LIRR Equipment loaned to SIRT

http://www.trainsarefun.com/sirt/sirt.htm#LIRR%20SIRT

A change of pace, perhaps. Limited info on this topic. Anyone that can add to this?


Ex-LIRR Alco S-1 #407 Clifton 05/25/2007 Photo: Bobby J. Kasza


New Dorp Station LIRR #2509 04/28/1973 Fan Trip Photo: Joe Testagrose


MU #2509 Two car train Princes Bay, Staten Island 04/28/1973 Archive: Dave Keller

Back in the early 1970s, the LIRR loaned or leased six (6) MU cars to the Staten Island Rapid Transit for their use.
These two LIRR MU cars are seen in SIRT service, stopped at Princes Bay station on Staten Island on April 28, 1973. Dave Keller

The MP72 loaners were a stopgap due to the advanced age of the 1925 SIRT MUs (48 years in 1973). They stayed
until sufficient R44s were accepted. 52 new R44s were delivered for SIRT in 1973 by St. Louis Car , first in service February 28, all in service by end of 1973.

The SIRT R44s are now older than the 1925 MUs were in 1973.

Note the fantrip date (4/28/73) was also the last day for the Third Avenue El Bronx segment.

R36 Combine Coach wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 2:21 am The MP72 loaners were a stopgap due to the advanced age of the 1925 SIRT MUs (48 years in 1973). They stayed until sufficient R44s were accepted. 52 new R44s were delivered for SIRT in 1973 by St. Louis Car , first in service February 28, all in service by end of 1973. The SIRT R44s are now older than the 1925 MUs were in 1973.
Note the fantrip date (4/28/73) was also the last day for the Third Avenue El Bronx segment.

R36: Great, thank you. Yes, the fan trip is info I'm also seeking, as you indicated. Here's an MU at a much earlier time, 1946:
SIRT MU 503 train Old Station St. George c. 1946 "SIRT cars have no steps, originally designed for use in subway. "
Stephen Bogart's photo research captions

The 1925 SIRT MUs were based on the legendary BMT Standard (A/B units) of 1915-1924, hence the rapid transit
configuration of high level only. SIRT was electrified in 1925.

The SIRT R44s are now older than the 1925 MUs were in 1973.

This is just amazing. I remember riding the first pair when it arrived. And the old cars seemed ancient. Does that mean I'm ancient now?

The SIRT R-44's don't seem as old as the 1925 SIRT cars did in 1973. I guess that's because the appearance of today's new subway cars is not that much different than the R-44's. Whereas the 1925 cars looked very different from new cars in the 1970's.

Subway car appearance changed less in the last fifty years than in the previous fifty years.

How did that get there? They still had a connection to the Arthur Kill Bridge? Or trucked over? TIA...

"...By 1959, a new 558 foot single track vertical lift span replaced the old swing bridge. It is the longest of its type in the U.S. Along with the new bridge, the entire line from Cranford Jct to Arlington Yard was re-laid with new, heavier rail. A three mile branch line was extended from Gulf Port to Travis, along Staten Island’s west shore. This was done for unit coal trains coming from West Virginia to service a new Consolidated Edison power plant. Even late in the 1950’s, the B&O continued to invest in its New Jersey and Staten Island holdings...."

The R44s were delivered to Coney Island for acceptance and then floated to St. George via Bush Terminal (the St.
George carfloat was still active).

R44s still have major overhaul in Coney Island, now trucked on NYCT trailers over the Verrazanno.

Car float! Thanks - I wasn't sure if there was one in St. George or not.

There were two ALCO "S" class switchers on Staten Island. One was a Long Island engine, I believe the other was ex-U.S. Army. Both were saved and craned onto barges and exist today.

#407 ended up on the Catskill Mountain Railroad, on the Mount Tremper section