The Central Railroad of Long Island was built by Alexander T. Stewart to provide passenger service to Garden City and access to his brickyard in Bethpage. Stewart incorporated the Central Railroad of Long Island in 1871 and completed it in 1873, running from Long Island City through his development at Garden City to a brick yard at Bethpage and docks at Babylon. This became part of the Long Island Rail Road system in 1876, and the parts that have not been abandoned are the Hempstead Branch and Central Branch.

There are still remnants of the abandoned railroad around. A former iron bridge sits forgotten in a cloverleaf on the Meadowbrook parkway, the old turntable that was used on a spur for Stewarts own Nassau Brickworks sits, decaying in a golf course, the remains of an old brick bridge where the CRRLI crossed a creek hidden away public view.
Bygone Long Island continues the search for more Central Railroad remains.

Many thanks go to Sam Berliner and Arthur Huneke and their fantastic websites that helped us find these remains.