Sandy Aftermath - Long Beach Branch

[newkirk]

Looking back five years ago when Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc in the metropolitan area. Diesel push-pull shuttle service from Long Beach to Lynbrook station filled in before full electric service was restored. Photos dated: November 21, 2012

Overview of sidelined electric train and diesel shuttle.[b]

Leaving Long Beach and crossing Reynolds Channel.


Approaching Island Park station.

Lynbrook station.

[JamesRR]

What is the track arrangement at Long Beach? I see 10 tracks there in the first photo. Are those last 5 or so yard tracks? Appears to be a low level platform with staircases - is that ever used for revenue trains?

[newkirk]

What is the track arrangement at Long Beach? I see 10 tracks there in the first photo. Are those last 5 or so yard tracks? Appears to be a low level platform with staircases - is that ever used for revenue trains?

Try this overhead satellite view of the station and yard:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5903591 ... a=!3m1!1e3

[Backshophoss]

At Long Beach,tracks 3-6 are platform tracks,all other track are yard tracks to lay up trains.
The stairs to a single door platform allow crews to board the train ,instead of climbing up the "ladder" on the car side to board.

[MACTRAXX]

Everyone:

Remember the special post-Sandy schedules that the LIRR used in the aftermath of the storm?

The Long Beach Branch schedule showing the Lynbrook-Long Beach shuttles was one of the more
interesting-and obscure timetables that was issued in Superstorm Sandy's aftermath.

For a short time operating service was free of charge and I recall that Governor Andrew Cuomo
stating when fares were reimplemented that there were "bills to pay" or something similar.

Many areas of LI had long term power outages - my own area was out for the better part of a
week - and one of the only transport services up and running was the LIRR...MACTRAXX

[nyandw]

What is the track arrangement at Long Beach? I see 10 tracks there in the first photo. Are those last 5 or so yard tracks? Appears to be a low level platform with staircases - is that ever used for revenue trains?

http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/longbeachbranch/long%20beach%20branch.htm#Long%20Beach



http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/longbeachbranch/G.O.%20-%20LEAD%20Interlocking%20-%20Long%20Beach-%2004-15-04%20(LIRR-Keller).jpg
LEAD interlocking diagram from 4/15/2004 showing the terminal track configuration. (LIRR documents, Dave Keller archive)

Backshopboss, correct as always, indicates the platform tracks on the above LIRR Interlocking Diagram.

[nyandw]

A LIRR DE30ac locomotive is pulling a special, daily shuttle westbound between Long Beach and Lynbrook across the bascule bridge at "LEAD" tower, Reynold's Channel, east of Island Park in November, 2012 in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The Long Beach branch is normally a third-rail-powered line, but the diesel shuttle service was put into place as the power had to be cut off to the third rail since so much of the line was under water. (George Povall photo, Dave Keller archive)

The Bascule Bridge is from Florida and was barged up. The Tower is called Lead Tower or simply "Lead", and it controls the tracks between east of Island Park RR Station and into and out of Long Beach yard and also, in conjunction with the Coast Guard and marine band radio, raises and lowers the bridge for marine traffic in Reynold's Channel...the LIRR's LEAD Tower Block Operator controls everything and has a liaison with the Coast Guard when necessary.

Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, an all-day shuttle service was put into effect.

The train was double ended and had two 400 series diesels, or "DE"s with 4 cars (held about 120 people each) and the track in Long Beach yard was lined and spiked for Station Track No. 6 as the entire train cleared the overhead canopies on the north side of the train.

The shuttle train would originate in Jamaica Storage Yard, go to Lynbrook RR Station, pick everyone up, make all local stops to Long Beach, go into Station Track No. 6 (the only track used all day long) and basically when one train left Lynbrook, another left Long Beach and so on...special train numbers were used (9,000 series numbers) for the electrics and their connecting diesels for both eastbound and westbound service.

In Valley Yard the shuttle would change direction and then go back into the Lynbrook RR Station, pick everyone up and head back to Long Beach.

Both sets of diesels were virtually identical...two 400's and four cars...back and forth all day, with an approximate layover of 30 minutes on either end, with constant MU's feeding the two shuttles every hour. The Long Beach commuters were extremely grateful to have anything at all running to their terminal and we got plenty of good press.

I rode the first day of the shuttle (the second trick portion of course) and rode every shuttle back and forth from 2pm - 10 pm or thereabouts. Very interesting operation and good crews.

They had two Engineers that never "changed ends" and each performed a brake test at each location and were in place and ready to go, so no delays or engine problems...great idea. Info courtesy: Robert L. Myers, LIRR Transportation Manager (Retired)

[Backshophoss]

The Substation(s) for the Long Beach Branch had Sandy caused water damage,took some time to clean up,believe LILCO was
having trouble getting power back to the substation(s) to boot.

[JamesRR]

Thanks for all the responses. Was there ever a time tracks 7/8 were used for revenue service? Since there is a large ground level platform there, or space for it.

[Backshophoss]

If there was a low level platform between 7-8 tracks it was removed when the M-1's went online.
Don't believe LIRR ever planed to retain that platform.

[nyandw]

Thanks for all the responses. Was there ever a time tracks 7/8 were used for revenue service? Since there is a large ground level platform there, or space for it.

Yes see the maps: http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/longbeachbranch/long%20beach%20branch.htm#Long%20Beach