Longest LIRR freight train you've seen or crewed

Yes, I recall the incident quite well.

The burning carbon balls blowing out the stack of the 1500 engine began setting brush fires as soon as the train left Harold. The NYFD followed the train, putting out the fires and complaining to the Movement Bureau, which, of course, ignored the impassioned reqiuests. Somewhere around Woodside, one of the ancient Pullman's canvas roof caught fire, sending the clowns diving into the animal cars.

To avoid jamming up the entire railroad and confrontation by an angry FDNY, the train was dragged ablaze through Jamaica's 11 Track and put in the clear in Queens after the car neatly burned to its floorboards.

One railroad supervisor decries the day his childhood memories of circus clowns were shattered. He never looked at them the same way after seeing the contents of their humble abode -- piles of porn magazines and gin bottles -- scattered across Queens Interlocking.

Clem

I belive the late, the great G.A. Gross was the engineer on that one. He fondly told us that story as he was training NYA's class of 99. I still can remember how enthusiastic he was about seeing clowns running rampant around Hillside. But have no fear plenty of clowns left in Hillside

How about the coal trains going down to the LILCO plant in Island Park? They had to be long! JJ will let me know on this. Thanks.

Mike

ROFL! The flamming circus train act!

Nimby...yes we used the track you referred to which is known as the Montauk Cut-Off secondary track. Since that track loops like it does, you assemble a road freight in Yard A backwards. This because the train turns around while exiting the yard via that track.

Yes Clem, 1982 was my first year as a Yardmaster. You obviously know me, but I'm at a loss on who you are. Send me a private message.

In 1982 I was an "extra" YM and my days in Yard "A" were few and far between since the senior men kind of kept that to themselves. The late George Renard who was a "Special Duty" Yardmaster helped me out quite a few times and the clerks at Car Control were also a big help. Putting the Road jobs together backwards was one of many quirks to working freight.

Freight still had a few years left, but was on the wane by that time. I actually started to post at Holban Yard after qualifying both shifts at Yard "A" and was told after three days not to go back to Holban because they had abolished the job.

More "young lions" should appreciate the senior men on jobs like the LIRR, NYPD, FDNY, etc. Guys with ten or more years on these jobs know so much, and most will share their knowledge and wisdom if they feel the "young lion" is sincere and really wants to learn. "Keep your mouth shut and listen, rookie/probie" should be the first thing these "young lions" learn.

lirrmike wrote:How about the coal trains going down to the LILCO plant in Island Park? They had to be long! JJ will let me know on this. Thanks.

Mike

Growing up in Oceanside I often saw the LILCO train. However, I don't recall it being much longer than 60 cars, with 40 the norm.

We also use the montauk cutoff to get to arch street yard to service the m-7's Once I figure out how to post pictures I will show you some

Form 19 wrote:I liked switching with Conrail in Fremont because sometimes we would use their U boats to drill up there and it was interesting to use another railroad's locomotives.

I used to go over to Fresh Pond on Saturdays to watch the interchange. You had to be there by 10:30 or 11:00 or you could miss everything. You guys worked fast Form 19!!! I well remember Conrail pulling in, almost always 1900 series B23-7s (since they had the third rail cutouts in the pilots). I can remember the LIRR unit going squealing down the ramp with cars from the Fremont track down into the yard. Usually the cars to be picked up were already staged??

Even better was the day I saw a couple LIRR engines with a caboose waiting on Fremont for Conrail. Right near the old tower which, by then (1991), was closed.

I thought, am I really still in Queens?

tommy

Tommy, that's what I think every time I visit pond and I see a Canadian Pacific engine idling in the yard

<img src="http://www.trainweb.org/nyar/cpli.jpg">

Joe

That's funny with the circus train we only got to hear the engineer's account. Today underpowered trains still ply the rails with fire departments chasing them across 2 or 3 counties. It used to be the same with a K5 in the lead. Except the angry residents don't burn the stations in retaliation. Same circus different clowns!

as a kid i never counted cars but I recall them trains coming into yard A in the early 80s - routinely long and handled by 4 c420s, humped out by the amtrak engine house by honeywell ave...

LIRRconductor...you've gotta be pulling my leg. I could've sworn that I saw the connection to the Lower Montauk severed. And I thought the lower montauk cutoff secondary isn't electrified.

Looking forward to those pictures

Montauk Cutoff secondary is not electrified. The Arch Street Yard move is a diesel power run. Last time I was down down there in May with the NYAR the yard was empty.