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  • M-1s during Grade Crossing Elimination Project

  • Discussion of the past and present operations of the Long Island Rail Road.
Discussion of the past and present operations of the Long Island Rail Road.

Moderator: Liquidcamphor

 #1060287  by nyandw
 
Seems photos of Montauk branch M-1s in action during the South Shore Grade Crossing Elimination Project are of interest to start this topic:

My personal favorite:
Image
Merrick view east of Meadowbrook Parkway, June 1975. The replacement of the temporary tracks and cutting in the new elevated tracks. The temporary tracks were laid in June 1969 and removal began in June 1975. The program languished a few years due to lack of state funding, with the bulk of the elevation work occurring 1973-1975. Photo: William J. Madden Info/Archive: Capt. William Gilligan, US Navy

Image
View east 11/11/1974 Photo: William J. Madden Archive: Capt. William Gilligan, US Navy
Image
Merrick Ave view E view 06-1975 Photo: William J. Madden Archive: Capt. William Gilligan, US Navy
Image
View east 11/11/1974 Photo: William J. Madden Archive: Capt. William Gilligan, US Navy
 #1060358  by MattAmity90
 
I can see that I'm not the only one interested in M1 trains during grade elimination. As far as LB, Doc, and myself know, there are pictures of M1's at Merrick, Bellmore, and Massapequa Park during grade elimination of the Babylon Branch. For the other stations, I have found pictures of trains at the temporary stations in Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Freeport, Wantagh, Seaford, Lindenhurst, and Babylon during elimination. I know M1's stopped at Merrick, Bellmore, Massapequa Park, Amityville, Copiague, and Lindenhurst during their elevations because they had high platforms, unfortunately I've searched everywhere, but I know someone out there has photos of them, but I'm not the only one that can't find them, I know one day they will pop-up.

The reason it's become a huge subject, is because some of these elevated stations will be turning a milestone age. Amityville, Copiague, and Lindenhurst will be turning 40 in August 2013. Babylon will be 50 in 2014, Valley Stream will be 80 next year, Massapequa Park just turned 31 this past December. Plus the M1 was a turning point for the LIRR. Those sleek trains cut travel time from station to station dramatically, made a huge impact with speed, it's comfort, and finally the fact that it came out when we switched to MTA ownership which completely revolutionized the railroad and gave it a makeover.
 #1060385  by NH2060
 
What I don't get is why they undertook the extra work and cost to tear up the existing ROW, lay down temporary tracks, and then tear those up again a few years later. IMO it would have made more sense to just build the new elevated ROW next to the old one (the only exceptions being where highways crossed over/under it, etc.)
 #1060426  by MattAmity90
 
SlackControl wrote:Anyone have any pictures of the grade elimination with the old diesels running through the area?
Sept. 1974 at Merrick.
 #1060447  by LongIslandTool
 
NH2060, there is a good reason why the Railroad didn't just permanently relocate the tracks to the temporary location.

In most cases, the railroad doesn't own the land on which the temporaries are constructed. They lease it for a few years, then give it back to its owners when finished.

On most of the Montauk Branch elevation, the land on which the temporary tracks were placed was and is owned by the City of New York.
 #1060472  by NH2060
 
LongIslandTool wrote:NH2060, there is a good reason why the Railroad didn't just permanently relocate the tracks to the temporary location.

In most cases, the railroad doesn't own the land on which the temporaries are constructed. They lease it for a few years, then give it back to its owners when finished.

On most of the Montauk Branch elevation, the land on which the temporary tracks were placed was and is owned by the City of New York.
Ah that explains it. Thanks for the clarification!
 #1060479  by keyboardkat
 
Even the land in Nassau County is owned by the City of New York?

Incidentally, I remember the Floral Park grade crossing elimination. I was in high school when that started.
Today, riding the main line or the Hempstead Branch, the houses with their backyards seem so up-close to the right of way, I can't imagine where they would have put the temporary tracks, but they did, and I remember them.
 #1060509  by MACTRAXX
 
Everyone: I remember the LIRR grade crossing elimination projects on the Montauk Branch
growing up in the 70s-especially Lindenhurst-Copiague-Amityville and the Bellmore-Merrick
sections specifically...I remember those temporary stations and track routes used...

