Staten Islands first railroad began in 1860 as a passenger line connecting towns along the islands eastern shore; with ferry service from Vanderbilts Landing to Manhattan. The Staten Island Rapid Transit was a second line; built in 1885. During the 19th century; major eastern trunk railroads competed for the New York freight market. The Baltimore Ohio Railroad (BO) was a latecomer but saw opportunity with Staten Island in 1886; buying interest in both railroads. The BO took control of the islands passenger service and turned it into a thriving commuter railroad with three branches and nearly 40 stations; forever changing transportation in the borough. Reaching Staten Island from Cranford; New Jersey; the BO built a major freight yard at Arlington and a waterfront terminal at St. George. The railroads customers ran the gamut from large industries like Procter Gamble to small one-carload coal dealerships. By 1971; the cash-strapped BO sold the passenger service to the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA); and by 1985; the BO had left New York for good.
#3032569 in eBooks 2011-01-01 2011-01-01File Name: B009ZCMYGM
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