]
|{{cvt|1.2|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1842}}<ref>{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=Long Island Railroad|date = May 13, 1842|page=2}}</ref>
|{{circa|1900}}<ref name="1906 timetable"/>
|Formerly Franklin Avenue; Connected to the [[Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railway]]
|-
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|
|align="center"|
| {{lirrs|Nostrand Avenue}} {{LIRR acc}}
|{{cvt|1.6|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|1877<ref name=RT/>
|
|Long Island Rail Road: Atlantic Terminal shuttle, West Hempstead Branch, Babylon Branch (limited service), Hempstead Branch (limited service)<br />New York City Subway: {{NYCS Fulton}} (at [[Nostrand Avenue (IND Fulton Street Line)|Nostrand Avenue]])<br />New York City Bus: {{NYC bus link|B25|B44|B44 SBS|B65}}, B49
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Brooklyn Avenue (LIRR station)|Brooklyn Avenue]]|| ||1877<ref name="RT"/> ||before 1890<ref name="1890 timetable"/> ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Kingston Avenue (LIRR station)|Kingston Avenue]]|| || || ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Albany Avenue (LIRR station)|Albany Avenue]]|| ||1877<ref name="RT"/> ||before 1890 ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Troy Avenue (LIRR station)|Troy Avenue]]
|{{cvt|2.3|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|1877<ref name="RT"/><ref name="1890 timetable">[http://arrts-arrchives.com/RAPIDTRANSIT.html Employee timetable], June 24, 1890</ref>
|{{circa|1899}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Schenectady Avenue (LIRR station)|Schenectady Avenue]]
|
|{{circa|1878}}<ref name="1878 timetable"/>
|before 1890
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Utica Avenue (LIRR station)|Utica Avenue]]
|{{cvt|2.6|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|1877<ref name="RT"/><ref name="1890 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1899}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Rochester Avenue (LIRR station)|Rochester Avenue]]
|
|1877<ref name="RT"/>
|before 1890
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Ralph Avenue (LIRR station)|Ralph Avenue]]
|
|1877<ref name="RT"/>
|before 1890
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|rowspan=3|[[Brownsville, Brooklyn]]
|| || || || [[Saratoga Avenue (LIRR station)|Saratoga Avenue]]|| || || || 
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Hopkinson Avenue (LIRR station)|Hopkinson Avenue]]
|
|1877<ref name="RT"/>
|{{circa|1878}}<ref name="1878 timetable"/>
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Rockaway Avenue (LIRR station)|Rockaway Avenue]]
|
|{{circa|1878}}<ref name="1878 timetable"/>
|before 1890
|
|-
|rowspan=11|[[East New York, Brooklyn]]
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Stone Avenue (LIRR station)|Stone Avenue]]
|
|1877<ref name="RT"/>
|{{circa|1878}}<ref name="1878 timetable"/>
|
|-
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|
|align="center"|
|{{lirrs|East New York}}
|{{cvt|4.0|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1848}}<ref>[http://arrts-arrchives.com/atlaverr2.html Timetable]</ref>
|
|Long Island Rail Road: Atlantic Terminal shuttle, West Hempstead Branch, Babylon Branch (limited service), Hempstead Branch (limited service)<br />New York City Subway: {{NYCS Canarsie}} (at [[Atlantic Avenue (BMT Canarsie Line)|Atlantic Avenue]]), {{NYCS Broadway Junction}} (at [[Broadway Junction (New York City Subway)|Broadway Junction]])<br />New York City Bus: {{NYC bus link|B12|B20|B25|B83|Q24|Q56}}<br />Originally named Manhattan Beach Railroad Crossing
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Howard House (LIRR station)|Howard House]]
|{{cvt|4.1|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1843}}<ref>{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=Long Island Railroad Co|date = March 4, 1843|page=3}}</ref><!--or was the original station elsewhere?-->
|1905
|Originally named East New York
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Pennsylvania Avenue (LIRR station)|Pennsylvania Avenue]]<!--only on the "complete list"-->|| || || ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Wyckoff Avenue (LIRR station)|Wyckoff Avenue]]
|
|{{circa|1878}}<ref>{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=Instructive|date = November 22, 1878|page=4}}</ref>
|
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Bradford Avenue (LIRR station)|Bradford Avenue]]
|
|1899<ref name="June 1899 timetable">[http://arrts-arrchives.com/atlaverr4.html Employee timetable], June 28, 1899</ref><ref>[http://arrts-arrchives.com/atlaverr4.html Employee timetable], September 17, 1899</ref>
|
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Van Siclen Avenue (LIRR station)|Van Siclen Avenue]]<!--only on the "complete list"-->
|
|{{circa|1878}}<ref>{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=Shocking|date = November 14, 1878|page=4}}</ref>
|
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Warwick Street (LIRR station)|Warwick Street]]
