DD1 #341, 348 Morris Park Shops 
Old LIRR Sign Tichy Scheme View NW 
10/06/1951 (Faxon-Keller)

 
Morris Park yard view NE 1964 Archive: Jay Bendersky

Morris Park Yard c.1906 postcard 
Archive: Dave Morrison

Entrance Sign Morris Park Shops 11/08/55 (Faxon-Keller)

      Morris Park Shops Photo: Steven Lynch c.1985

MORRIS PARK STATION
Named after the beautiful park built at the rear of the depot.  

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

Morris Park Station 1912 with LIRR MP41 MU train eastbound at depot. Archive: Dave Keller

Morris Park Station c.1939 
Archive: Art Huneke

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

Morris Park Station - Lefferts Boulevard
View NE 5/071934 (Sperr-Erlitz)
Note: Stacks at right are at Morris Park Shops.
Depot building is at far right behind greenery.

View of the depot looking NE towards 120th St. crossing and the Morris Park Shops M of E 
office bldg. at 121st St. 5/07/1934
Percy Sperr photo, Dave Keller archive

Crossing at 120th St. Atlantic Ave Morris Park close-up view NE 5/07/1934  Percy Sperr photo, Dave Keller archive

This view is labeled as follows:

1.  Elevated crossing tower at 120th St. north of tracks
2.  Crossing shanty at 120th St. south of tracks
3.  Maintenance of Equipment (M of E) office bldg. at Morris  Park Shops
4.  2-car MU train
5.  Old wooden coaling tower at Morris Park Shops

** 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. All research:  Dave Keller

RICHMOND HILL

S. SIDE R. R. DEPOT BUILT: APR/MAY, 1869 AS “CLARENCEVILLE.”  USED  AS CHAPEL ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING 7/25/1869.  RENAMED “RICHMOND HILL”: OCT/NOV,  1871. RAZED DUE TO GRADE CROSSING ELIMINATION AT JAMAICA AVENUE: 1923-24
2^ND, ELEVATED DEPOT BUILT: 1923-24. IN SVC;  6/18/24.  CLOSED: ?, DISCONTINUED AS STATION STOP: 3/16/98

SHOPS STATION: MONTAUK SHELTER SHED BUILT: c. 1900 FOR LIRR SHOP EMPLOYEES, WHEN MONTAUK BRANCH WAS AT GRADE. 
LOCATED APPROXIMATELY OPPOSITE THE FORMER SITE OF “R” TOWER AT LATTER DAY RICHMOND HILL STORAGE YARD.
NO LONGER LISTED IN 5/1913 ETT.

Emery Richmond Hill - Composite: Forest Park Road to Jamaica Ave. pre-1924 and Jamaica Ave to "SHOPS" Station (1904-1906)

130th St., view NW 1950
Richmond Hill Storage Yard

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 bldg / 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. Research:  Dave Keller

Richmond Hill car washer MP54 #4738 4/1968 Photo: George Basch
Archive: James Scullin

 
LIRR S1 #419 (in Goodfellow scheme working the Receiving Yard) - LIRR S1 #415 (MTA scheme at left in the Advance Yard)  - Switchman's Shanty Richmond Hill Storage Yard  View E 8/31/72   Archive: Dave Keller

Notes: Trainmen's building  behind the shanty. Ex-Sheffield Farms Dairy owned by Sealtest Dairy Products in background. Just right of the tunnel you can see the roof of DUNTON tower with chimney. 

The Trainmen's building at the Richmond Hill Storage Yard is seen here in this photo (right) looking northeast on the north side of the Montauk branch embankment.  The building housed facilities for train crews awaiting their runs originating from the adjacent storage yard.  Men spent hours there eating their lunch, playing cards, napping, reading, yakking with each other and generally just killing time until they had to catch their trains.  The building had toilets, lockers, tables, benches and chairs.  In 1945 the tower was added atop to become the yardmaster's office to give him elevated visibility.  Directly east of this structure was the passenger-car-washing facility.  The Trainmen's building was demolished in recent years and was replaced with new passenger-car-washing facilities. (David Keller photo and archive) 

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

Richmond Hill passenger yard view NE 
1950 Photo: Bill Rugen Archive: Art Huneke

Morris Park Trainmen's building Archive: Dave Keller
 

Morris Park Shops - Passenger Car Washer c.1965 Photo: Steve Hoskins
 Emery map Morris Park Location #13 at exit of Advance Yard - 10/1958

Passenger Car Washer - Morris Park Advance Yard west end exit 1968

 
Richmond Hill Team Yard - View NE  1967 Photo: Edward Wheeler

The team yard, from north to south, consisted of a double-ended siding, eight (8) storage tracks and six (6) team tracks.  Most are gone in this image.  The freight appears to be on the siding track and one storage track is visible to the right of the train.  Curving off at the far right look likes two of the remaining team tracks.  The bare area in the center was the site of the remaining storage tracks.

