Photo: Steven Lynch c.1985

                                              MORRIS PARK STATION

Morris Park Station c.1910 view East
Archive: Dave Keller

It was called Morris “Park” because there was a beautiful park built at the rear of the depot.  Research: Dave Keller

** Morris Park Station 10/18/1910
Archive: McEnery

** Morris Park Shops in distant left background. Elevated crossing shanty and shelter shed at left.  1886-era depot at right.  High–level, wooden platforms not yet installed.  Station stop out of service 11/1/39 and razed for grade elimination of Atlantic branch along Atlantic Avenue. This was one of the LIRR’s “rapid transit” stops which was discontinued as a result of the grade elimination project of 1939-1940. Info: Dave Keller

MORRIS PARK SHOPS
 
Morris Park Shops 1889 

Morris Park Yard c.1906 postcard
Collection: Dave Morrision

LIRR G5s (4-6-0) #21 at Morris Park Shops Coaling Tower 10/26/1935 Front pilot stenciled: NL thus labeled for New York, LIRR service as the  engines were built by the Pennsy for LIRR service. The Pennsy at the time owned the LIRR and the LIRR, as with ALL the lines the Pennsy owned, got their equipment stenciled accordingly along with every other locomotive in the entire PRR system. Research/Archive: Dave Keller 

Notice the "NO SMOKE" sign on the left posted for the benefit of the hostlers as heavy smoke under that structure would cause it to billow all over and choke everyone around. There may have also been concern about the corrosive effects of constant engine exhaust on the wooden coal structure. Info: Ron Zinn  

Morris Park Shops - 1952

Emery map - 10/1958

LIRR A-1 #320  Built by Baldwin Westinghouse 12/26 Photo: 06/29/49
Archive: Jim Gillin

While not exactly in the venue of Morris Park or its shops, this turntable was located directly across from Morris Park Shops and the Montauk branch embankment (see map on this page).  It was considered part of the Richmond Hill Storage Yard (visible in the background) and was located east of the yard and just west of the trainmen’s building / yardmaster’s office, north of the tracks.  It was used to turn  observation cars for the parlor car trains or inspection trains, so the observation end could face the rear at all times.  Info:  Dave Keller  

Morris Park Shops 3/31/1940 Conveyor to wooden coaling tower in background
Collection: Dave Keller

LIRR #312 H-6sb View NE
c. 1946
Archive: Jim Gillin

LIRR C420 #227, #227 at View W, Richmond Hill 10/31/87 Photo: Kevin Gulau 

LIRR S1-2 Units #455-439
Morris Park Shops 
01/19/76 Archive: Dave Keller

G53 (4-6-0) #144 lays up at Morris Park Shops alongside the fence separating the shops from the tracks of the Atlantic branch, visible in the foreground in this c. 1938 view. Behind the #144 is C51 (0-8-0) #251 and at the right is a freshly-painted G5s and tender.  To the left over the tracks is the smoke washer bridge. In the center background is the water tower for the shops and in the right background is the conveyor taking the coal to the old wooden coaling facility.    Dave Keller archive

(1) This photo shows the Semaphore signal bridge in the background which  displays the westward home signal for “R” and the eastward distant signal for “J” , the tower that was located across from the Richmond Hill Storage Yard and which was taken out of service in 1928.  Info: Dave Keller

(2) This was “R” Interlocking Tower.  Morris Park  Shops to the left, Richmond Hill Storage Yard to the right, view looking northwest (LIRR west).  The signal bridge in the camelback shot above is located behind the photographer of this shot.  The pipe and covered conduit extending from the tower towards the feet of the photographer continue to the signal bridge to control its operation.  Photo: James V. Osborne, Archive: Dave Keller  

The Fairbanks-Morse units are still in service.  They were pulled in 1964 and replaced by the C420 units.  Not a C420 in sight in this view so they probably hadn’t yet arrived on the property; thus 1962-63.
Archive: Jim Gillin,  Photo: LIRR,  Research: Dave Keller

Air Compressors for Switch Motors Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

B&O Wagon Top Boxcar
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Yard Goat #397
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

LIRR  #397  10/31/87
Photo: Kevin Gulau

GE 25 tonner  #398 c. 1970's
Photo: Steve Hoskins

LIRR C420 #225 Morris Park 10/31/87 
Photo: Kevin Gulau

LIRR #399 Yard Goat working the transfer table, prior MTA scheme

LIRR  #399  
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

LIRR  #399 10/31/87 Repaint
Photo: Kevin Gulau

East from Main Gate, right of the tank is the steam plant.
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

West towards Blacksmith Shop
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

09/1930 tank car near Blacksmith Shop
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Big Hook
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Supporting Loco Shop Walls
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

West toward Main Gate
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

The building on the left is the blacksmith shop and on the right is the locomotive shop followed by the end of the first transfer table.

