Oyster Bay Long Island Rail Road Turntable
Why it's listed
Set in a concrete pit beside the Long Island Rail Road yard in Oyster Bay, this turntable was built in 1902-1904 to replace an older one that dated from the arrival of rail service in 1889. Its rotating table is a deck girder made of two riveted steel girders, 70 feet long, carrying a section of track, with pipe railings along walkways on each side. Originally powered by an air motor, it was converted to an electric motor and reduction gear drive in 1932, which required a tall steel frame over the center to carry power lines. Turntables let steam locomotives, which could not safely run in reverse, be turned around at the end of a branch line. Oyster Bay's was used continuously until the 1970s, when diesel equipment made it obsolete. Of seventeen turntables the railroad once operated, only three survive on Long Island. It was listed for its engineering and its link to the growth of the community. The drive system is inoperable but largely intact and the structure is slated for restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare, largely intact example of a once common railroad facility. It also reflects the role rail service played in the growth of Oyster Bay in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is one of three known surviving mechanical turntables on Long Island.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05000667, listed July 6, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Railroad Ave., Oyster Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | July 6, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000667 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1902 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant in current function; removed from service in the 1970s, drive system inoperable but largely intact, and slated for restoration. Owned by the Town of Oyster Bay. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.87721, -73.52808 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05000667.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7116318
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.