All the tracks rose as can be seen in this image, so the yard throat could cross over 89th Ave. via a trestle/overpass.  Richmond Hill Shops would be left of the distant train, and Morris Park at the extreme distant right. Info: Dave Keller

Richmond Hill Team Yard - Lefferts Blvd to 89th Ave
View N - 2020 Google map

Richmond Hill Team Yard - Lefferts Blvd to 89th Ave
View N - 2020 Google aerial map

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

Emery map - Metropolitan Ave to MP9 5/1959 Archive: Dave Keller

Richmond Hill Storage Yard - Morris Park Shops map - View N

Metro-North M1's share the stage with their LIRR sisters, and other equipment, at the Richmond Hill Bone Yard in March of 1985. Formally known as the Richmond Hill Team Yard, the Metro-North M1s are getting their 15-year rebuilds at the LIRR Morris Park Shops, right next door. Photo/Archive: Jay Bendersky

MORRIS PARK SHOPS

 LIRR #400 GE 44 tonner Morris Park Shops 9/27/55

Morris Park Lunch Hour Concert - Saturday Evening Post
6/18/1960 Archive: Dave Morrison

Morris Park Loco shop 9/1978
Photo/Archive: Art Huneke

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

Emery map Morris Park - 89th Ave. to 130th St. 10/1958

Morris Park Shops - May, 1946
Photo: Ewing Galloway Research: John Scala

Emery Map MP9 to Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica  04/1959

LIRR Glendale to Richmond Hill track profile map Collection: John Fusto

G5s entering roundhouse at Morris Park Summer c.1940 
Archive: Dave Keller

LIRR #320 1939  switching the  turntable/roundhouse

LIRR  #322 in Locomotive Shop 4/23/55 
 (William V. Faxon, Jr. photo, Dave Keller archive)

LIRR  #322 Morris Park yard throat/entrance.
Note: The chain-link fence at the right separating the yard access tracks from the Atlantic branch tracks. Info: Dave Keller


G53sd #144 (4-6-0) with wedge plow at Morris Park shops c.1935 
Archive: Dave Keller

LIRR A1 #320  Morris Park Shops Transfer Table c.1955

LIRR #320 Morris Park Shops Transfer Table

 
LIRR A1 #320  Built by Baldwin Westinghouse 12/1926 
Photo: 06/29/49 Archive: Jim Gillin

Dinky on the transfer table View W at the driveway 
Emery 1958 map spot #63 c.1976 Archive: Frank Fiore

 
 G5s #28 Morris Park turntable 2/1955
Photo: J.P. Krzenski  Archive: Dave Keller

Morris Park turntable, roundhouse and shops 1950 view NW Photo: Bill Rugen Archive: Art Huneke

Morris Park turntable view NE 1950 Photo/Archive: Art Huneke

LIRR G53c #139 Morris Park Turntable 1929

G5s #21 "wash down" Morris Park 10/26/1935

LIRR #34 G5s "Richmond Hill Lead Track" Morris Park Shops view SE "DUNTON" tower and section shed on far left. 
Sheffield Farms in background. 8/26/39 Info/Archive: Dave Keller

LIRR #1 Morris Park Storage Yard View NE 5/15/1956 (Rugen-Huneke)

Note: North of the Shops/Turntable at 89th Ave just east of 121 St. The building in the right background used to be Keiner-Williams Stamping Co.; maker of milk cans.

Morris Park Diesel Repair Shop 
Photo: Lamont Ward

Note: Spring switches indicated by '^.' above.

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

Morris Park Manhole cover - Electric Railroaders Assoc. sponsored tour of Morris Park and Hillside Facility 8/06/2011

"Put it on the Patio" Place the locomotive on one of two tracks (nos. 10-11) off the turntable where the present Morris Park roundhouse ends (c.1970) consisting of a large concrete slab and pits between the rails where locomotives are washed.

