RS-3 Diesel at Oyster Bay - November 1976 - V.F. Grappone photo
D. Morrison archive
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March Photo: Alco Power Pack # 612 at Easthampton Station - 03/1985 1985
- D. Morrison photo, archive
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The History of the
LIST Chapter Calendars
Dave Morrision published the first calendar - 1986 - with
his own money and told the Chapter that if the project was successful, he would turn it over to the Chapter. Dave had 1,000 calendars printed and they sold like
"hotcakes".
He turned the project over to the Chapter and with the leadership and publishing skills and hard work of John Scala, the calendar has been published since 1986.
Dave indicates, "I should add - John Scala set me up with the printer in Hong Kong which allowed me to do the calendar in color.
Had it not been for John, the calendar would have been B&W."
Info: D. Morrision
RDC #3101 Eastward from Babylon 1955 - Harold Fagerberg photo
shot from Babylon Tower
Dave Morrision Archive
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LIRR #2402 C-Liner arriving at Wyandanch 1952
Photo: Malcolm Young
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West Hempstead Shuttle Photo: Ben Young
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The sun broke through for only a moment on this otherwise rainy October 16,
1955. G5s class, 10 wheeler #35 heads up a steam special and is shown at a
photo stop in LI City. LIST Collection
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As the 1977 season ends in the summer playground area of Long Island,
we find a westbound near Napeague Beach.
Photo: Bob Felber
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On the morning of January 9, 1988, GP38-2 #266, with parlor car and train in
tow, races an M-3 class electric M.U. consist east of Mineola, NY. Photo:
Mark Conca
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An eastbound diesel hauled train rushes its charge towards the rising moon
at Mineola, NY 02/13/87 Photo: John Scala
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Fairbanks-Morse 1506, brings the nine cars, including parlor, of train #552,
to Roslyn on May 20, 1964. Photo: Robert B. Dunnet
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It's October 25, 1987 at 5:00 in the evening and as dusk falls over Deer
Park a train approaches from the west on the eve of electrification of the
Main Line to Ronkonkoma.
Photo: Paul H. Espersen
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C420's #229 & 225, lead the "Kabin
Kar" special westbound at Floral Park. The train consisted of the two
ALCOs, power cab #609 and eight cabooses bracketing two P72 class
coaches. This was to be the final run for the 229 and 225 which ended the
American Locomotive Company era on Long Island. (Except for re-powered ALCO
FA units.) This era lasted form 1945, with delivery of the first 660 HP
switcher #404, until 1989 when the last "Centuries" were sent to
Naporano Iron & Metal Co. in New Jersey. Our thanks to member Gene
Collora and his many associates on the LIRR for making September 10, 1989 a memorable
day for the Chapter and friends. John J. Scala
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The P.M. rush hour is done and evening is
nigh as Manhattan Island's one-of-a-kind light show would indicate. With the
sun's aura quickly dissipating, SW1001 reposes on track 1 at the LI City
yard after attending to the day's switching chores.
Photo: Peter Lenz
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G5s class ten wheeler #28, stands by as
Hicksville "protect" engine in April of 1955. The era of steam
would soon be over as the order had already been placed with ALCO for ten
RS-3 road switchers. Photo: George J. Abere, Jr.
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The venerable depot at St. James is the
subject of this winter's night scene of February 27, 1991. Photo: Paul H.
Espersen
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SW1001's 104 & 102 pose on the Morris
Park turntable just prior to going into service as the "Harold"
protect set. In an effort to recapture the history of the railroad, the duo
was painted into the gray and orange. 04/05/1992
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An RS-1 brings caboose C54, into the tunnel
portal at East New York. Atop the bore is the inscription heralding the
grade crossing elimination of 1914. Photo: Gerald H. Landau
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The grade crossing elimination project is
well underway in Floral Park as C-Liner #2402 negotiates the shoofly with a
westbound passenger consist 04/1961 Photo: Matthew J. Herson, Jr.
