This branch was originally built by the Central Railroad of Long Island (CRRLI) in June 1873, primarily for the purpose of serving Alexander Turney Stewart's local brick manufacturing plant (Bethpage Brickworks),[1] so he could deliver bricks for his project building the planned community of Garden City, New York.

The passenger stop at the northern terminus of the branch was called Bethpage, located near present-day Winding Road and Battle Row (just north of the old Stewart brickworks, and south of the present-day Old Bethpage Village Restoration).

The stop at the southern end, called Bethpage Junction, was also a transfer point.

Proposals to extend the branch north through Huntington, Smithtown, and Port Jefferson were abandoned after amalgamation of the CRRLI with the LIRR in 1876.

Today, the former right-of-way in part is occupied by a bridle path and Thomas Powell Boulevard.