The tracks are called the "load box" tracks (also load test or power test). These are immediately in front of a shack that housed the load box equipment (the resister banks and a powerful fan to cool the resistors. Locomotive generators are tested under load by the use of banks of resistor grids simulating the loads put on them without actually having to connect coaches. Depending on the locomotive equipment needing load testing, there were an arrangement of heavy jumper cables to connect to the locos to get the job done. Info: Frank Fiore

Red lights and the screaming cooling fan would let you know to stay away from a operating load box. The stacks would load up with crankcase oil and when you load box the engine it would get hot and burn out all the accumulated oil in the stack. Sometimes the oil would ignite in the stack.

Chunks of hot oil ash would blow out the stack and get carried by the wind and start fires all over. There are stories of crews having to convert the P- units to locomotive when the GP-38 failed and since after a few days of running around as a P-unit they would get loaded up with oil in the stack. This would result in many fires along the ROW. I experienced this on a Huntington to Port Jefferson trip. On the return trip we had slow orders all the way back to Huntington due to firemen putting out fires. Roger Edington

Boland's Landing - Emery map zoom  Archive: Dave Keller

Ever since Morris Park Shops opened in the late 19th century, there has been an employee station stop at that location. "Shops" station was a very large, wooden, shelter-shed, originally located on the Montauk branch across from the Richmond Hill Storage Yard when the Montauk branch was at grade and lasted until the branch was elevated on an embankment (1911-12) . In later years, a small, metal platform was installed on the Atlantic branch. Employees wishing to get off the train here would have to advise the conductor in advance and stand in the vestibule of the lead car. The conductor would notify the motorman/engineer to make an employee station stop. Looking northwest in August, 1975, we see that platform here at the far right on the westbound side of the tracks. In the center is leased Precision National GP9 #1702. This station stop for employees was enlarged in later years and, sometime in the 1990s, named "Boland's Landing." (eBay image) Dave Keller research.

I did utilize both of them from when I came on in 1996. Best guess, and it's only that, is yes, people at one point early on probably walked across the Atlantic Branch tracks to get to the other side and someone probably said...Whoops, that ain't safe and had a formal platform built for the two cars...also, a wooden overpass has been there (west of both platforms, going north to south from Morris Park) since I joined, again, in 3/13/96...I used it many times.

One difference is that you used to flag eastbound trains coming out of the tunnel with a flashlight and all Engineers, as a courtesy, used to stop...now there are designated trains that make scheduled stops, although if one isn't scheduled to stop, you can still flag it and if the Hogger is in a good mood, he or she will stop, but trust me, if they are not, they will fly by with no conscience (truth be known, they are not "supposed" to stop and if they do, and they are late into Jamaica, they have to answer for it).  Info: Bob Myers

These platforms did not exist back in the early-mid 1970s when I utilized them on occasion. Back then they were short, metal platforms as the image above of PN #1702 indicates. The motorman/engineer had to spot the first set of double doors of the lead M1 at the small platform and the Conductor had to key the door open with his "dream" key and close it behind you. Sometimes I did it myself if the conductor was elsewhere on the train when we stopped, as I carried a key to be able to access the M1 cars with my bar cart. The longer, 2-car, staggered wooden platforms were constructed some years later. I don't have a date but it wasn't as early as 1973-75 . . . that's for sure.  Info: Dave Keller
 

The Advance Yard is numbered 1,2,4,5,6 North to South. Tracks 1-2 are for MofE (Maintenance of Equipment) department. Tracks 4-5 are shared between MofE and Transportation. They are referred to as the "Transfer Tracks", 4 Transfer and 5 Transfer respectively. Track 6 is used by transportation is and referred to as the "Wash Track".  South of the Advance Yard is the  Receiving Yard numbered 1-8, South to North.    2021 Google map

 
Morris Park - View SW from the Sheridan Shops 12/2020 Photo/Archive: Mario Craig

Morris Park Yard view E toward DUNTON Tower 1950 Photo/Archive: Art Huneke

Those tracks alongside the embankment were the "newer" DD1 layup/storage tracks. They used to lay the units up along the Atlantic Ave. fence near the M of E building, power plant and blacksmith shop. They were also used to store the B3 electrics (electrics with overhead catenary) when they were taken out of service about the same time period. I would guess the B3s were towed there as there is no overhead juice in MP Shops. Info: Dave Keller 

Morris Park Yard view E toward DUNTON Tower 1956 Photo: William J. Rugen Archive: Art Huneke

Morris Park 1956 view of the Morris Park Engine Terminal from the top of the old coaling tower in 1956. Just look at all of the varying paint schemes here! Note the three different "Tichy" paint schemes on the double-deckers sitting up on the Montauk Branch. Just to the left of the double-deckers is an MP70T in its as-delivered Tichy paint scheme of light gray body, off-white roof and round-ended blue window stripe. Jeff Erlitz

Dunton Station under Construction View E 1/14/1914 (LIRR-Keller)
Note: The semaphore blades have not yet been attached.

