St. James station (LIRR) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. James
St. James Long Island Rail Road station
Location	Lake Avenue & Railroad Avenue St. James, New York
Owned by	Long Island Rail Road
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	1
Connections	NYS Bike Route 25
Construction
Parking	Yes; Free and Town of Smithtown permits
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	10
History
Opened	1873
Rebuilt	1974, 1997
Traffic
Passengers (2006)	588
Services
Preceding station LIRR Following station Smithtown towards Jamaica, Atlantic Terminal, Long Island City or Penn Station Port Jefferson Branch Stony Brook towards Port Jefferson Smithtown towards Huntington Port Jefferson Branch diesel shuttle
Former services
Smithtown   Port Jefferson Branch   Flowerfield
Saint James Railroad Station
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Location in New York Show map of New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Saint James, New York, USA
Built	1873
Architect	Calvin L'Hommedieu
Part of	Saint James Historic District (ID73001275)
MPS	Saint James District MRA
Added to NRHP	July 20, 1973

The St. James train station is a really old and important stop on the Long Island Rail Road's Port Jefferson Branch. You can find it in St. James, New York, in Suffolk County, New York. It's right near Lake Avenue and Railroad Avenue. The station is also part of the Smithtown Central School District.

Station History

The St. James station was built in 1873. It was designed by Calvin L'Hommedieu for the Smithtown and Port Jefferson Railroad. This makes it the second-oldest train station building still standing on the Long Island Rail Road! Only Hewlett Station, built in 1869, is older.

Back in 1958, another station called Flowerfield closed down. Because of this, people who used to take the train from Flowerfield started using the St. James and Stony Brook, New York stations instead.

For a long time, the station also had a special building for express packages and an outhouse (an outdoor toilet). But in 1964, these buildings were taken down. Some trees were also removed to make the parking lot bigger. Many people in the community were not happy about these changes.

The St. James station is very special because it's part of the Saint James District. This whole area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's an important historical place that should be protected.

The station has been updated a couple of times. The first big update happened in 1974. Then, in 1997, the Long Island Rail Road added "high-level platforms." These platforms are higher up, making it easier and safer for people to get on and off the trains.

No public buses stop at the station. However, you can find local taxi services there. The station is also a stop along New York State Bicycle Route 25, which is great for bike riders! In recent years, the station has also been updated to make it easier for people with disabilities to use.

Station Layout

This station has one platform where trains stop. It's called a side platform, and it's long enough for 12 train cars. This platform is located on the north side of the train track.

When you are on the platform, trains going toward Huntington, Jamaica, Atlantic Terminal, Long Island City, or Penn Station will be heading west. Trains going toward Port Jefferson will be heading east.

Side platform, doors will open on the left or right
Track 1	←      Port Jefferson Branch toward Huntington, Jamaica, Atlantic Terminal, Long Island City, or Penn Station (Smithtown) ←      Port Jefferson Branch toward Port Jefferson (Stony Brook) →

Images for kids

• 

  St. James Station looking west from Lake Avenue South crossing

• 

  Interior of the station

• 

  St. James Station war memorial, sponsored by the American Legion

• St. James – LIRR

• St. James LIRR timetable

• St. James Station Historical Restoration Project; March 21, 1997 (TrainsAreFun)