This website has been archived from TrainWeb.org/AbandonedLIRR to TrainWeb.US/AbandonedLIRR.
Grumman Calverton Spur In Calverton, in the middle of nowhere, there is one of the longest spurs on Long Island, that now lies abandoned,
but intact. This spur is to the former Grumman Naval Weapons industrial Plant. At approximatly Mile Post 67, the spur curves North off the mainline.
The spur parallels Connecticut Avenue for some distance and then the spur crosses
over River Road, and thats where it enters the old base. Once on the property. The spur makes a sharp curve towards
the west and goes straight back paralleling River Road. Inside the base, the spur crosses over a few old wooden crossings.
River road then turns into Grumman Blvd. After going west a bit more, the spur then has another sharp curve north and
splits off into different sections. At the first switch, the spur has a segment that goes for around 3 car lengths south.
From that switch, a track goes another few car lengths to the north west, where a switch takes a track to the north east,
going straight back into what now is a fence dealer. Another segment goes to the north west, and goes directly behind the
power plant and is about 5-10 car lengths longer then the other track. The last segment is actually a small runaround
siding, which is only a few cars long. The calverton plant is now an industrial park owned by the town of Riverhead,
and leases the majority of the hangers out to different businesses. Calverton was abandoned around 20 years ago,
but the only parts of the spur gone is the switch from he mainline and one crossing where the rail as removed.
Calverton could have received just about anything it needed by rail as this was where the famous F14 Fighter was
built and tested. Before being converted to Oil, the Base received carloads of Coal for the powerplant. It is said the last car going to Calverton
was a Reefer full of frozen Turkeys for the emplyees. Click on all pictures to see full size.
Remnants of where the switch was located
A few more tie remnants by the switch location
Spur heading West, Just starting to curve
Spur curving North, Connecticut Avenue in the distance
Here is the River Road Crossing looking South
One of the few washouts along Connecticut Avenue
Here is the other side of River Road, where the gate to enter the base is, still showing the old Navy signs
Just after the gate, the spur starts to curve west
One of the crossings inside the base, which can be seen from Grumman Blvd, which is just out of the picture to the Right
Same crossing looking West
The Western most curve taken from the main enterence to the base, this is the only crossing witht he rail removed
Looking behind the shot above is the short tail track, which is the southern most part of the spur inside the base
The crossing on the tail track
One of the switches, the track on the left is the one leading to the short tail, the right is the track comming from the crossing that was removed
This is the eastern siding, going to a warehouse ( now a fence supply place )
Same location as above, but looking the oppisite direction
Working switch stand, this one is for the southern part of the run around
Same switch as above
Track to the powerplant on the left, run around on the right looking towards the South
Date on all the rail is 1952, which is around the time this spur was laid
1950 Bethlehem Steel Switch Stand, same one as pictured above but a closer look
All Photos/Info © 2005-2006 Paul Strubeck
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