LIRR RS3 #1559 - MUs at DUNTON Tower signal bridge at Emery map location #23 10/02/1970

This view is looking east at the site of the former Dunton station.  The tracks adjacent to the Atlantic branch were used for storing passenger trains as seen in this image.  In the distance at the right was the location of Sheffield Farms. Part of the westbound high-level platform concrete can still be seen directly under the diesel at the left.
Info: Dave Keller

Remaining DD1 electrics laying up alongside the depressed Atlantic Branch just before it hits the tunnel, about where the M of E building is in the background. 

The "Car Inspector" was the supervisor of men who inspected the passenger cars, so the "Engine Inspector" was the supervisor of men who inspected the locomotives. This was his office, not the office of machinists and electricians. Machinists were their own trade (and union) as were electricians and had their own supervisors (Head Machinist / Chief Electrician) and departmental buildings out of which they worked.

I would venture to guess that the Engine Inspector came under the supervision of the Road Foreman of Engines (RFE)  Emery map Structure #56, "Engine Foreman's Office" next to the Oil Storage building south of the turntable. (Emery map Morris Park - 10/1958 above left)

Engine inspection dealt with checking logs kept by the engine crews of hours run and when scheduled maintenance was made, and probably involved more when they handled the leased Pennsy engines which were coming and going regularly between the PRR and the LIRR between 1900 and 1950. Also, physical inspections were made, as one can see by the proximity of #55 directly south of #53. #55 reads "inspection pits in track." There are indicated two "north pit" and two "south pit" tracks.

Also, #53's location adjacent to #52, the Engine Dispatcher's Office, was done on purpose to keep those locomotive functions in proximity to each other. The machinists were in the building indicated as #42, the large structure to the left of the turntable. Info: Dave Keller

Morris Park view E toward DUNTON Tower 1976


ALCO FA #614  Morris Park
View N 1980

Morris Park view N c.1985
Photo: Frank Fiore

1. Yardmaster's Office: Tower added 1945 to provide elevated visibility for Richmond Hill Storage Yard
2. Trainmen's Building: The building housed facilities for train crews awaiting their runs originating from the adjacent storage yard. Men spent hours there eating their lunch, playing cards, napping, reading, yakking with each other and generally just killing time until they had to catch their trains. The building had toilets, lockers, tables, benches and chairs. Info: Dave Keller
3. Car Washing Machine Control House: New 1942 - Controls and some storage for the 55 gallons drums of detergent. Info: Dick Maske
4. Dunton Tower: Formerly “MP” Tower. 1/20/1914.  Renamed: 4/23/37 Info: Dave Keller
5. Switchmen's Shanty: The LIRR position also referred to as "UB" Utility Brakeman, AKA Switch tender.
6. Wheel Truing Machine Shop
7. Engine Inspectors Office: Mechanics room for electricians, machinists and a supply room for special oils, repair parts, etc.

Morris  Park Yard FA #602, #603 View E 1987 Photo/Archive: Richard Jahn

Morris Park Yard view E toward DUNTON Tower 4/02/99  Photo/Archive: Mario Craig

8. Car Washer Building
9. Car Washer Sheds
10. Richmond Hill Receiving Yard: Advance Yard directly under #9 between car washer sheds.
11. Sheffield Farms
12. Yard Office
13. Oil House: The roof on the oil house is cut on an angle so that larger engines would clear it. 
14. Tar Walkway: leads right to the steps of the Westbound Boland's landing Platform.