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It's 5:15 A.M. at Amityville interlocking and
the sun is making its first appearance on the Sunrise Trail. Photo:
George Maccarone
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As Gotham towers in the background, trains
await their evening departure times to Port Jefferson and Oyster Bay
respectively. Photo: John Henderson
Produced by Hobby Images
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End of the line out east at Montauk Point.
Trains lay over for the weekend with observation cars Setauket on the
Cannonball and Jamaica on the Weekender, July 7, 1963. Photo: Norman Kohl
Produced by Hobby Images
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LIRR #40 G5s moves off the
turntable and across the yard in Oyster Bay, NY to couple on to its train
for the next trip west. Photo: Francis Goldsmith, Jr.
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LIRR Train #8051 arrives at the
new Deer Park Station with a consist of M-3s. 03//14/1993 Photo: Paul H.
Espersen
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Veteran's Day in 1954, with crystal clear
skies, was a good day to go out and catch a steam train in action.
Railfan-photographer Norman E. Kohl leveled his camera at train #610 for
Port Jefferson as it slowed for a station stop at Hicksville. G5s #50 does
the honors with four Tichy-painted "ping-pong" coaches in tow. It
doesn't get much better than this!
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RS-1 #462 shoves five cars and caboose #18
back into Glen Cove team track towards the freight house. (11/12/55) Photo: Norman Kohl
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C420 #202, is in her second year of service
and has train #635 in tow for Jamaica. To the left, caboose C-64 brings up
the markers on the Port Jefferson freight and will proceed west after the
passenger job has cleared. This meet is just west of the Smithtown station.
(01/09/196) Photo: Norman E. Kohl
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Alco model S-1 #416 was one of four units of
its class to be outfitted with multiple unit and speed control for road
freight service. It is January 1976, and the switcher has a little more than a
year to go before being retired. The float bridges in Long Island City are
quiet this Saturday and accordingly, the #416 and its float reach car get
the weekend off. (01/10/76) Photo: Fred Wilczewski
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Power Pack #603 and eight cars make up
train #233 which is seen making a station stop at Pinelawn. The fine trimmed
lawns of the National Cemetery (right) are blanketed with snow. The engine
exhaust form LIRR #211 (pushing) is barely visible from the west end of the
train. 02/11/1972 Photo: Robert B. Dunnet
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Years ago the LIRR's employee magazine, The
Long Islander, featured a segment on railroad locations whereby the the reader was called upon to figure out "where are we?" Such is the situation here, where the humble beginnings of Hicksville's (West John St.) freight yard are in evidence. A ballast train
drops stone and a rare NX23 cabin car, fashioned from an X23 boxcar, brigs up the markers. Photo: Norman E. Kohl
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One of the railroad's new trains scoots across Mill Creek with
train 200 for Greenport in March 1999. Photo: John J. Scala
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"C-Liner City" The west yard at Port Jefferson
is alive with Fairbanks-Morse locomotives. This includes train 4651 which is seen negotiating the Baylis Ave grade crossing. Engineer R. Smith throttles up for the westbound trip o independence Day in 1959. Photo: Norman E. Kohl
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As the sun sets on Saturday 14, 1963, the lights come up on the evening activities
at Morris Park. Minor running repairs, wheel truing and fueling will be facilitated throughout the night preparing motive power for the next
day's assignments. Looking across the turntable pit, we see various motive power in the roundhouse and engines
on the patio for washing. Such is the night trick seldom seen, but nonetheless, an important aspect in daily railroad operations. Photo: Robert
B. Dunnet
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For the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, the Long Island Rail Road pavilion had an operating model railroad,
miniature railroad for children to ride, duck hatching and two facades for souvenir photography. These photos show both locomotive and observation car facades which spent many years, after the "fair" at the Tanglewood Day Camp
, Rockville Centre and have most recently been preserved by Steam Loco 35 group.
Photos: Robert B. Dunnet
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Is there a race going on here? More than this picture shows is the fact that steam is heading
toward the "great roundhouse," located just out of the mind's eye. The year is 1954, the last full season for steam operations and H10s No. 113 eastbound through Floral Park before the grade crossing elimination project. The consolidation (2-8-0) with
"lines west" tender and seemingly endless freight is challenged by the black
diesel coming up fast on her right. History has already told us who won, but let us remember this era fondly with the 113 ahead by a smoke box!
