Three trains moving in this shot; on the right, a LIRR commuter train has departed Hunterspoint Avenue station headed east, on the left a pair of GG1s bring an equipment move from Sunnyside Yard into Penn Station, while up above a LIRR Alco S1 hauls a short cut of cars out of Yard A on the Montauk Cut Off toward Bliss tower. Author: Vincent J. Benkovitz 

View east from the mouth of the East River tunnel portals towards the Montauk  Cutoff curving overhead with an eastbound LIRR freight consist.  The tracks to Penn Station and the tunnel are to the right and left of the abutment and low railing, visible in the shadows and are beginning to angle downwards.  Info: Dave Keller

LIRR #155,156 eastbound to Bliss from LI City Yard A 12/08/77
Archive: Henry Wagner

LIRR S-1 climbing out from North Shore/Yard A, on Montauk cut-off 10/1974 Photo: A. Joseph Daly

Bliss facing east. 11/24/08 Photo: Bob Anderson

Going from Yard A to Bliss is considered going east.
Going from Bliss to yard A is considered west.

It's a secondary track with no assigned direction. You need the authority of an "S" Card to enter the track.

When I was on the roustabout, we would get the "S" Card from Jay Tower, Via Radio, T box ( wayside phone) or by cell phone.. I guess with recent events the cell phone is out.

The S Card was the authority to operate on the C secondary, and/or Montauk Cutoff.  It would not be issued unless the operator knew the track was clear. We in turn had to report clear of the secondary, and Montauk Cutoff.

Entering the cutoff from the C secondary, the spring switch has to be manually lined, normal is lined for the C secondary, then after clearing the switch, it had to be lined back to normal.

Coming off the Montauk Cutoff to the secondary, no alignment is needed, it works as a spring switch in that direction.  Research: Bob Anderson

Bliss Cabin, facing west. Greenpoint Ave and the rest of the Montauk is at my back.

LIRR Bliss Cabin Messages
09/1991

Leaving Bliss, check out the remains of the yard. Facing east towards Bliss is where the C-secondary joins the line, the switch to Blissville yard was right in front of where I stand.

On my left you have the C-secondary, which links the Lower Montauk with LI City yard, the right is the active track of the Montauk Cutoff, that's what were headed down looking west

View looking back east.

Head up around the curve and we have the Kearny siding facing east, the out of service track which is serving nothing but some shrubbery these days. Kearny is to my left. 

Here's a shot looking back towards the old signal bridge, you can see a PLS (PRR/LIRR position light signal) protecting the C-secondary that is on the lead to the Lift Bridge. The Lift bridge is the closest to the L.I.E or "Midtown Highway" on your older map. Directly to the right is where the Swing bridge (Which is known as the Draw Bridge, dating back to the former bridge standing there).  

LIRR #612  passing DB Cabin eastbound over Dutch Kills 06/1981 Photo: S. Goldstein

In the background is Horowitz Bros. & Margareten, which, if you remember looking at the Kosher products on the shelves at Waldbaum's Supermarkets is the firm that makes matzos! Info: Dave Keller

Dutch Kills view south. Both LIRR bridges in sight.
Foreground bridge:  Montauk Cutoff to Sunnyside Yard
Background Bridge: Swing Bridge at DB Tower

The Lift Bridge:

"The Bridge" is the Lift bridge on the Montauk Cutoff, it's 
where M Cabin is perched on top of.

LIRR #612  crossing Dutch Kills drawbridge (swing bridge) eastbound over Dutch Kills 06/1981 Photo: S. Goldstein

Note: Above the bridge abutment, you can see the home signal for M Cabin, complete with smash board. The Montauk Cutoff was left-handed (English) running based on the design of Yard A. The westbound cutoff, closest to the camera, only had a low home (dwarf) signal protecting eastbound moves.  Richard Makse

Note 2: The location above is Meurer's siding; named after the Meurer Steel Barrel Company.


LIRR map - Meurer Sidings 1966 Page 5

"M" Cabin


:

All the shots of M Cabin (more like M-container!) are facing west, we risked walking the draw bridge, but the lift is way to sketchy.

"M" cabin 12/70 Photo: Dave Keller

Dutch Kills Swing Bridge:

Dutch kills swing bridge taken from M cabin drawbridge, February 2005 while working the rosustabout. Photo: Bob Anderson

Dutch kills swing bridge

LI City detail of Hunter's Point and Newton Creek area. Circa 1947-1954 as the Pulaski Bridge is under construction on this map.  Archive: Steve Lynch

Dutch Kills Swing Bridge:

DB Cabin 05/16/1976
Archive: Henry Wagner

Wheelspur Yard:

The Wheelspur yard (on the right) is on the west end of the swing/draw bridge, the switch lead for LI city is in the far background, as well as the signal protecting the secondary. In its place is a building, and a pile of junk. Hard to imagine there was a major yard located here with the building there now!

Montauk cutoff drawbridge at “M” cabin, looking west at 
Wheelspur Yard Photo:  Art Huneke 1955

Back towards Bliss. The shot facing up towards the old signal bridge is also on the C-secondary.

Check out the switch leading to nowhere facing west, standing on the C-secondary. The bridge is in the distance, in my infinite wisdom I didn't get a detail shot of the switch! 

Borden Ave

View north, LIE above
06/2007