MTA LIRR Double Track Project - Ronkonkoma to Farmingdale

[newkirk]

Two photos from the overpass east of Wyandanch station.

[MattAmity90]

Wyandanch courtesy of Edward Hand.

16682206677_74cb2e1c74_z.jpg

43039763750_79b4c4a257_z.jpg

[MACTRAXX]

Everyone - The four Wyandanch photographs above:

1: LIST-NRHS fantrip consisting of the two SW1001 orange and gray protect engines; hack; work
gondola; three 2900 series coaches; work gondola and hack respectively. This was a popular trip
with a large number of riders enjoying the outside ride on the forward gondola.

2: The current view east from the overhead bridge east of Wyandanch. Note the new added track
with its new concrete ties along Long Island Avenue to the South. Acorn Street parallels the track
on the north side east to Deer Park Avenue (NYS 231) visible in the fan trip picture.

3: Looking west from the overhead bridge at dawn (with the sun behind the photographer) at an
eastbound train arriving at the then recently relocated Wyandanch Station. The old station was
located at where the train is just west of Straight Path. A 1958 vintage building once stood west
of the crossing (similar design to the current Bethpage Station) and was torn down during the
Hicksville-Ronkonkoma Electrification construction in 1985-86. Note the guardrails that are along
the track in the foreground - those were for overflow parking with the old facility. What was done
instead of removing the guard rails is that this area was simply fenced in and closed off.

4: The big winner in the Farmingdale-Ronkonkoma Second Track Project: Wyandanch - which got
an entirely new station facility built to replace what was built 30 years ago. If anyone remembers
what Wyandanch Station was like before the mid 1980s electrification the contrast between then
and now with the Wyandanch Rising project changes for beginners is startling...MACTRAXX

[newkirk]

Mactraxx wrote: 4: The big winner in the Farmingdale-Ronkonkoma Second Track Project: Wyandanch - which got
an entirely new station facility built to replace what was built 30 years ago. If anyone remembers
what Wyandanch Station was like before the mid 1980s electrification the contrast between then
and now with the Wyandanch Rising project changes for beginners is startling...MACTRAXX

The new Wyandanch station is an eye opener. What a change !
All photos Sept. 27, 2018 - Click photo to enlarge

[Nasadowsk]

Gotta admit - that's a nice looking station!

The parking garage ain't too bad either!

[newkirk]

If i'm not mistaken, you can only post three images at a time on railroad.net.

To view more, you are invited to view them here at:

http://www.subchat.com/read.asp?Id=1488009

[newkirk]

Found these three photos.

[MACTRAXX]

BM and Everyone - I will add this information about the latest three Ronkonkoma Branch pictures:

1-An eastbound train at the Wellwood Avenue crossing. Pinelawn Station is to the right in the photo.
This would not only be a good calendar or holiday card picture it would have had a "cooling effect"
during this past Summer's heatwaves...

2-Pinelawn Station with its then-brand new two car high level platform. Note the Hicksville-Ronkonkoma Electrification logo and notices on the bulletin board along with the new third
rail in the foreground on the track. Another interesting mention is that this new station had
no lights installed initially - as most know Pinelawn is served during midday hours primarily.
This only was a problem for the last train(s) stopping in the late afternoon during the short
days of November, December and January. The LIRR added two sodium-vapor tower lights
at a later date - which was an interesting move since no trains are scheduled to stop there
after dark. The early 80s vintage building was demolished recently when a second platform
was added during the Double Track Project.

3-A picture of a "standard five" LIRR push-pull train during the final days of diesel train service
near the completion of the Hicksville-Ronkonkoma Electrification. Full electrified service began
operation on January 18, 1988. This photo is looking east - both Acorn Street (on the left) and
Long Island Avenue (on the right) are fully visible going towards Deer Park.

MACTRAXX

[newkirk]

Thanks MACTRAXX for the information of the photos I posted.

On that first photo, isn't GP 38-2 #262 now part of the NYAR fleet ?

[Teutobergerwald]

Is the 617 the Alco FA in the picture? I seem to recall it was the only FA that retained those style number boards.

[AlKaLI]

When the double track was installed near Farmingdale, the double ended siding east of Route 110 (New Highway Area) had the western turnout removed.
NYA freights heading east now have to back in to serve Coastal Distribution (C&D) and Posillico Materials (Aggregates).

Are there plans to restore the turnout and make the siding double-ended again?
Thanks.

[twropr]

My 2006 ETT shows interlockings Farm 1 and Farm 2. Does the new track (?Track 2) begin at Farm 1 or 2?
Just out of curiosity why would the same name be used with a "1" or "2" suffix?
Thanks!
Andy
Jacksonville, FL

[workextra]

Farm 2 is now gone and Farm 1 is “Farm” a lot of changes on the mainline.

[MattAmity90]

Farm 2 is now gone and Farm 1 is “Farm” a lot of changes on the mainline.

What about the dwarf signal that was labeled FARM3? I know the configuration is just FARM1 is now FARM with your traditional crossovers (Main 1 to Main 2 and Main 2 to Main 1) and there are switches for the linear siding for trains that terminate and originate at Farmingdale. Although thanks to the project, many of the trains that terminated at Farmingdale now go all the way out to Ronkonkoma for the purpose of reverse off-peak.

[MACTRAXX]

What I am interested in particular is which platform westbound trains will be serving Central Islip.
As some know CI is the only 1987 station building that is on the south side-Platform B. With the
timetable beginning in September westbound trains may continue to serve Platform B by using the
south track out of Ronkonkoma and then crossing over at the new CI interlocking over to the north
track. All eastbound trains would serve the north side Platform A and then continue to KO on that
track. If all westbound trains were to use the "proper" north track at CI riders would have to use
either the overhead bridge or the Lowell Avenue crossing sidewalks at the east end to cross over.
This could be addressed by placing added TVMs and/or a new waiting room on the north side. I am
looking forward to see what the CI platform assignments are under the new September schedule...

MACTRAXX

Everyone: Back on August 15, 2018 (bottom of Page 32) I posted about a potential problem with
westbound trains at Central Islip using Platform A - the north platform. From News 12 LI on 2/5:
http://longisland.news12.com/story/3991 ... islip-lirr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I predicted correctly that there would be problems at Central Islip if westbound trains served
Platform A. One incorrect statement in the News 12 report is that ALL trains served Platform B.
Platform A had limited service with its passing siding status noted in the Ronkonkoma Branch TT.
MTA Police have been ticketing riders ducking under the Lowell Avenue crossing gate at the east
end of the platforms crossing over in front of arriving westbound trains.

It will be interesting to see the LIRR's response to the Central Islip problems...MACTRAXX