Turntable drive mechanism
Photo: Steve Rothaug

Photo: Steve Rothaug

Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87
 

Parts storage
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Original manhole cover
Photo: Steve Rothaug

Transfer Table
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Wheel grinding shop
Photo: Steve Rothaug

Interior wheel grinding shop
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87 

Location #5: Leased PRR K4s #5387 lays up at the east end of Morris Park Shops yard in the Dunton/Jamaica area along with several other of her contemporaries. The view is looking east towards "DUNTON" tower (renamed on 4/23/37) roof of which is just visible in the center background and Sheffield Farms, the huge milk plant located between the LIRR's Atlantic branch tracks and Atlantic Avenue. 
Archive: RMLI  Info: Dave Keller

LIRR G5s #26 Dunton Tower c.1938
Archive: Dave Keller

Morris Park east to Dunton Tower - View North 2008, lower right corner former location of Sheffield Farms Dairy

Location #1: Looking east from Morris Park Shops, Aug. 26, 1939. "Dunton" tower at far left. Signal bridge beyond is at Dunton station (square, brick waiting room visible at west end of high level platforms). Plant and stack in background is Sheffield Farms.


The Sheffield Farms cars are a publicity photo of cars built for Sheffield by General American Refrigerator Car Company in 1928 Source:  Carstens Publications

DD1 #352 Sheffield Farms Milk Cars Receiving Yd Jamaica c.1937 Archive: Dave Keller

Sheffield Farms opened a plant adjoining its company's headquarters at 524 W. 57th St. in 1938. Here is a quote from the article on the new plant in the June 22, 1938 The American Produce Review.

"The new plant, adjoining the company's headquarters at 524 West 57th St., spans the tracks of the New York Central which run below street level from the 60th St. yards to 35th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves. The tracks were laid in a cut a year ago, removing the railroad from Eleventh Ave."

"Relocation of the railroad enabled the company to build on this site and obtain the long sought rail terminal within the plant. First, however, the dairy and the railroad made an unusual real estate deal by which the railroad maintains a right of way through the plant and the dairy owns the air rights above the tracks."

"The new plant is the only milk plant in Manhattan and the second in New York City to have a railroad siding on plant property. The other plant, also built by Sheffield Farms, is in Jamaica. It was opened a year ago. The rail head in the plant saves the time and expense involved in hauling milk from railroad yards in tank trucks."

Location #6: LIRR #1758 MP54 Richmond Hill Storage Yard. Probably late 1920's or early 1930's from the Richmond Hill Storage yard looking southeast towards the Montauk branch embankment and the Sheffield Farms Dairy plant along Atlantic Avenue and Roof of “MP” tower (later “DUNTON”) at right background. Research: Dave Keller 

I know of no employee's platform ever having been at Dunton nor have I ever seen any photographic evidence from the twenties to the present.  This photo shows a small cabin next to Dunton tower.  I suspect that it was to house a sentry or guard to keep anybody from entering through the 130th street tunnel stairway which was accessible at the time.  It wasn't gated off until many years later.  If  I remember correctly, I walked up those stairs probably in the early seventies.   Info: Ron Zinn

As for the employee stop .. . No . . . I don't see any reason why there HAD to be a platform anywhere . . . .men could be dropped off anywhere, for that matter . . .  However, if employees took the FBA train out of Jamaica and asked to be let off at MPS, they wouldn't be let off at the base of DUNTON tower as those were all yard tracks.  They'd have to be left off along the Atlantic branch tracks . . . and I'd say a good spot was at the very start of the fence seen in my c. 1938 image in the center background, where the crossover from the yard access tracks cuts into the westbound main unless there was a gap in the fence closer to the shops back then, however, more realistically, they were most probably dropped off at the Dunton Station, walked down the ladders/steps at the end of the platforms restricted for employee use, then  a short walk to the shops. Once the 1939 elimination took place and Dunton station was removed, the tracks began their descent into the tunnel near the M of E office building, so an employee stop would have to have been further east . . . . like where it is today and where it was when I used it in 1973 and 1974. Info: Dave Keller

You'll notice that the little cabin is at the head of the stairs.   It was gone after the war from all photos I have seen.  It was certainly not there when I stood trackside across from Dunton tower in the summer of 1950.  The old station was immediately East of the signal bridge.

I'm sure that little cabin at Dunton was erected on the spot purely for security reasons after we got into the war.  I would say that it was probably put up in 1942.  Security consciousness was at an unbelievable level in the early years of the war, witness the strict prohibition on taking railroad photos.  Worries about sabotage ran high.  The railroads were an important part of the national defense system.  That cabin was not there in 1940.  It was gone after the war, but I can't say exactly when.

I do concur with your idea of employees detraining at Dunton station until 1939 when the station was demolished. It makes sense.  After the station was gone couldn't a train make an unscheduled stop near Dunton for employees? Info: Ron Zinn