South Side Rail Road

Written By Dino DiPietro

Here’s a detailed history of the South Side Railroad (SSR) in Babylon, NY, and how it eventually became part of the LIRR network:

🚂 Early Development & Arrival in Babylon

  • The South Side Railroad of Long Island was chartered on March 23, 1860, with construction beginning in May 1866

  • Originally planned to reach Patchogue, the line was extended to Babylon, officially opening to passengers on October 11, 1867

  • Regular service between Jamaica and Babylon commenced on October 28, 1867 as the first passenger trains began running

Station & Name Changes

  • The first Babylon depot was constructed around 1868, shortly after the line's arrival

  • In Summer 1868, the station was briefly renamed “Seaside”, but reverted to Babylon by 1869

  • A second depot was built in 1881—a larger structure featuring multiple platforms and a freight house. This depot stood until 1962

SSR Reorganizations & Lease to LIRR

  • The South Side Railroad was reorganized as the Southern Railroad of Long Island in 1874, after a foreclosure sale

  • Subsequently reorganized again in 1879, it became the Brooklyn & Montauk Railroad

  • It was leased to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) by 1876, with full merger completed in 1889

Electrification & Modernization

  • The station was electrified in May 1925, becoming the terminus of the newly defined Babylon Branch on the LIRR network

  • As part of a post-war grade crossing elimination, the station was demolished and elevated. The new elevated station opened on September 9, 1964

Legacy & Historical Recognition

  • In October 2018, a William G. Pomeroy historical marker was installed near the station. It commemorates the South Side Railroad’s first train arrival in Babylon on October 11, 1867, and notes that the LIRR assumed the line by 1876

  • The SSRR’s introduction of rail service prompted a boom in tourism and development in Babylon, transforming it into a thriving resort and commuter village

Timeline Summary

1860 SSR chartered

May 1866 Construction begins

Oct 11, 1867 First train reaches Babylon

Oct 28, 1867 Regular service begins

1868 First depot built; station renamed Seaside

1869 Station name restored to Babylon

1874 SSR reorganized as Southern Railroad

1876 Leased to LIRR

1879 Reorganized as Brooklyn & Montauk RR

1881 Second depot constructed

1889 Merged fully into LIRR

May 1925 Station electrified

1962–1964 Grade elevation and station reconstruction

Oct 2018 Historical marker erected

This history tracks the SSR’s ambitions, reorganizations, and eventual integration into the LIRR, highlighting its critical impact on Babylon’s growth.

Dino DiPietro