Morris Park yard aerial view E 2012

Morris Park Yard 4/1977 
Photo: Tad Darnell

Morris Park Yard c.1980+

Morris Park Yard 2008
Photos: Bob Anderson

Sunday afternoon May 05, 2013 Shanty burned down

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

Alco S-1 #407 Photo: Steve Hoskins

East of the Coal Tower 1985
Photo: Steve Lynch

LIRR #398 Morris Park 12/70 
Archive: Bob Bender

LIRR #398 Morris Park Wheel Shop 4/24/71 
Archive: Bob Bender

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

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

ERA tour Morris Park Shops traction motor rebuild 9/20/1980

Photos/Archive: Bill Mangahas

B&O Wagon Top Boxcar
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/31/1987

FA-1 in Roundhouse
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/31/1987

Yard Goat #397
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

LIRR  #397 10/31/1987
Photo: Kevin Gulau

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

LIRR  #399  Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/31/1987

LIRR  #399 10/31/1987 Repaint Photo: Kevin Gulau

West toward Main Gate
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/31/1987

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.

East from Main Gate, right of the tank is the steam plant. Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/31/1987

West towards Blacksmith Shop
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/31/1987

09/1930 tank car near Blacksmith Shop
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/31/1987

Supporting Loco Shop Walls
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/1987

SW1001 in roundhouse
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/1987

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

Diesel wheel storage Photo: Steve Rothaug 1019/87

FA  unit being rebuilt Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/1987

Car repair yard Photo: Steve Rothaug

Morris Shops Roundhouse
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87
 

Parts storage
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Original manhole cover
Photo: Steve Rothaug

1890's Loco Yard Office Close-up
track visible westbound turntable lead
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Transfer Table
Photo: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Wheel Truing shop
Photos: Steve Rothaug 10/87

Interior Wheel Truing  shop

The building is called the Wheel Truing shop...or as we called it, the wheel truer. There were three wheel truing facilities on the railroad, located at West Side Yard, Morris Park and Hillside. Historical note: we did have a wheel GRINDING machine in the Round House which actually ground the wheels with 3 ft carborundum grinding wheels. That machine was used up until the mid 1970's, when it was replaced by the wheel truer. In the old wheel shop there were 2 wheel lathes that were also used until the mid 1970's. 

Turntable drive mechanism
Photo: Steve Rothaug

Photo: Steve Rothaug

LIRR #L397 at Diner 8/12/89
Photo: Al Castelli

Note: Morris Park Diner had Woodmere embossed into the sheet metal side by the entrance. Bernie’s Woodmere Diner" stood at 1122 Broadway, Woodmere, NY 

The following is courtesy of: Debra Herenlip, whose father owned the diner and moved it to Morris Park:

“My father, Phil Herenlip purchased the “Dashing Dan Diner” in Woodmere⁽¹) in the 60's. He then moved it to Morris Park, owned, and ran it till he passed away suddenly in November, 1969. Bobby, Whitey and Sam worked for him there and my mother owned and continued to run it for another 10 years.

It was "officially" known then as the Dashing Dan Diner. In our house growing up, we referred to it as "The Place" (don't ask me why, as I don't know)!

Given that my father was the original owner of the diner and he's the one who had the idea to move it there, he owned it beginning somewhere in the early 60's. About 3-4 years before he opened up the Diner, he owned and was already running the "Coffee Shop" which was housed in the LIRR Jamaica Station building (a mile or two away from the Morris Park) where all the Executives and administration employees worked. This Coffee Shop also only was opened Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch and catered to the LIRR employees.

Although the diner was nothing to look at, I loved it. It was warm and cozy and brought to life so much by the men who worked there and the men who worked in the Yard. Everybody knew one another so it always felt like a party when I was there. There were lots of shouting, cursing, laughing, friendly arguing, camaraderie, etc. I remember the day the Diner was moved to the Yard. We, my parents, brother and I, all drove to Woodmere and watched them miraculously load the Diner onto the moving truck. We then followed it in our car to the Yard where they placed it. It was a sunny day and all went well.

Any time my mother and I would visit my father in the diner, as we'd walk in, he'd yell out to everyone to "watch your language", because his wife and daughter were here. Everybody would laugh and abide by it 'till we left. Also, I remember the men who worked for him, named Whitey, Sam and Bobby. My brother, Steven, also worked there for a short time with Niberto.

I know he got to work very early in the morning. I want to say the hours of operation were somewhere around 5:00am to 3:30-4:00pm, Monday through Friday. Never open on weekends or evenings. The menu was obviously only Breakfast and Lunch, and nothing fancy with your standard breakfast foods and sandwiches, coffee, coffee cakes, soup, etc. Prices were low.” 

The Morris Park Diner was originally from Woodmere,  as that was embossed into the sheet metal side by the entrance.

