Local History Book Stop

Chartered in 1834, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is the oldest American railway still operating under its original name. There are a number of pictorial histories of the LIRR, but Long Island Rail Road by Stan Fischler combines classic and modern photos with a sweeping written history of this legendary line.

The Long Island Rail Road: A Comprehensive History by Vincent F. Seyfried is a well-researched book highlighting the age of expansion of the railroad from 1863 to 1880. In addition, it contains some rare archival photographs.

For pictorial works, try Long Island Rail Road by Fred Kramer. This series of photographs captures the steam-to-diesel transition east of Jamaica. From Arcadia Publishing comes Revisiting the Long Island Rail Road 1925-1975 by David Keller and Steven Lynch and Long Island Rail Road Stations by David D. Morrison and Valerie Pakaluk. Both books present a collection of photos with detailed captions.

Authors Ron Ziel and George H. Foster researched the LIRR firsthand, walking the right-of-ways and riding the trains, from switch engines to parlor cars. For their book Steel Rails to the Sunrise: The Long Island Railroad, they searched every town on the railroad lines. With the help of active and retired railroaders, they unearthed rare photographs and fascinating anecdotes that are a vital part of the history and romance of this unique railroad.