Staten Island's first railroad began in 1860 as a passenger line connecting towns along the island's eastern shore, with ferry service from Vanderbilt's 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 (B&O) was a latecomer but saw opportunity with Staten Island in 1886, buying interest in both railroads. The B&O took control of the island's 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 B&O built a major freight yard at Arlington and a waterfront terminal at St. George. The railroad's customers ran the gamut from large industries like Procter & Gamble to small one-carload coal dealerships. By 1971, the cash-strapped B&O sold the passenger service to the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), and by 1985, the B&O had left New York for good.

In stock

SKU 1-1893

Description / Staten Island Rapid Transit

Staten Island's first railroad began in 1860 as a passenger line connecting towns along the island's eastern shore, with ferry service from Vanderbilt's 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 (B&O) was a latecomer but saw opportunity with Staten Island in 1886, buying interest in both railroads. The B&O took control of the island's 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 B&O built a major freight yard at Arlington and a waterfront terminal at St. George. The railroad's customers ran the gamut from large industries like Procter & Gamble to small one-carload coal dealerships. By 1971, the cash-strapped B&O sold the passenger service to the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), and by 1985, the B&O had left New York for good.
Press to skip carousel

We found other products you might like!

Charcoal GCT Drawing Tie
$44.00
Subway Map Tea Towel
$16.95
Wooden Intersection Track with Buffer Stops
$7.99
Patron Membership
$550.00
I Like Trains Book
$15.99
NYC Subway Diagram Map Baby Bucket Hat
$32.50
Long Island Rail Road: Babylon Branch Book
$24.99
Wood NameTrains Zoe Zebra
$6.75
1 Train Wooden Kit-Set
$16.95
Times Square - 42 Street Station Pen
$2.50
Frequently bought together
Door Sign WTC Cortlandt Street
$15.99
Mug Reach the Beach Mermaid
$13.95
Keychain MTA Logo Dome
$3.75
GCT Black Ceiling Tie
$44.00
Ultimate Spotlight: Trains Book
$18.99
The Elevated Railways of Manhattan Book
$59.00
NYC MetroCard Kids Socks
As low as $9.00
MTA Prevost Bus 1:87 Scale
$45.00
Notecard Reach the Beach
$3.75