|{{cvt|4.9|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="1905 BB timetable">[http://arrts-arrchives.com/aug301905.html Employee timetable], September 20, 1905</ref>
|1905
|1939<ref>[http://www.dunton.org/archive/LongIsland/LongIslandRailroadPoster.jpg LIRR Notice for November 1, 1939]</ref>
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Linwood Street (LIRR station)|Linwood Street]]
|{{cvt|5.0|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1878}}<ref name="1878 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1899}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|Originally named Van Wicklens
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Norwood Avenue (LIRR station)|Norwood Avenue]]
|{{cvt|5.3|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1890}}<ref name="1890 timetable"/>
|1915<ref name="trainsarefun.com">{{cite web | url=http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirrphotos/LIRR%20STATION%20HISTORY.pdf | title=Long Island Railroad Station History | date=August 12, 2012 | access-date=September 17, 2012}}</ref>
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|rowspan=5|[[Cypress Hills, Brooklyn]]
|| || || || [[Cypress Avenue (LIRR station)|Cypress Avenue]]
|
|{{circa|1853}}<ref name="travel 1853">{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=Travel|date = June 16, 1853|page=4}}</ref>
|{{circa|1890}}<ref name="1890 timetable"/>
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Cypress Hills (LIRR station)|Cypress Hills]]<!--only on the "complete list"-->
|
|{{circa|1849}}<ref>{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=The New Cemetery of the Cypress Hills|date = April 9, 1849|page=2}}</ref>
|
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Autumn Avenue (LIRR station)|Autumn Avenue]]
|{{cvt|5.8|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="1906 timetable"/>
|1905
|1939<ref name="trainsarefun.com"/>
|Originally Railroad Avenue
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Adamsville (LIRR station)|Adamsville]]
|
|1872<ref name="trainsarefun.com" /><ref name="1874 timetable">[http://arrts-arrchives.com/atlaverr2.html Timetable], November 8, 1874</ref>
|1876<ref name="trainsarefun.com" />
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[City Line (LIRR station)|City Line]]<!--not on either list, but on http://eagle.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/Repository/getimage.dll?path=BEG/1899/07/06/6/Img/Ar0060801.png - that also lists Grant Avenue, possibly a typo for Grand Avenue?-->|| || || ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|rowspan=5|[[Woodhaven, Queens]]
|| || || || [[Unionville (LIRR station)|Unionville]]|| || || ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || Union Course
|{{cvt|6.3|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="1906 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1842}}<ref>{{cite news | work = [[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] | location = [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, NY]] |title=Races, Union Course—Long Island Railroad|date = October 3, 1842|page=3}}</ref><!--starting in 1845, schedules have both "Race Course" and "Trotting Course", both for the same price! they started to call (presumably) the Union Course "Race Course" in 1843.-->
|1939<ref name="trainsarefun.com"/>
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Woodhaven (LIRR station)|Woodhaven]]
|{{cvt|6.7|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1848}}<ref>[http://arrts-arrchives.com/atlaverr2.html Timetable], May 1, 1848</ref>
|1939<ref name="trainsarefun.com" />
|Originally named Woodville
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Trotting Course Lane (LIRR station)|Trotting Course Lane]]
|
|1837<!--as Connecticut Avenue until September 8, 1837--><ref name="trainsarefun.com"/>
|1842<ref name="trainsarefun.com"/>
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Woodhaven Junction (LIRR station)|Woodhaven Junction]]
|{{cvt|7.2|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1890}}<ref name="1890 timetable"/>
|1977<ref name="1977Closure">{{cite news|first=Joan|last=Nassivera|title=LIRR Ending Service To Woodhaven Jan. 7|location=Hempstead, New York|work=Newsday|date=December 29, 1976|access-date=July 15, 2021|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81455111/lirr-closing-woodhaven-in-1977/}}</ref>
|
|-
|rowspan=10|[[Richmond Hill, Queens]]
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Chester Park (LIRR station)|Chester Park]]|| || || ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Clarenceville (LIRR station)|Clarenceville]]
|{{cvt|7.8|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1874}}<ref name="1874 timetable"/><!--but not in 1877! also shown in 1859 schedule on http://arrts-arrchives.com/tunnel.html but with no trains stopping-->
|1939<ref name="trainsarefun.com" />
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Lefferts Avenue (LIRR station)|Lefferts Avenue]]
|
|{{circa|1867}}
|1870<ref name="trainsarefun.com" />
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Morris Park (LIRR station)|Morris Park]]
|{{cvt|8.1|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|{{circa|1890}}<ref name="1890 timetable"/>
