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Page 32

History of  the LIRR Part 1 continued

In the meantime the two new multiple unit storage battery cars, known as Cars Nos. 2 and 4, were being built and were soon installed. Car No. 1 was relegated to shuttle service on the Bushwick Branch. The new cars have given very satisfactory service throughout all but the most severe storms. About 1914, Norwood Station became known as Malverne. A small village has grown about the station, which provides the line with considerable traffic, so that Cars 2 and 4, operated as a multiple unit train, are filled to capacity during the morning and evening hours. It makes regular connections at Valley Stream and Mineola for New York and Brooklyn, and for the past few years has been making similar connections at Country Life Press. During the war troop trains were run over the West Hempstead Branch practically all night.

    About 1910 the agent at West Hempstead was discharged, as the line did not pay. The people along the line wanted some service, and soon a small storage battery car was installed on the line in the summer of 1913, which made about a dozen round trips a day. This was Car No. 1, and soon became familiarly known as "The Dinky" or "The jigger." This little car swayed so from side to side that a crew could be found with difficulty that could stand the ride for any length of time.

Jamaica Station c.1905

Jamaica Station Before and After. The view above shows Jamaica Station on the surface about 1905, the lower view 20 years later. Like the picture at the bottom of page 29, this scene is quite recognizable today. Though both views are east of the station looking west (toward New York) It should be noted that the new Jamaica station was built considerably west of the original location. The older station was near the current Jamaica Center terminal of the E and J subway, while current Jamaica station is at Sutphin Blvd., one stop west.

Jamaica Station c.1905
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Updated Wednesday, May 30, 2001

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