Excellent video. I wondered what those two overpasses over Sunnyside Yard were. Didn't realize it was this cutoff. They seem to have both been severed. The video was almost like being there. Thank you,
You are walking in the area where the original LIRR terminated. These tracks led to the original (ca. 1860) Hunters Point Ferry Terminal at the East River where people would depart for either a Ferry to 34th Street or St. Jame Slip.
This cut-off was built by the Pennsylvania RR so trains could access the mainline after the PRR built the East River Tunnel and began using this area as Sunnyside yard for their rolling stock having recently bought the LIRR.
Cool video of the Montauk Cutoff. Just a word of caution though, walking along railroad tracks whether used or abandoned (in this case dormant) is illegal and dangerous. There are some exceptions though, such as the old West Side Freight Line (former CSX ex Conrail exx Penn Central exxx New York Central) which is now "The High Line" park. But in most cases, railroad tracks whether active or disused is still railroad owned property and you can get arrested and prosecuted for trespassing. I live on Staten Island, home of the Staten Island Railroad, which at one time had several lines here, only "one and a half" are currently active. There's the St George to Tottenville (South Shore Line) commuter service, using the city's only R44 type cars albeit heavily modified. Then there's the North Shore Sub West of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal that travels through many neighborhoods and goes into NJ connecting with Conrail near Elizabeth Port. The SIRR east of Arlington Yard to St George is still inactive and has been since at least 1991, when the Procter & Gamble co decided to shut down it's "Port Ivory" plant here, which was the SIRR's biggest freight customer. Then there was US Gipson that had a "dry wall" plant in the New Brighton section here, along with a plethora of other businesses, that had shipped and received by rail. The portion from NJ to Arlington Yard (Staten Island) has been reactivated as recently as 2006 or '07, after being in a state of abandonment for nearly 20 years. Now back in the day, my friends & I used to walk the tracks of the abandoned SIRR lines and found at least five or six disused train stations along much of the route. The Staten Island Railroad was very similar to the LIRR, as in (1) it was a commuter railroad that also handled freight trains. The SIRR also has a connection with "the outside world" via the Arthur Kill Rail Bridge to New Jersey. (2) like the LIRR, the SIRR also had a "parent owner" The Long Island Railroad was a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Staten Island Railroad was a subsidiary of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The signals along the Montauk Cutoff appear to be PRR "cpls", do you know if most or all of the LIRR still has these?
Thanks for your comment. Very interesting and informative. I really enjoyed the read. The question you asked about LIRR PRR "cpls" I am really not sure of the answer. I visited Staten Island a couple times. I really liked it there.
Very vaccinating indeed. What interests me most about Montauk Cutoff is that the story behind it seems so ancient, but yet still there are other active railways almost parallel to it. People travel about every day without realizing how much history is right there and how different things were.
I like to see this adondant LIRR line in to a park for biking, rollerblading, dog walk, running and jogging just like The Katy Trail in Dallas, Texas what was The Katy Railway Company.
Now that would be really interesting and lovely to have that transformation of the Montauk Cutoff. Thank you for the information on the Katy Trail in Dallas.
Ahhhhhh, the newer style signal still works. LOL. Where's the abandoned LIRR car from the Colin Ferguson train shooting back in 1993? Curious to know. It was always there.
That's a really good question you asked there, unfortunately I myself don't know, but I am hoping someone who knows will inform us both. Thank you for watching.
Are these the elevated tracks that are visible from the Queens-bound 7 train as it approaches the turn towards Court Sq? There are several abandoned tracks in that yard, some leading into tunnels. Why doesn't the city turn those into a park, or, better yet, refurbish the rails and turn them into another Subway line?
Because the City of NY, and New York State do not own the land. It still is in the owner ship of the long Island RR, and MTA, very complex to explain. 1955, the LIRR ran its last steam-powered train Fan trip across that very area you are walking on UTUCKNUP. And further down the line it will merge with another two tracks cumming off the main line. If you google a Map of the old LIRR Trackage, you will find it very interesting how many connections to the main line and the two branches of the now very busy Montauk lines that run next to Sunrise Hwy. I am going to post a Video that will take you back in time on the LIRR. You will get to view down in the long Island city main yard, and Sunny side yards. as you Stood at the end of your walk in the video, and then ride on on of the old steam fan tirp across that very same viaduct and past that same set of Signals you walked past twice. Thank you for your jerney. By the way, I grew up on the LIRR main line at the Hollis Sta. This is my old area I used to go an watch trains all day use the montauk cutoff. That was a very very busy go aroud when I was a kid back in the 1968 to 1973 era. I left for collage after that. czcams.com/video/7211Nq_c2wU/video.html
Hello. If your taking the train, the train you would be on to get to Montauk Cutoff is the number 7 train. You'll get off at Hunters Point Avenue. Exit the station via 21st Street and 49th Avenue at the North East corner. Walk about 7 to 10 minutes to 25- 30 Skillman Avenue., Long Island City or just navigate to 25-30 Skillman Avenue. Long Island City. You will enter the Smiling Hogshead Ranch, a guerrilla garden, and walk through it to get to the abandoned rails.
That's So Cool I love my City Hidden Treasures
Evanston, Illinois ! Woo !
Excellent video. I wondered what those two overpasses over Sunnyside Yard were. Didn't realize it was this cutoff. They seem to have both been severed. The video was almost like being there. Thank you,
You’re most welcome. Thanks for watching.
