Wood Engraving, "Northern View of Hempstead, Long Island," circa 1845

Summary

Selecting a railroad's route was a delicate balance between the technical need for easy curves and gentle gradients, and the economic necessity of ready customers. When an important community got bypassed by the mainline, the railroad might build a branch line to it. The Long Island Rail Road built a branch to Hempstead, New York, two miles south of its mainline.

Selecting a railroad's route was a delicate balance between the technical need for easy curves and gentle gradients, and the economic necessity of ready customers. When an important community got bypassed by the mainline, the railroad might build a branch line to it. The Long Island Rail Road built a branch to Hempstead, New York, two miles south of its mainline.

Artifact

Print (Visual work)

Subject Date

circa 1845

Collection Title

Seymour Dunbar Collection 

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

82.129.446

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Wood engraving (Process)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 4.25 in

Width: 5.5 in

Inscriptions

Description beneath: Hempstead, Long Island, New York State. View of the village showing a horse-drawn car of the branch railway, two miles long, which connected the villge with the main line of the Long Island Railroad. Wood engraving. Date: about 1845.

Connect 3

Discover curious connections between artifacts.

Learn More