Quick Facts about Railways on Staten Island
- Abbreviations:
- SIR is an initialism for Staten Island Railway
![Plate 27, Part of Ward 5 [Map bound by Sheldon Ave, Jefferson Boulevard, Rathbun Ave, Arden Ave (Washington Ave), Carton Boulevard, Detroit Ave, Annadale Road, Franklin St, Moffett St, Staten Island Rail Road, Seguine PL, Centre Ave, Eagan Ave (Forest Ave), Amboy Road]](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/313473/images/Screenshot_2023-06-02_150619_cropped.jpg)
SIRT is an abbreviation for Staten Island Rapid Transit Company- SIRTOA is an abbreviation for Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority
- Years of Note:
- 1851: On August 2, SIR was organized.
- 1860: The first SIR passenger train ran on February 1, with regular passenger service starting on April 23.
- 1865: SIR took over the NY & Richmond Ferry Company, and would later take over operations for the ferries to Manhattan.
- 1880: The SIRT was organized on March 25, with assistance from Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O).
- 1884: The first SIRT train would run on July 31.
- 1971: The MTA bought the line from St. George to Tottenville, and was reorganized as SIRTOA.
- 1994: The MTA reverted the line's name to MTA Staten Island Railway (alternatively called MTA SIR).
A Selection of SIR/SIRT Maps at NYPL
- Map of Staten Island, Richmond County, State of New York. [1866?]
- Map Div. 19-4462
- Note: Shows the SIR and names of property owner's names. Also shows parts of Elizabeth, Bayonne, Perth Amboy, Woodbridge, and Rahway, New Jersey.
- Available digitally via NYPL Digital Collections: Click here to access.
- Map of Staten Island, Richmond County, State of New York. 1889
- Map Div. 19-53
- Available digitally via NYPL Digital Collections: Click here to access.
- Staten Island drive and bicycle road map / R.D. Servoss, eng'r. 1896
- Map Div. 19-54
- Available digitally via NYPL Digital Collections: Click here to access.
- Track map of the trolley lines of Staten Island : Richmond Boro - New York City / edited and drawn by Henry Roudenbush. [1960]
- Map Div. 22-1883
- Available digitally via NYPL Digital Collections: Click here to access.
How to Search the Catalog for SIR/SIRT Maps
Maps by Staten Island Railway Companies
When using the Online Research Catalog:
- In the Advanced Search function, checkmark "Cartographic" under Format.
- If you are interested in finding maps concerning rail transit on Staten Island, we recommend the following searches into the Author field:
- Staten Island Rapid Transit Railway Company
- For maps after the acquisition by Metropolitan Transportation Authority, please use the Advanced Search to do a combined search for
- (Author) Metropolitan Transportation Authority + (Keyword) Staten Island
- Please note that many of the results state that it is a "Staten Island Bus Map." Be aware that the Notes in these catalog records indicate that the map of the Staten Island Railway (SIR) is included.
- Not all maps that include Staten Island routes were created by the rapid transit companies themselves. Commercial, government, and other rapid transit companies would also showcase these local transit lines on their maps. As such, to include these maps in your search results, we recommend the following searches in the Keyword field:
-
Please note that you can have narrow your search to more specific results by combining the above search terms with any of the terms listed in the "Terms to Search in the Online Research Catalog" portion of this guide's Using Our Catalogs page.
Dictionary Catalog
- For holdings of other items that are not in the Online Research Catalog, please search in the printed Dictionary Catalog of the Map Division (available online via HathiTrust), by
- Volume 9 page 325 under Staten Island Rapid Transit Railway
- Only 1 item under this listing
Books
To find supplementary books and documents related to the rail lines in Staten Island, please conduct the searches listed on this page's "Catalog Tips" with "Cartographic" NOT checkmarked in either our Online Research Catalog or Digital Collections Portal. See below for a list of recommended materials:
- Staten Island Railroad [electronic resource] : reports of the Committee and Engineer to the President and Directors of the Staten Island Railroad Company, embracing surveys and estimates. 1852
- Note: Creator is "Staten Island Railway Company."
- Available from home with a NYPL Library Card, or on-site at a NYPL Library branch.
- Engineer's report on the feasibility and cost of the Staten Island rapid transit railroad. [1881]
- 625.1 W695
- Courtesy of Columbia University Libraries
- Report to the City of New York Transportation Administration on the feasibility of the purchase of the Expo express transit cars for use on the Staten Island Rapid Transit Railway. 1968
- JSF 73-1384
- Staten Island Rapid Transit / Marc Pitanza. 2015
- TF725.N5 P583 2015
- Courtesy of Princeton University Library