That track with the bumper is just for a locomotive escape track and a run-around for the rest of the yard. Mainline switches are expensive and the east end of the yard seems to be all the mainline connections the railroad deemed fit. Old track maps show that track being that way when there were even more customers in the area
As for the C&D taking over the "cabbage" track, guess the C&D pays better then produce
Those cabbage track customers are still around, they just moved them someplace I've yet to find. I still see reefers on the Maspeth job trains from time to time. I figure they are up the middle of the yard where the tarcks go into the street near Railroad Avenue.
The lumber yard on the east end still gets boxcars and center beams, as does the box factory get the paper service boxcars.
John