|1939<ref name="trainsarefun.com" />
|
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Morris Grove (LIRR station)|Morris Grove]] || || 1878 || 1886 ||
|-
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|
|align="center"|
|{{lirrs|Boland's Landing}}
|{{cvt|8.5|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="ett-20120514" />
|1889
|
|Long Island Rail Road: Atlantic Terminal shuttle<br />Employee-only station to serve the [[Morris Park Facility]]
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Berlin (LIRR Atlantic Branch station)|Berlin]]|| || || ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Berlin Junction (LIRR station)|Berlin Junction]]|| || || ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Dunton (LIRR station)|Dunton]]
|{{cvt|8.9|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="June 1899 timetable"/>
|1869
|1939
|Originally named Berlin, then Van Wyck Avenue
|-
|rowspan=9|3
|rowspan=3|[[Jamaica, Queens]]
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|●
|{{lirrs|Jamaica}} {{LIRR acc}}
|{{cvt|9.3|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="ett-20120514" />
|1836
|
|Long Island Rail Road: Atlantic Terminal shuttle, [[Babylon Branch|Babylon]], [[Hempstead Branch|Hempstead]], [[Montauk Branch|Montauk]], [[Oyster Bay Branch|Oyster Bay]], [[Port Jefferson Branch|Port Jefferson]], [[Ronkonkoma Branch|Ronkonkoma]], [[West Hempstead Branch|West Hempstead]] branches<br />New York City Subway: {{NYCS Archer}} (at {{stl|NYCS|Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport}})<br />New York City Bus: {{NYC bus link|Q20A|Q20B|Q24|Q30|Q31|Q43|Q44 SBS|Q54|Q56}}<br />[[MTA Bus]]: {{NYC bus link|Q6|Q8|Q9|Q25|Q34|Q40|Q41|Q60|Q65}}<br />[[Nassau Inter-County Express]]: {{LI bus link|n4}}<br />[[AirTrain JFK]]: Jamaica Station Route
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Beaver Street (LIRR station)|Beaver Street]]
|{{cvt|9.6|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="1906 timetable"/>
|1867
|1913
|Also known as [[Jamaica—Beaver Street (LIRR station)|Jamaica—Beaver Street]]
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[South Street (LIRR station)|South Street]] || || 1917 || 1922 ||
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|[[South Jamaica, Queens]]
|| || || || {{lirrs|Cedar Manor}}
|{{cvt|10.8|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="1906 timetable"/>
|1906
|1959
|Originally named Power Place
|-
|[[Locust Manor, Queens]]
|align="center"|
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|●<sup>{{dagger}}</sup>
|{{lirrs|Locust Manor}}
|{{cvt|12.2|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="ett-20120514" />
|1869
|
|New York City Bus: {{NYC bus link|Q3|Q85}}, QM21<br />Originally named Locust Avenue<br />{{dagger}} Served by Far Rockaway Branch weekdays, Long Beach Branch weekends
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|rowspan=2|[[Springfield Gardens, Queens]]
|| || || || {{lirrs|Higbie Avenue}}
|{{cvt|12.6|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="1906 timetable"/>
|1908
|1960
|Originally named Springfield
|- bgcolor=dfdfdf
|| || || || [[Springfield (LIRR Atlantic Branch station)|Springfield]] || ||1867 ||1906 ||
|-
|[[Laurelton, Queens]]
|align="center"|
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|●<sup>{{dagger}}</sup>
|{{lirrs|Laurelton}}
|{{cvt|13.1|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="1906 timetable"/>
|1907
|
|New York City Bus: {{NYC bus link|Q77|Q85}}<br />Originally named Central Avenue<br />{{dagger}} Served by Far Rockaway Branch weekdays, Long Beach Branch weekends
|-
|[[Rosedale, Queens]]
|align="center"|
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|●<sup>{{dagger}}</sup>
|{{lirrs|Rosedale}}
|{{cvt|14.0|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="ett-20120514" />
|
|
|New York City Bus: {{NYC bus link|Q5|Q85}}, X63<br />Originally named Foster's Meadow<br />{{dagger}} Served by Far Rockaway Branch weekdays, Long Beach Branch weekends
|-
|4
|[[Valley Stream, New York|Valley Stream]]
|align="center"|
|align="center"|●
|align="center"|●
|{{lirrs|Valley Stream}} {{LIRR acc}}
|{{cvt|15.7|mi|abbr=values|1}}<ref name="1906 timetable"/>
|1869
|
|Long Island Rail Road: West Hempstead Branch<br />Nassau Inter-County Express: {{LI bus link|n1}}, Elmont Flexi
|}

==See also==
* [[Lower Manhattan-Jamaica/JFK Transportation Project]] – A defunct proposal to use the LIRR Atlantic Branch in a new direct JFK connection to Lower Manhattan

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{Commonscat-inline|Atlantic Branch (Long Island Rail Road)}}
* [http://www.arrts-arrchives.com./images2/LICMB1884MAPr.jpg 1884] and [http://www.arrts-arrchives.com./images2/licmb1900mapr.JPG 1900 Maps of the Atlantic Branch and Vicinity] (Arrt's Arrchives)

{{Long Island Rail Road}}

[[Category:Long Island Rail Road branches]]
[[Category:Transportation in Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Transportation in Queens, New York]]
[[Category:Transportation in Nassau County, New York]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in the United States]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1836]]