The Pizza-and-Beer Train: New York City’s Hidden Railroad

[MNCRR9000]

From the New York Times today.

. Ask a New Yorker about their opinion regarding trains and you will likely get an earful about the sputtering subway system or the less-than-reliable commuter rail lines that stretch into the suburbs.

But few New Yorkers have ever glimpsed, or even heard of, the New York & Atlantic Railway, a freight train that would seem more familiar rumbling across the Great Plains, not chugging through crowded city neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn, bearing cars loaded with food, scrap metal, construction materials and even beer.

Now the little-known railroad’s profile is about to get much bigger.

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[DogBert]

It's a good PR bit, and always good to see the RR get some positive press. Most people in this town don't even know it exists.

Pizza and Beer sounds far better than the reality of Rocks and Trash, but

[Gilbert B Norman]

My knowledge of the road was certainly enhanced by The Times article, which I just got around to reading (in print). The only knowkedge I had of such was that they took over the Long Island Rail Road's freight operations

[freightguy]

Dogbert,

You seem to follow this stuff for a while now. One thing I’ve noticed is The NY Times will do a feel good piece like this about NYNJ or NYAR about 5 years or so. In fairness the car counts have went from 10,000 a year to 30,000. They probably won’t be able to get to the 40k mark without some decent infrastructure improvements. Small things like expanding the interchange irons at Fremont and the new CSX siding have taken place recently. If these recent articles are accurate places more south along the Bayridge will have expanded track capacity.

[DogBert]

Dogbert,

You seem to follow this stuff for a while now. One thing I’ve noticed is The NY Times will do a feel good piece like this about NYNJ or NYAR about 5 years or so. In fairness the car counts have went from 10,000 a year to 30,000. They probably won’t be able to get to the 40k mark without some decent infrastructure improvements. Small things like expanding the interchange irons at Fremont and the new CSX siding have taken place recently. If these recent articles are accurate places more south along the Bayridge will have expanded track capacity.

This is true.

There certainly is a decent amount of space through the bay ridge line where they can add more sidings. The powers that be have done a decent job of investing in added capacity thus far.

[nyandw]

Nice article! What engine type is the photo of the cab in?