You are walking in the area where the original LIRR terminated. These tracks led to the original (ca. 1860) Hunters Point Ferry Terminal at the East River where people would depart for either a Ferry to 34th Street or St. Jame Slip.
Thank you very much for the information.
This cut-off was built by the Pennsylvania RR so trains could access the mainline after the PRR built the East River Tunnel and began using this area as Sunnyside yard for their rolling stock having recently bought the LIRR.
Thanks you very much for the information and for watching my video.
Cool video of the Montauk Cutoff. Just a word of caution though, walking along railroad tracks whether used or abandoned (in this case dormant) is illegal and dangerous. There are some exceptions though, such as the old West Side Freight Line (former CSX ex Conrail exx Penn Central exxx New York Central) which is now "The High Line" park. But in most cases, railroad tracks whether active or disused is still railroad owned property and you can get arrested and prosecuted for trespassing. I live on Staten Island, home of the Staten Island Railroad, which at one time had several lines here, only "one and a half" are currently active. There's the St George to Tottenville (South Shore Line) commuter service, using the city's only R44 type cars albeit heavily modified. Then there's the North Shore Sub West of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal that travels through many neighborhoods and goes into NJ connecting with Conrail near Elizabeth Port. The SIRR east of Arlington Yard to St George is still inactive and has been since at least 1991, when the Procter & Gamble co decided to shut down it's "Port Ivory" plant here, which was the SIRR's biggest freight customer. Then there was US Gipson that had a "dry wall" plant in the New Brighton section here, along with a plethora of other businesses, that had shipped and received by rail. The portion from NJ to Arlington Yard (Staten Island) has been reactivated as recently as 2006 or '07, after being in a state of abandonment for nearly 20 years. Now back in the day, my friends & I used to walk the tracks of the abandoned SIRR lines and found at least five or six disused train stations along much of the route. The Staten Island Railroad was very similar to the LIRR, as in (1) it was a commuter railroad that also handled freight trains. The SIRR also has a connection with "the outside world" via the Arthur Kill Rail Bridge to New Jersey. (2) like the LIRR, the SIRR also had a "parent owner" The Long Island Railroad was a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Staten Island Railroad was a subsidiary of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The signals along the Montauk Cutoff appear to be PRR "cpls", do you know if most or all of the LIRR still has these?
Thanks for your comment. Very interesting and informative. I really enjoyed the read. The question you asked about LIRR PRR "cpls" I am really not sure of the answer. I visited Staten Island a couple times. I really liked it there.
+Josh, yes, the LIRR "STILL" have a ton of the PRR "CPL" signals. I hate them. LOL
Fascinating stuff.
Very vaccinating indeed. What interests me most about Montauk Cutoff is that the story behind it seems so ancient, but yet still there are other active railways almost parallel to it. People travel about every day without realizing how much history is right there and how different things were.
Awesome! Thanks!
I like to see this adondant LIRR line in to a park for biking, rollerblading, dog walk, running and jogging just like The Katy Trail in Dallas, Texas what was The Katy Railway Company.
Now that would be really interesting and lovely to have that transformation of the Montauk Cutoff. Thank you for the information on the Katy Trail in Dallas.
Still used as a freight line for NYAR
Thank you!!!!!
You're most welcome
Ahhhhhh, the newer style signal still works. LOL. Where's the abandoned LIRR car from the Colin Ferguson train shooting back in 1993? Curious to know. It was always there.
That's a really good question you asked there, unfortunately I myself don't know, but I am hoping someone who knows will inform us both. Thank you for watching.
Are these the elevated tracks that are visible from the Queens-bound 7 train as it approaches the turn towards Court Sq? There are several abandoned tracks in that yard, some leading into tunnels. Why doesn't the city turn those into a park, or, better yet, refurbish the rails and turn them into another Subway line?
Because the City of NY, and New York State do not own the land. It still is in the owner ship of the long Island RR, and MTA, very complex to explain. 1955, the LIRR ran its last steam-powered train Fan trip across that very area you are walking on UTUCKNUP. And further down the line it will merge with another two tracks cumming off the main line. If you google a Map of the old LIRR Trackage, you will find it very interesting how many connections to the main line and the two branches of the now very busy Montauk lines that run next to Sunrise Hwy. I am going to post a Video that will take you back in time on the LIRR. You will get to view down in the long Island city main yard, and Sunny side yards. as you Stood at the end of your walk in the video, and then ride on on of the old steam fan tirp across that very same viaduct and past that same set of Signals you walked past twice. Thank you for your jerney. By the way, I grew up on the LIRR main line at the Hollis Sta. This is my old area I used to go an watch trains all day use the montauk cutoff. That was a very very busy go aroud when I was a kid back in the 1968 to 1973 era. I left for collage after that. czcams.com/video/7211Nq_c2wU/video.html
There was a turntable in sunnyside yard...
Thank you very much for this information.
how do i get here?
Hello. If your taking the train, the train you would be on to get to Montauk Cutoff is the number 7 train. You'll get off at Hunters Point Avenue. Exit the station via 21st Street and 49th Avenue at the North East corner. Walk about 7 to 10 minutes to 25- 30 Skillman Avenue., Long Island City or just navigate to 25-30 Skillman Avenue. Long Island City. You will enter the Smiling Hogshead Ranch, a guerrilla garden, and walk through it to get to the abandoned rails.
Those are garbage containers and they are still in use
Thanks for your comment.