Merrick is a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located on Sunrise Highway, between Hewlett Avenue and Merrick Avenue, in Merrick, New York. However, the parking areas for the station expand well beyond the given location.

Merrick
Merrick station as seen from Sunrise Highway.
General information
Location	Sunrise Highway between Hewlett & Merrick Avenues Merrick, New York
Coordinates	40.663769°N 73.550709°W / 40.663769; -73.550709
Owned by	Long Island Rail Road
Line(s)	Montauk Branch
Distance	24.1 mi (38.8 km) from Long Island City[1]
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Nassau Inter-County Express: n19 (at Merrick Road)
Construction
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	7
History
Opened	1867; 155 years ago (1867) (SSRRLI)
Rebuilt	1885, 1902, 1969–1975
Electrified	May 20, 1925 750 V (DC) third rail
Passengers
2012—2014	7,235[2]
Rank	14 of 125
Services
Preceding station Long Island Rail Road Following station Freeport toward Jamaica, Atlantic Terminal or Penn Station Babylon Branch Bellmore toward Babylon      Montauk Branch does not stop here
Former services Preceding station Long Island Rail Road Following station Freeport toward Long Island City Montauk Division Bellmore toward Montauk

History

Merrick station is typical of the elevated Babylon Branch stations that were rebuilt during the mid-to-late 20th Century. What's not so typical are its origins. The station was originally built on October 28, 1867, by the South Side Railroad of Long Island, but in 1869, it was expanded into a hotel built by SSRRLI President Charles Fox. This hotel was burned to the ground in 1908. A second depot was built in 1885 and a third was built in 1902.[3] The station was razed in June 1969 as part of the grade elimination project. A temporary station was installed on December 4, 1970, but the elevated fourth station wasn't opened until June 28, 1975.

Station layout

This station has one 12-car-long high-level island platform serving trains in both directions. A 10-car-long awning exists, with the easternmost part of the platform uncovered. The rail line has two tracks at this location. Each Fall, this railroad station, like Bellmore station plays host to a Street Festival/Fair courtesy of Merrick Chamber of Commerce.

Merrick station is home to a memorial to Roxey (d. 1914), a dog who frequented the LIRR in the early 20th century and became a mascot for the commuters and staff.[4] The small gravestone is located on the south side of the station, along the guardrail separating the parking lot from the Sunrise Highway, in a patch of lawn about 20 feet east of Merrick Avenue.[5]

References

External links

• Merrick – LIRR

• Merrick LIRR timetable

• Merrick Station Clock (Merrick Chamber of Commerce)
• Merrick Station as seen from Sunrise Highway (Steve Alpert's Roads.net)
• Merrick Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Station House from Google Maps Street View
• Hewlett Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View