Abandoned Track

[vin5581]

I was Bicycling today along central ave in Bethpage and came across a track in the woods just west of the Bethpage PKWY where the the mainline crosses over. Who did this track serve? This track has been cut off from the main line.

[emfinite]

That was the interlocked siding for General Motors, controlled by B. It was probably cut out in the late 80's when Beth went remote from Divide and they electrified the mainline.

[vin5581]

Very Interesting. I don't know how far the track goes but I was able to follow it by Bike for at least 500' before it dissappeared into the trees and brush.

[jayrmli]

Last I checked, it was an office for Sleepy's mattress now. The track went back to there, as that used to be General Motors.

It was one of those rare freight sidings that was interlocked and protected by a low home signal. Crews needed to use the signals and switch off the Central Branch I believe to service them. My guess is it was removed during the Ronkonkoma electrification project.

[Sir Ray]

Historic Aerials from 1966 (pretty decent image)
Looks like a single siding which went into the building along it's North Side - interesting how the siding curved back on itself, in a broad U-shape.
ETA: That's annoying, the linked view shows a split image when I view it - need to scroll out a click, and then scroll back in. Not sure why NETR is acting so grumpy...

Google Street shows a "For Sale or Lease" sign on the Sleep's building, because every dang piece of industrial or commercial property on Long Island is for Sale or Lease

[Teutobergerwald]

Maybe someone desiring rail freight access with bite on the property.......

[emfinite]

Jay, the old-timers at work said they left their cut on the Central Branch clear of the main while they serviced GM, like you said.

I don't like posting photos from my collection on the internet anymore because most get stolen and I don't get credit, hence the watermark. These slides were taken by Robert Dunnet, from my collection.


Train 4004, Engine 214 on November 16, 1975


Train RF61 with 75 cars October 28, 1975


Stone Extra with 19 Cars June 27, 1972

[Teutobergerwald]

Anyone notice the PRR-style signal's lower head is different in the 1972 & 1975 pictures??? Anyone know why they were changed? What did the lower head control ? Thanks.

[freightguy]

Maybe the track rules in the area changed. The second one would be able to display a medium clear to diverge onto the Central branch?

[emfinite]

It was always a Clear aspect crossing onto the Central from Mainline 2 since the switch is MAS. You wouldn't get a medium clear. Could have been that the piece of sheet metal broke off and they replaced it only with the diagonal piece so it could still display a Restricting. Figure it could display Stop, Stop and Proceed, Clear, Approach and Restricting during that era of block and interlocking rules. It was D251 back then so the next automatic signal east of there would have been on ML2 right before Clinton St. crossing.

Here's another view, west, from March 18, 1979. The siding is barely visible on the left side:

[Teutobergerwald]

Since the NYA forum has been stagnant of late, I went back and looked over earlier topics, like this one. It is awesome when questions asked are answered by those "in the know," and with pictures.

[Teutobergerwald]

Since this is the NYA Forum, anyone have any pics of NYA serving customers on spurs that are now disconnected, inactive or formerly on team tracks, 1997-on? Thanks.

[freightguy]

Before cellphone cameras, but I know there maybe some shots of these areas from railfans/employees:

Eastport Feeds
Best Building Supply (Speonk track 7)
Fireside(stone) lumber Hicksville PJ branch
Huntington Team
Green lawn double ended freight(Velvet top)
Kaufman Allied(Central Islip)
Pergament(Central Branch by SS parkway)
Boening Bro’s beverage(Central Branch)
Amco Plastics(Central Branch)
Eldees(Deer Park for Salesmaster)
84 Lumber(Islip)
Ruco(Hicksville)
Quality Lineals(Freeport Team)
Baisley Lumber(West Hempstead Branch)
American Dream(Nassau Suffolk Lumber in Port Jeff)
Nassau Suffolk Lumber in Huntington
American Tissue in Huntington
Prima Stone/Propane in Holtsville
Amerigas/National Propane in Wyandanch
Pergament/Newsday Pinter Bro’s in Deer Park

I pulled/spotted all these except the last consignee. Just never thought to take a camera with me.
Combined Container in Wyandanch


Jamaica Ash(Westbury)

[mainline]

Greg,

How about Pulver Gas in Bridgehampton and Thurber Lumber/penny Lumber in Southold.
Southern Container in Deer Park.

Bill

[freightguy]

Wow,

Is Southern Container done? That was probably like a 600-800 cars a year! Yeah there was a few I forgot, didn’t even really include the Metropolitan region the West end. Forgot Gallo Wines in Syosset also which was always busy this time of year.