It was a convenient place to get something to hold you over if you forgot your lunch. They made simple things good, in regards to getting sick from their food, let’s just say I wouldn’t order Lobster Newburg. It made being at work a little less uncomfortable. Aside from, Jamaica and Hillside there was no" in house" place to get food. Some people often run there own “Geedunk” and sold coffee/bagels. The railroad back then had a friendlier atmosphere. I believe that most of the old timers have retired and lost on newer employees is the idea that work doesn’t always have to be unpleasant. This hopefully will change. Many people will tell you this is just a job. This is true; however when you spend roughly half your life for thirty years somewhere why not try to make it a better environment Keeping it simple: Burgers, eggs, coffee, sandwich, etc. and all is well!

I don't recall when the diner (Gedunk in Navy terms) closed, but it was very roughly in the mid 90's. When it did close, it was offered to several M of E employees who wanted to put in on their property Upstate. The railroad even offered equipment to move it. Unfortunately the move never happened and the thing was scrapped.

Note: “Gedunk/geedunk” bar is the canteen or snack bar of a large vessel of the United States Navy said to be a vocal imitation of the sound made by an old gedunk vending machine.

As was said earlier, it was the Woodmere Diner. That name was embossed in large letters in the enamel metal siding; "Woodmere" on one side of the door and "Diner" on the other. Of course it was painted over with LIRR gray paint after arriving.

The food wasn't bad, though the hag who worked there was a chain smoker with a hacking cough, and yes, the Railroad and the Park were wonderful places to work back then.

Spent a lot of shekels there on breakfast. After you made your order, Joe would scream "Seaboard!". Order to go, I guess. He later was an employee of the railroad at the fourth floor in-house food service (Ron Toms) in the main building at Jamaica.

"We never heard it called Dashing Dan’s; more like “The Roach Coach”. There was Joe, Jim and George. George got a railroad job after it closed as a coach cleaner. Jim cooked, while, Joe took orders and served. There were a couple of others, but they were the main workers. I ate there many times and learned diner lingo there as follows:

A "Chinaman" was an egg on a roll "Whisky down" was rye toast "Seaboard" was to go. I can still hear Joe barking: "3 CHINAMAN SEABOARD, 2 SUNNY HASH, WHISKY DOWN!!"

It was gruff, it was grimy and fast and when the steam whistle blew in the shops at 7:30, 11:30, and 3:30 it was the hub of activity. The Pea soup with ham and Navy bean and meat loaf were some of my favorites.

When they tore it down I took home two stool stands and 3 seats. I spent 9 months of my first 18 months in Morris Park hostling (1974-1975). Seeing Morris Park slow to a backwater was watching the end of an era. It was quite the place, a world unto itself and something to be missed.”  Info: John Ettorre LIRR 1974-2004

Note 1: "Bernie’s Woodmere Diner" stood at 1122 Broadway. This is just west of the Trinity Church on Broadway and was the site of a Friendly's restaurant and now a doctor’s office (converted).
We found this in the 1967 reverse directory.”  Info: Woodmere Research Library/Gary Farkash

“The Dashing Dan Diner is definitely an O'Mahoney diner built by the Jerry O'Mahoney Corporation of Elizabeth , NJ as evidenced by the curved stainless steel trim pieces on the end and back windows. This is a Monarch style that was built around the 1939/1940 NY Worlds Fair.” Info: Gary Farkash

Train #RF-7 Jamaica Receiving Yard 9/22/1977, west of the station and east of Richmond Hill, view NE towards Jamaica station. The embankment at the right is the Montauk Branch with the Atlantic branch tracks visible to the far right of the embankment with the signal bridge. 

The elevated tracks at the left are the Jamaica Advance Yard where they sit awaiting the go-ahead into Jamaica station to pick up passengers. The wash rack is just to the left of the MTA painted units with the long rooftop of the old mail handling facility further back. Research: Dave Keller

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

"MP" Tower  renamed "Dunton" 04/23/37
1925 Photo: James V. Osborne Archive/Info: Dave Keller

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

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

Location #2: Dunton Tower east of Morris Park Shops c.1938 The building west of DUNTON tower is a Track Department section shed for Sub 1 ( Engineering Subsection 1). It contained repair materials, track tools, a stove and lunch table. Emery 1958 map of MPS. Archive: Dave Keller

DUNTON Tower view NW 1967 Photo/Archive: Dave Keller

Note: The handrails and guardrails for stairway to 130th Ave. on east side of DUNTON tower.

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 

West Side Freight: Milk Plants

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."