Montauk Cutoff
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![montuakbranchtrackprofilemap0-6miles.jpg (192218 bytes)](montuakbranchtrackprofilemap0-6miles_small.jpg)
Montuak Branch track profile map LI
City 0-6 miles
Collection: John Fusto
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![montaukcutofftight.jpg (52915 bytes)](montaukcutofftight_small.jpg)
Looking East-NE: Sunnyside passenger
yard upper left, freight team track platforms lower left, Montauk
Cut-off tracks centerview, and Executone Telephone Systems (ex-Sunshine
Biscuits bakery 1956) upper center.
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![Montauk-Cutoff-abandonment-petition-map_10-13-15.jpg (429348 bytes)](Montauk-Cutoff-abandonment-petition-map_10-13-15_small.jpg)
Montauk Cutoff Abandonment petition map 10/13/15
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Long Island City, NY 7/12/1974 Photo: Vincent J. Benkovitz,
Archive: Mike Woodruff
Locomotives: PC 4875 (GG1), LIRR
MTA Alco S1 (Info: Paul Strubeck)
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
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![montaukcutoffwestlegto YardAfromBliss.jpg (129696 bytes)](montaukcutoffwestlegto_YardAfromBliss_small.jpg)
Montauk Cutoff west leg into
Yard A from Bliss cab view
Going from Bliss to yard A is considered west.
03/2005
Photo: Bob Anderson
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![lirrMontaukCutoff-viewfromCityStorageBldg11-07KevinKatta.jpg (151552 bytes)](lirrMontaukCutoff-viewfromCityStorageBldg11-07KevinKatta_small.jpg)
Montauk Cutoff view from
City Storage Bldg
Photo: Kevin Katta 11/07
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![licmap2v3.jpg (425851 bytes)](licmap2v3_small1.jpg)
Office of Chief Engineer, Pennsylvania
Railroad, May 20, 1946
![lirr155-156eastboundtoBlissfromYardA12-08-77.jpg (63546 bytes)](lirr155-156eastboundtoBlissfromYardA12-08-77_small.jpg)
LIRR #155,156 eastbound to Bliss
from LI City Yard A 12/08/77
Archive: Henry Wagner
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LIRR RS-1 #462 Montauk Cutoff
10/1974
Photo: A. Joseph Daly
![lirrS-1MontaukCutoffJoeDaly10-74.jpg (66405 bytes)](lirrS-1MontaukCutoffJoeDaly10-74_small.jpg)
LIRR S-1 climbing out from North Shore/Yard
A, on Montauk cut-off 10/1974 Photo: A. Joseph Daly
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![lirr159,154,224westboundBlissYardASecondaryTrack_trainRF-15_02-11-79.jpg (57578 bytes)](lirr159154224westboundBlissYardASecondaryTrack_trainRF-15_02-11-79_small.jpg)
LIRR #159, 154, 224 westbound
Bliss to Yard A on secondary track Train RF-15 02/11/1979
Archive: Henry Wagner
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![lirr443montauk-cutoff1971montaukcutoffDegnon.jpg (83747 bytes)](lirr443montauk-cutoff1971montaukcutoffDegnon_small.jpg)
LIRR #443 1971 at Degnon
Terminal
Info: Henry Wagner
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![bliss-springswitch-westbound.jpg (161928 bytes)](bliss-springswitch-westbound_small.jpg)
Bliss Cabin 03/2005 view E.
Aligning the switch after entering, this is going west, taken
from the
rear of the train. On the eastbound trip back, it's a spring switch.
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![Montauk-Cutoff-removed_GN3-22_8-19-17.jpg (113431 bytes)](Montauk-Cutoff-removed_GN3-22_8-19-17_small.jpg)
Montauk Cut-off - Removed GN 3-22 8/19/17
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![bliss11-24-08bobanderson1.jpg (66710 bytes)](bliss11-24-08bobanderson1_small.jpg)
Bliss Cabin, facing west. 11/24/08
Photo: Bob Anderson
![bliss11-24-08bobanderson2.jpg (59691 bytes)](bliss11-24-08bobanderson2_small.jpg)
Bliss facing east. 11/24/08 Photo: Bob Anderson
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![S_CardNeilFeldman.jpg (120111 bytes)](S_CardNeilFeldman_small.jpg)
S Form Clearance Card: 11/04/94 Proceed
west from Richmond Hill to LI City via the C secondary
Archive: Neil Feldman
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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
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![mcabin1912-1950s.jpg (220495 bytes)](mcabin1912-1950s_small.jpg)
Emery Map: M Cabin 1912-1950s
Archive: Dave Keller
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![drawbridgetogreenpointave.jpg (217631 bytes)](drawbridgetogreenpointave_small.jpg)
Emery Map: Bliss Yard 11-1960
Archive: Dave Keller
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![dutchkills-greenpointave1958.jpg (399268 bytes)](dutchkills-greenpointave1958_small.jpg)
Emery Map: Dutch Kills to Greenpoint Ave 1958
Archive: Dave Keller
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![DBtower.jpg (257243 bytes)](DBtower_small.jpg)
Emery Map: DB Tower 1906-1958
Archive: Dave Keller
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"BS"
Bliss Tower on 8/12/1959, a little over a year before it was replaced with
a cinder block cabin on the other side of the tracks. This Bliss Tower
(formerly BS) had a Saxby & Farmer 24-lever mechanical interlocking
machine. Archive: Jeff Erlitz
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![bliss-09-92.jpg (445907 bytes)](bliss-09-92_small.jpg)
Bliss Cabin, facing west. Greenpoint Ave and the rest of the Montauk is at
my back.
