S: I will second K&K and mention the LIRR branch timetables began issue with the May 20, 1974
schedule change. I believe both St. Albans and Springfield Gardens (closed 1980; later demolished)
were placed in the West Hempstead TT instead of the Babylon Branch was for exposure with the
limited service offered to both stations during the second half of the 1970s. It made sense to keep
St. Albans in the West Hempstead Branch Timetable since only six stations are covered by this TT.
1-The Babylon Branch Timetable originally covered all stations from Rockville Centre to Patchogue.
The West Hempstead Branch TT would have only five other stations. Including the limited service
at both St. Albans and Springfield Gardens would total seven as compared to the Babylon Branch
timetable initially covering 21 stations. The Babylon Branch Timetable now covers all stations from
Rockville Centre to Babylon. All service at Lynbrook is in the Long Beach Branch Timetable and all
service at Valley Stream is in the Far Rockaway Branch timetable. In 1978 all Babylon-Patchogue
service (Bay Shore through Patchogue) began to be covered in the Eastern Long Island timetable.
Three intermediate Atlantic Branch stations-Locust Manor, Laurelton and Rosedale-are covered in
the Far Rockaway timetable fully.
2-St. Albans main reason for being is the nearby (just W of the station) St. Albans Naval Hospital.
The LIRR has increased service over time to what is offered today: 19 east, 18 west weekdays and
9 trains each way on weekends. In the current schedule four AM Peak trains from WH stop at St.
Albans: #903 at 7:13; #905 at 7:36; #907 at 7:57 and #909 at 8:48. #907 runs to Penn Station
with the other three trains operating to Atlantic Terminal. All eastbound trains are Babylon Branch
service along with all weekend St. Albans service.
3-Routing through West Hempstead Branch trains is easier via the Babylon/Montauk Branch than
the Atlantic Branch routing via Valley Stream because of having to cross over multiple tracks at
Valley Interlocking. Three eastbound through WH trains do stop at Valley Stream weekdays.
Mileage from Long Island City:
Jamaica 9.0
St. Albans 11.8
Springfield Gardens was at 13.0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Albans,_Queens" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
An overview of the St. Albans section of Queens.
This should all offer insight as to why St. Albans is covered by the West Hempstead Branch TT.
MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS