The Main Line has some stations that seemed to be neither here nor there, and not well patronized. One such was Republic, which was once the site of a large aircraft plant. It was adjacent to NY 110, the main drag running across the Island from Huntington to Amityville, and a busy place by the 1980s, with many businesses and employers along its length, especially in the area around Melville. Yet, the LIRR handled relatively few passengers here, perhaps due to the dearth of train service in the diesel era, and a lack of good connecting public transportation. This evening rush train to Ronkonkoma is making its stop here, only a few will get off. |