The Massapequa Park project was definitely different...I recall being told that residents
of Massapequa Park Village did not want a "Chinese Wall" there and that the project
had specially designed embankments on both sides of the tracks...
I always found that European design "slab track" thru there interesting...

Back in those days I sometimes carried a camera but I rarely got around to actually
stopping at those stations during the construction projects...

It is good seeing the M1s back when they had the originally designed blue stripe in
the 70s era...It helps date these pictures and the one I like here is the cut over of
tracks between Freeport and Merrick...

The 1960s elimination projects had an interesting NYS plaque attached to a column
adjacent to the ticket office...
Example: Hicksville on the N side near the main waiting room doors...
It reads: PSC (Public Service Commission) 10324; HICKSVILLE LIRR;
DPW (Department of Public Works); State of New York 1962

I also remember that when those 70s era stations were opened near the Ticket Office
there was a porcelain-enamel two-tone blue M there with LIRR or LONG ISLAND below...
These are now long gone...In closing here good 70s LIRR memories for me...

MACTRAXX
 #1060550  by LB
 
Here's a few before shots and the final track cut at Massapequa Park

Massapequa Park DEC '80 (William J. Madden photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... Q60_57.jpg

Massapequa Park Unqua Road 1966 (Art Huneke photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... w60_57.jpg

Massapequa Park, Park Blvd 1974 (Art Huneke photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... 00ZQ_3.jpg

Merrick Ave 1966 (Art Huneke photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... g60_57.jpg

Babylon Turnpike, Merrick JUN '75 (William J. Madden photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... NBTPKE.jpg
 #1060577  by MattAmity90
 
Man, the photos just keep coming in and in LB. I have to thank you a ton man, but at least I'm not the only one that is interested in M1's during the elimination.

But, just for the heck of it, if anyone has photos of the M1 LIRR trains during the elevation of the Babylon Branch, grade crossings before elimination, or have photos of stations with the high platforms from back in 60's, 70's, or early 80's, you might as well upload them and share them with all of us, please, because a lot of us would love to see them because it holds history, and it would be greatly appreciated, and keep the conversation going with something we can learn everyday.
 #1060789  by LB
 
OK, one more batch from Bellmore and Massapequa Park.

Massapequa Park Dec '77 (William Madden Photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... 0_57-1.jpg

Massapequa Park Oct '79 (William Madden Photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... g60_57.jpg

Bellmore Bedford Ave circa 1966 (Art Huneke Photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... BMoreC.jpg

Bellmore Bedford Ave Nov '74 (William Madden Photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... Q60_57.jpg

Bellmore Bedford Ave Jun '75 (William Madden Photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... 0_57-1.jpg

Bellmore at Centre Ave Jun '75 (William Madden Photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... 0_57-1.jpg
 #1060827  by Head-end View
 
Keyboardkat, maybe you can answer a question that no one else on these boards has been able to do, since you were a Floral Park resident during the crossing elimination project. Word is that your village and the LIRR were seriously at odds during/after the project and that Floral Park is still angry at the LIRR to this day 50 years later. And supposedly this is the reason that New Hyde Park and Mineola won't let the railroad elevate thru their villages, 'cause of whatever happened with Floral Park.

So do you remember any of the local politics of that era and what the problems were that led to the village being so bitter at the LIRR? Seems to me the final product must be an improvement over those staggered grade crossings that existed at Tulip Ave. What's the story?

And my apologies if I may have asked you this before, and have forgotten whatever you might have told us......(chuckle!)
Last edited by Head-end View on Sat Jul 07, 2012 8:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
 #1060860  by lirr42
 
LB wrote:Massapequa Park Dec '77 (William Madden Photo)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s48 ... 0_57-1.jpg
Did anyone notice the (T) in the circle signs at the end of the platform? Thwerner at M1 height and iSight at the end of the platform, near the stairs. They look exactly like the T symbol used in Boston. I was wondering what those were for.
 #1060863  by MattAmity90
 
I've really, really got to thank everyone here for the photos, there just isn't enough to say about about it, LB your the best. It's so great that we can share all of these memories and this modern marvel project. I may have been born in 1990, but I just hope I'm not the only 21 or 22 year old that would be interested in these topics.
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