1.
Was the north siding ("old schoolhouse track") east of the
Patchogue station and the Fence track (because it was next to the fence)
used as a coach layover storage track for the morning commute?
Emery's SUNY map
of Patchogue indicates both the North siding and the fence tracks as
"coach lay-up." South of the tracks and east of S. Ocean
Avenue (about the parking lot for the
Brookhaven
Town Hall
) were two (2) storage tracks, indicated as #1 and #2. Track #2,
the most southern of the two, was out in 1950. Track #1 was still
in use on Emery's 1958 map. Both were east trailing, with the
stubs against
S. Ocean Avenue
.
Also, the #1 track
used to be an express track, with a high platform to unload express.
This track extended all the way east past the Knickerbocker Ice Co.,
over
Rider Avenue
and stubbing out against
Potter Ave.
A crossover allowed access to this track from the main.
The
"Scoot" would also layup on the north siding and/or the Fence
track.
2.
When was the water tank razed? The water columns were removed in
1951from Patchogue, why? Apparently the steam engines were serviced
elsewhere after 1951. They no longer needed water plugs in Patchogue?
According to
Emery's SUNY map of Patchogue, the water tank came down in 1950.
this note appears to be added later. I think it's wrong.
Weber took the shots at Patchogue in the late 1940s because the tank was
to be removed. I think the tank came down in either 1947 or 1949.
I believe that
steamers were no longer run regular on the Montauk line after that time.
There was a water column in
Babylon
that could service them but I do not know when it was removed.
3.
The engine house is gone in the 1920s. Why? Were engines stored off the
turntable for the morning commute?
Engines were
stored on the engine lay-up track south of the turntable such as E6s
4-4-2 for example.
To my knowledge
service was performed on the North siding in all weather. Any major work
locomotive would be sent to Morris Park. This would also create a
job for an engine crew run lite to PD with replacement locomotive and
return with locomotive in need of inspection or repair. Good jobs as you
were paid eight hours and many times done in half that time.
4.
What kind of freight traffic was handled in Patchogue in terms of
numbers of trains per day/week?
Freight traffic
was handled by the Montauk freight runs, I believe also there was a
Patchogue freight run for some time. In general freight was handled in
among passenger traffic. Some times a Southside extra may work thru if
needed. Such as a potato extra when
Long Island
was growing potatoes and not as now Vineyards.
5.
Any unusual freights: ducks, potatoes, etc?
Potato extras in
the previous question. I do not recall any "Duck Extras ".
Need an older timer then me to recall that. I know we ran thru Duck
farms around Center Moriches as to how they were shipped I have no idea.
6.
Were steam 0-8-0 assigned to Patchogue, or did the road engines work the
yard and the sidings?
Road engines did
the switching. Out east, only Riverhead (and maybe Speonk) had a
regular switcher assigned. I have NEVER seen photos of any 0-8-0 C51
switchers at Patchogue.
From what I can
determine from train orders and messages (copies of which I e-mailed
you) only H10s and H6sb consolidations were used in freights passing
through Patchogue.
7.
Was the turntable in use until steam end in 1955? Or did they use
diesels, or run east 20 miles out to Speonk to use the wye?
Turntable was out
in early 50's. Diesels did most of the work after that, and they did a
run around the train and pulled short hood first westbound. Only
the C liners were wyed at Speonk.
The turntable was
probably out of use when Diesels came into the picture. No need to turn
locomotive, pull into school house siding, cut train off, back thru the
next track to other end of train, couple up, brake test ready to go
West. Then of course the Budd cars came and all you did was change ends
and you were ready to go. Same situation with Push-Pull trains
The turntable pit
was filled in in 1957. Don't know when the table was actually
discontinued.
8.
When were the water tank, scales, freight houses, sidings, coal
trestles,
turntables, etc. removed and just paved over?
Water tank - c.
1949-50
Coal trestle - 1959
Scale track, sidings, structures, etc. - May, 1963
Turntable - ? (see #7 above)
9.
What businesses and industries received car loads or LCL from the LIRR?
Bailey & Sons.
(all sidings removed: 1950)
Underwood Fuel Co. (west of
River Ave.
and s. of main. siding removed: 1963)
Patchogue-Plymouth Mills (Lace Mill) (siding removed 1965)
PELCO siding for coal delivery (siding removed 1965)
Texas Oil Co (accessed off Lace Mill track. Secondary siding
removed c. 1959)
Patchogue Gas Co. (accessed off Lace Mill track. Secondary siding
removed c. 1940)
Snedecor Coal & Feed (Weeks Coal) (siding out: 1959)
Knickerbocker Ice Co. (Ex-Welz & Zerwick)
G. H. Vrooman Coal & Lumber Co.
Swezey Coal & Fuel Co.
Standard Oil Co.
Case-Suffolk Corp Plumbing Supply
Reich Bros. Trucking
T & S Lumber Co.
Sinclair Oil Co. (siding removed: 12/41)
L. W. Terrell Coal Yard
10.
What would the typical mix of cars look like, blocked reefers, all coal
drag, etc. and what was the average number of cars in a freight that
arrived?
Always mixed freight, 25-35
cars. Judging from the freight reports I copied
for you, some of those trains handled just under 50 cars.
11.
I see the Lace Mill has a siding for a coal trestle and a
shipping/receiving siding at 90 degrees to the main crossing over
Montauk Highway
. What operational problems may have occurred?
Only operations I
would see that would be a problem was the flaging of traffic on
Main Street
. I never worked that job as I can recall.
12.
Describe the "Ringhouse" track?
The first siding
south of the main. 39-car capacity. Named after a LIRR
Foreman. Branched off the main west of river Ave., opposite Underwood
Fuel Co. and extended eastward connecting to the main just west of the
REA house, directly in front of location of water tank.
From North to
South:
1.
House track (led to coal trestle)
2. Coal gondola storage track
3. Turntable and ash pit track
4. Engine Lay--up track
5. North siding (68-car capacity)
6. Main track
7. Ringhouse track
8. Scale track
9. Team track #1
10. Team track #2
11. Team track #3
13.
Were there named/numbered scheduled freights?
Locals were
designated with an "L" prefix, and city freights had a
"MA" for Metropolitan Area. |