Photo: George J. Abere, Jr.
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Do you remember the famed Volkswagen bus? It wasn't just a vehicle for the "flower power" generation for it served many other purposes as well. The Long Island Rail Road employed the "bus" as a high rail vehicle for inspections as for security during
strikes. The "Gandy Wagon" which it was called, reposes in Bridgehampton on November 15, 1962 amongst the other rubber-tired
veterans of the road. And no, the logo doesn't stand for Ontario & Western!
Photo: Norman E. Kohl
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G5s class #24 gathers momentum just west of
the Locust Avenue crossing in Glen Head. She tows three aged
"ping-pong" coaches which will survive way beyond the ten-wheeler
itself. The date is January 14,1955 and steam will bow out later this year.
Enjoy the moment and the effort of the photographer to capture it. Train
#533, will never be the same after October 1955 as the growl of the diesel
will carry on from there. Photo: Norman E. Kohl
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Freight symbol RF-61 is westbound at Pinelawn
with its twenty-seven cars and a hand-me-down bringing up the markers.
Caboose C-94 was one of a group of hacks purchased from the Illinois Central
during the MTA era of the LIRR. The caboose is just another example of
classic railroading gone extinct. So, on the morning of January 29, 1974,
the C-94 carried out its duties, unaware that it would be sidelined in favor
of a "FRED." (flashing rear end device) Photo: Robert B. Dunnet
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It seems appropriate to cast a C-Liner for
the cover of this year's calendar. LIRR 2004 heads up a train #4009 at
Montauk and is shown making its 5:40pm departure. The parlor cars toward the
end appear to be 4009's train, but are actually the equipment for the
Sundowner, the all-parlor car train which is scheduled for 6:40pm.
(06/22/1963) Photo: Norman E. Kohl
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What a difference six months cam make! Top:
It's hard to believe, but the LIRR MP15Ac fleet hit its 26th year of service
in March 2003. Whatever wasn't painted previously of sold to the New York
& Atlantic is subject to a facelift. At the suggestion of an employee
the 167 was repainted in this four color likeness using New York State
colors with some added gray and black. (10/08/2002)
Bottom: On April 6, 2003 the 167 is seen
again repainted, reversing the blue and gray giving and almost CSX-like
appearance. The Gabreski-era "We Serve With Pride" slogans with
flags have returned and grace the railroad's equipment. Photos: John J.
Scala
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A subtle change of image is seen here in Brooklyn's
VD yard. One of the MP54C class multiple class unit cars now models the new
paint scheme designed by Lester Tichy. The freshly painted car is surrounded
by the Pennsy-inspired tuscan red livery and it sits below the elevated
freight track that provided access to the Rabinowitz Warehouse. Photo: John
J. Scala
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During the early 1980's, the LIRR shop forces
sampled many different designs for the ends of the M-1 fleet. Most
incorporated the use of reflective tape... all were aimed at better
visibility. The 9014 models one option while its mate (9015) carried the
yellow across the face of the car to where the MTA logo is. Neither option
was du0plicated in mass numbers, but it made interesting fodder for
J.C. Smith, Jr. to take notice and record the moment on October 21,
1982.
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With large battleship-styled road numbers emblazoned
across its nose, a 2400 horsepower Consolidation Line Fairbanks-Morse diesel
has the point of a main line train to Ronkonkoma. Steam has taken its leave
and now the diesel locomotive will take the railroad into the new century
and beyond. Efforts are under way to revive steam on Long Island excursion
service, but sponsors are needed to underwrite the costs to make this dream
a reality. For information, contact the chapter. Photo: Norman E. Kohl
1956
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The second phase of the bi-level era story of
the LIRR is in evidence here as train #660 ambles through the Divide
Interlocking in Hicksville. At first this train was propelled by two leased
Chicago Metra E8s, phase three with FL9s and phase four which is in progress
with DE & DM30 locomotives. Here GP38-2s #259 and #266 have the point
and trailing the consist is the 3100, (providing head-end power) which was
fashioned from power cab #608. Photo: William Mangahas 09/1991
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Before the grade separation project of the
1960s, there would be no doubt when a train was in Hicksville. With the main
line and Port Jefferson branch coming to confluence here, it meant a lot of
freight and passenger movements. G5s class #35 heads up a job from Port Jefferson
which has just passed Bethpage Road and will trip many more grade
crossing circuits before leaving town. With the new elevated structure
planned, pedestrian and vehicular traffic only need watch out for their own.
