LIRR Freight Yards |
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The freight on Long Island was complicated by the fact that there were
several western terminals, so to make things easier, they split the freight
operations into two divisions - West of Jay and the Island.
"...Bliss was used by LIRR freight and
had an engine terminal so that steam engines did not have to run reverse all
the way to Morris Park. This was also gone by 1957. In my time, Bliss yard
was used to store cars for Phelps Dodge, Van Iderstine and other customers
between Greenpoint Ave and PD. Also cars for Murers sidings were stored
here. Crews reported at Yard A and brought cars to Bliss before making up
their trains for their respectful switching areas. "...There was a yard alongside Borden Ave. known as the Wheelspur Yard where trains for Sunnyside were made up and stored until ready for the PRR crews. I'm not talking commuter trains here but the long haul DC and beyond with fifteen cars or more. Long Island crews made up these trains and took them to Sunnyside when they were needed. Old track diagrams show tracks extending out into Newtown Creek on piers, possibly taking shipments from boats to be loaded onto rail cars. (see map: Wheelspur Yard) This yard was gone by 1957 (when I hired on)..." JJ Earl "...Back to Wheelspur. At the end of December 1941, after being hired as a fireman, I was sent to fire one of the steamers at the east end of the yard. Three Pennsy locomotives were used to heat yarded trains. These were right near the Montauk Cut-off and the two drawbridges. Hard to believe Sunnyside Yard ran out of room due to its size.
View east: Arch Street team yard lower left, Montauk Cut-off in center, PRR Sunnyside yard center top, Yard A (North Yard) LIRR top left of center. Owner: Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) , Photographer: Jack E. Boucher April 1977 taken from helicopter. Info and photo courtesy: Nick Kalis Did you know at times these Pennsy trains were turned by pulling out of yard and shoving them east on the Montauk Branch past Bliss tower and then reversed to the Main Line cutoff to F tower and pulled up on leads far enough for GG-1s to get them on trains to head westbound. I know of at least one train that was handled as it had not gone around the loop which would have kept the Observation car on the rear ( This was the reason for the FANCY MOVE BY BLISS ). As to Bliss Yard I never saw or knew of any passenger equipment laying over there. Maybe some cars that were being scraped were there..." Mark Smith There was once more passenger, traffic
in and out of LI
City, so it was a spot to dump overflow from the yard or shopped
equipment. It was also a place for a freight to leave part of his drag when
working the freight in the area, a place to duck in the clear while waiting
for a shot to get on the main, among other reasons... |
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CURRENT LIRR YARDS |
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Babylon Yard Long Island City Yard Queens Village Yard |
Greenport Yard Oyster Bay Yard Speonk Yard |
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Advance Yard Arch Street Yard Belmont Yard Blissville Yard C Yard D Yard Dunkirk Yard E Yard Far Rockaway Yard Freemont Yard |
Freeport Yard Hempstead Yard Hicksville Yard Hillside Yard Holban Yard Long Beach Yard Maspeth Yard Morris Park Boneyard Morris Park Yard |
Port Washington Yard Receiving Yard Shea Yard Storage Yard Varick Ave Yard VD Yard West Hempstead Yard West Side Yard |
Other places trains may be layed up
Research: Nick Kudreyko |
BABYLON | BAY RIDGE |
BAY SHORE
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CAMP UPTON
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FRESH POND | GREENPORT | HICKSVILLE | |
HOLBAN
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JAMAICA |
LI CITY
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LIRR YARD A | MORRIS PARK | NEW LOTS | OYSTER BAY |
PATCHOGUE
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PORT
JEFFERSON
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SPEONK |
SUNNYSIDE
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VARICK AVE | WESTSIDE YARD |