Re: (rshsdepot) Question about L.I. Depot in Long Island City

["Paul Luchter" <luckyshow_@_mindspring.com>]

I am a bit confused here...LIC and Hunterspoint Ave. (which is also in LIC)
are two different terminals (now) the Montauk cut-off does loop around, but
it seems to go from Hunterspoint Ave platforms to the ramps for the LIC
Montauk division LIC terminal, they would have to back up...and in LIC they
would also need to reverse direction...was there really such a passenger
train from LIC to Hunterspoint Ave (and why) and when did this one stop?
And with all the back and forthing and switching onto different main lines
no wonder it would take so long

Also the Cut-Off was electrified (and reverse direction run) but the Montauk
Division, are you saying it was electrified twice into LIC terminal, because
it isn't now..I guess Hunterspoint Ave might be, but don't (or didn't) just
diesel trains go to there too?..also by the time the double-deck trains
appeared the ferry service was gone for quite some time...or do you mean the
new current double deckers and the current (well maybe it is still there I
read it was ceasing again) ferry service?

Paul..as to Newtown Creek, the freight yards had slips on Newtown Creek, the
34th Street LIRR ferry berthed on the East River and didn't go to Newtown
Creek (the only ferry I know that did was the one year 1850's St Patrick
Church ferry to Calvary Cemetery (at Penny Bridge, well, it was later called
Penny Bridge)..near the LIRR LIC terminal was the BEDT which did use Newtown
Creek, didn't connect ever with LIRR and didn't carry passengers....

I have never seen a photo of the other railroad's terminal in LIC (Flushing
and North Shore/Central RR)

Paul
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Guthrie" <jguthrie_@_pipeline.com>
To: <rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2003 10:58 AM
Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Question about L.I. Depot in Long Island City


> The LIRR LIC Terminal had an extensive terminal at Long Island City -- and
> one of the busiest and most efficient as well. It burned around the turn
of
> the century, and then was rebuilt, and then demolished after the end of
the
> 34th St ferry.
>
> For most years after that, the station was an asphalt platform on the
north
> side of the yard -- two tracks for the two remaining Montauk Branch
trains.
> Electrification was removed in 1951 (and replaced in the 1980s when
> Ronkonkoma riders protested the loss of Hunterspoint Avenue service in
favor
> of Penn Station).
>
> The yard was and is used by Hunterspoint Avenue trains; before 1951, DD-1
> hauled steam trains from the non-electrified portions of the railroad used
> it as well. The trains would run to Penn Station, then back out with a
> brakeman on the rear end with a brakehandle and peanut whistle. They'd be
> run around the Sunnyside Loop tracks and into LIC  for cleaning and
layover.
> The process was reversed at night, without the  loop movement.
>
> In the 1960s, afternoon commuters often headed to the LIC yards to board
> their Hunterspoint trains -- mainly to start an early "Happy Hour" in the
> popular Bar Cars. Most all diesel trains offered them -- one Port Jeff
train
> had two barcars. Bartenders opened up as early as 2 PM on Fridays -- but
> more often between 3:30-4 PM (on trains departing as late as 6:24!!) so
> riders could get a good start.
>
> Hunterspoint Avenue was built to take advantage of the Steinway tunnel
(Now
> #7 line). At one point in the 1920s, the NH seriously considered running
> NYW&B across Hell Gate and into Hunterspoint, but there seemed to be no
real
> advantage, timewise, for passengers over catching the El at 133rd.
>
> When the LIRR bought the new double-deckers, a two-car platform was built
on
> the south side of the yard -- making it further away from both subway and
> ferry connections. Typical of the modern LIRR. If they really wanted east
> side ferry service to succeed, the platform would be built at the crossing
> with a ramp to a dock on Newtown Creek, making it a short jaunt.
>
> The LIC-Hunterspoint timetable calls for 7-8 minutes to cover the 0.6
miles
> between stations westbound, and 16 minutes eastbound. This is probably the
> slowest-carded schedule in the world, especially since the actual distance
> is somewhat less.
>
> One other note -- one writer suggested Steel Rails to the Sunrise as a
> source. Beware that it is sometimes fanciful in its descriptions and
> accounts; the serious LIRR fan needs Seyfried's 7-volume history on the
> shelf.
>
> Jim Guthrie
>
> > Hi Jim,
> > Could you, Paul or anyone else on this list tell me about the Long
Island
> > depot at Long Island City? I know that the L.I. had a station building
at
> > Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn (I've seen pictures of that), but have
wondered
> > for some time what kind of station once stood at the L.I.C. terminal,
and
> > what is there now. Thanks in advance for any information!
>
>
>
> =================================
> The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
> railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
>

=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

------------------------------