Travis (Staten Island Railway station)
| Company type | Freight rail line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1928 |
| Headquarters | Staten Island , United States |
Area served | Staten Island's West Shore |
| Products | Freight rail service |
The Travis Branch is a freight rail line of the Staten Island Railway, extending from Arlington Yard to Fresh Kills and servicing Staten Island's West Shore region.
History
The establishment of a dock and tank farm by the Gulf Oil Corporation along the Arthur Kill in 1928 led to the construction of the Travis Branch heading southward from Arlington Yard into the western marshlands of the island, reaching Gulfport. This refinery yard was designed to handle up to 150 tank cars. Along this route, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) constructed wooden trestles spanning various creeks. Notably, this branch was never electrified.
B&O had intentions to link the two West Shore branches, forming a continuous West Shore Line between Arlington and Tottenville. This connection would have enabled freight traffic to circumvent congestion at Saint George Yard and avoid heavily trafficked passenger routes on the North Shore, South Beach, and Perth Amboy subdivisions. However, these plans were ultimately shelved due to the economic downturn caused by the Great Depression.
In 1958, the line was extended to reach Travis in order to service a new Consolidated Edison power facility, facilitating transport of 100-car unit coal trains originating from West Virginia on B&O tracks. The original wooden trestle spanning Old Place Creek was replaced with a steel-deck girder bridge in 1966. For much of its length up to South Avenue, the branch remained predominantly single-tracked.
By the early 1980s, coal shipments transitioned to barge transport, resulting in the discontinuation of active freight operations on this branch; it was instead adapted for storing rolling stock. At the terminus stood a six-track former coal yard that accommodated coal hopper cars. The site also served as storage for several locomotives and electric railcars affiliated with the Trolley Museum of New York, some of which were relocated in 1990. A damaged ME-1 car remained on-site until it was scrapped in 2003 during efforts to revitalize the yard.
Current uses
In 2005, refurbishment efforts extended the Travis Branch from the decommissioned Consolidated Edison plant to the New York Sanitation Fresh Kills Landfill. Prior to its reactivation in 2007, all existing trestles were replaced with concrete bridges. Although Pratt Industries—a cardboard production company—has rail access on this line, it has yet to commence usage. A new rail yard was constructed at Fresh Kills specifically to serve the waste transfer station. The project included installation of additional track mileage. Regular operations commenced in April 2007, featuring unit trains composed of bright orange container flatcars transporting materials up to five times daily. The branch lies within Conrail Shared Assets territory, with locomotives from both CSX and Norfolk Southern operating along it. A wye track connects this branch with the North Shore Line. The portion linking Arlington Yard is referred to as the Travis Lead.
On April 17, 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg officially marked the reopening of this line. The New York City Economic Development Corporation collaborated with CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Conrail Shared Assets Operations to facilitate transportation services moving waste from Staten Island Transfer Station as well as containerized freight from Howland Hook Marine Terminal and other industrial customers. Spanning 4.41 miles beginning at Arlington Yard (milepost 0.00), the Travis Branch plays a vital role in local freight logistics.
A future Staten Island west shore light rail proposal envisions using the North Shore rail corridor to connect with the Travis Branch before running alongside the West Shore Expressway median.
Station list
| Miles | Name | Opened | Closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Arlington Yard | 1886 | ||
| Gulfport | 1930s | Provided service to the Gulf Oil refinery | ||
| Travis | 1957 | Supported the Consolidated Edison power facility | ||
| 4.41 | Fresh Kills | 2007 | Catered to the New York Sanitation Dump located at Fresh Kills |