The once privately-owned Long Island Railroad (LIRR) gained access to Manhattan’s core in 1910, fueling Nassau County’s transformation into a metropolitan suburb.
In 1949, the LIRR entered bankruptcy, and in 1950, two terrible train accidents killed more than 100 people and led the state to intervene in LIRR affairs.
Bankruptcy ended in 1954 and the LIRR began a twelve-year period of stability under state supervision. It was obvious that LIRR was an essential service requiring long-term preservation, prompting Governor Nelson Rockefeller to spearhead New York State’s 1966 purchase of the LIRR.
In 1968, the LIRR became the linchpin of a much larger Rockefeller scheme to unite most downstate transportation services under the MTA.
The Nassau County Historical Society will present Andrew Sparberg, historian and a retired manager of the LIRR, who will discuss the LIRR’s transition from the private sector to the MTA and Rockefeller’s role on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 2 pm in a free hybrid program at the Jericho Public Library.
Sparberg will briefly describe LIRR’s overall history, focus on how Rockefeller successfully moved the LIRR to public ownership, and end with two mega-projects initially proposed in the 1960s and completed in the 2020s.
The Historical Society is partnering with the Jericho Public Library for this hybrid program. It will be available in person or via a Zoom webinar on JerichoLibrary.org. Refreshments will follow program at the library.
Read more about New York State railroads.
Illustration: The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) in Freeport, Long Island in the early 20th century.
Recent Comments