The year was 1955 and time was running out for the steam locomotive on Long
Island. Photo: Norman E. Kohl.
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RS3 #1560 is made compatible with brand new
R-44 subway cars by way of compromise car M502. The eight R-4s will be
shoved up the hill to the Bay Ridge Branch and delivered to the Parkville
interchange where the NYC Transit Authority will forward them to Coney
Island to be put into service. Photo: Steve Zabel 01/27/1972
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Locust Tower (Locust Valley), on the Oyster
Bay branch, was once manned by the LIRR personnel. Switching
responsibilities are now handled elsewhere and the structure acts as a
sub-station for the Nassau County Police. On Sunday, January 5, 2975 a
westbound train passes "Locust," which is still decorated with garland
from the holiday season. Local businesses recently funded the restoration of
Locust tower and its looks great. The structure can be seen at the Forest
Avenue grade crossing in Locust Valley. The tower will stand so that future
generations will learn about railroading's past. Photo: Norman E. Kohl.
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For Many years PD tower stood as a sentinel
on the Montauk branch handling east and westbound train movements. Its
charming list gave it many nick-names and worried railroad officials as to
the structural integrity of the building. In May 2006, the last orders were
handed up and the venerable tower closed...still standing! The word was
passed along to preservationists, but alas there were no takers. PD was demolished.
It is shown (left) in a view taken on August 6, 1963 (Photo: Norman E. Kohl)
and it its final days (right). Photo: Steve Quigley
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The RS-3 spots a covered hopper full of duck
feed for Eastport Feeds. Both #270 and #271 wear the new paint scheme.
02/24/2007 Photo: William J. Skeats
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NYA # 105 has halted beneath the Belt Parkway
overpass in BA Ridge to swap out loads with the NYCHRR on March 26, 1999.
Photo: Benjamin W. Shaeffer
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On summer Sundays train No. 4012
would typically return serviced locomotives to Montauk for westbound trains
that evening. LIRR #205, #202 and #201 roll through Bethpage with a
mixed consist of cars on September 7, 1964. Photo: Norman E. Kohl
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Destinations on the Long Island
Rail Road.*
All photos by retired LIRR Gateman George Basch
*lower left photo is Smithtown Station
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Locomation...It's no wonder why the steam enthusiasts lamented the loss
of their beloved iron horse. The diesel, while being easier and less costly
to maintain, could never compare to the animation provided by the drivers of
a steam locomotive. The machine was a delight to the senses, except taste.
Although if you liked steam locomotives, you were said to have good taste,
according to some of the older generations of the hobby. The Pennsylvania
R.R., during the their ownership of the LIRR would lease locomotives to use
here on Long Island. Such was the case when K4 #7938 came in town. She was
mainline train No. 4232 in tow at Bethpage on March 3, 1946. Photo: F.R.
Dirkes Collection: Ron Ziel
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There were two transfer tables in Morris Park to move equipment
from building to building. The west transfer table, shown in this photo is the lesser photographed due to
accesability. Note how the rails are laid. They are spaced apart where as the east table used 4' 8 1/2" guage track. Both ran off trolley wire. In this image, one of the GE 25 ton shop switchers moves the Setauket business car about the facility. Photo: Robert C. Strum
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A special thanks to Robert Myers, of LIST,
for providing many of the fine examples in this collection, Dave
Morrision for starting the series, additional photos and commentary, Dave
Keller for inspiration, and John Scala for making the color printing
possible.
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