![blisssign09-1991joegregory.jpg (51457 bytes)](blisssign09-1991joegregory_small.jpg)
LIRR Bliss Cabin Messages
09/1991
![bliss-west.jpg (450161 bytes)](bliss-west_small.jpg)
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.
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![C-secondaryonleftlimks_lowermontaukWithLIC.jpg (198067 bytes)](C-secondaryonleftlimks_lowermontaukWithLIC_small.jpg)
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
![C-secondaryonleftlimks_lowermontaukWithLIC2.jpg (458394 bytes)](C-secondaryonleftlimks_lowermontaukWithLIC2_small.jpg)
View looking back east.
![kearnysiding.jpg (569049 bytes)](kearnysiding_small.jpg)
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.
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![oldsignal bridge_PLSprotectingthe C-secondary.jpg (437413 bytes)](oldsignal_bridge_PLSprotectingthe_C-secondary_small.jpg)
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).
![FA1-612-Train-EastoverDutchKills-LIC-June-1981-S.Goldstein2.jpg (87406 bytes)](FA1-612-Train-EastoverDutchKills-LIC-June-1981-S.Goldstein2_small.jpg)
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
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![Dutchkillsbothcrossingsviewsouth_joegregory.jpg (210654 bytes)](Dutchkillsbothcrossingsviewsouth_joegregory_small.jpg)
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:
![montaukcutoffbridge.jpg (386339 bytes)](montaukcutoffbridge_small.jpg)
"The Bridge" is the Lift bridge on the Montauk Cutoff, it's
where M Cabin is perched on top of.
![FA1-612-Train-EastoverDutchKills-LIC-June-1981-S.Goldstein.jpg (95987 bytes)](FA1-612-Train-EastoverDutchKills-LIC-June-1981-S.Goldstein_small.jpg)
LIRR #612 crossing Dutch Kills
drawbridge (swing bridge) eastbound over Dutch Kills 06/1981 Photo: S. Goldstein
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![Montauk-Cutoff-ViewE_6-14-74_RichardMakse.jpg (95126 bytes)](Montauk-Cutoff-ViewE_6-14-74_RichardMakse_small.jpg)
Montauk Cutoff - View E 6/14/1974 Photo/Archive: Richard Makse
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.
![murrersidings5.jpg (88443 bytes)](murrersidings5_small.jpg)
LIRR map - Meurer Sidings 1966 Page 5
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"M"
Cabin
![Mcabin.jpg (460228 bytes)](Mcabin_small.jpg)
:
![Mcabin3.jpg (295685 bytes)](Mcabin3_small.jpg)
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.
![Tower-M-NewtownCreek-LIC-12-70.jpg (53179 bytes)](Tower-M-NewtownCreek-LIC-12-70_small.jpg)
"M" cabin 12/70 Photo: Dave Keller
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Dutch Kills Swing Bridge:
![dutchkillsdrawbridgefromMcabindrawbridge_02-2005.jpg (138725 bytes)](dutchkillsdrawbridgefromMcabindrawbridge_02-2005_small.jpg)
Dutch kills swing bridge taken from M cabin drawbridge,
February 2005 while working the rosustabout. Photo: Bob Anderson
![DutchKillsSwingBridge.jpg (426152 bytes)](DutchKillsSwingBridge_small.jpg)
Dutch kills swing bridge
![licity47-54.jpg (335120 bytes)](licity47-54_small.jpg)
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
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Dutch Kills Swing Bridge:
![DutchKillsSwingBridge3.jpg (459859 bytes)](DutchKillsSwingBridge3_small.jpg)
![DutchKillsSwingBridge4.jpg (563316 bytes)](DutchKillsSwingBridge4_small.jpg)
![](DB_Cabin_5161976_HenryWagner_small.jpg)
DB Cabin 05/16/1976
Archive: Henry Wagner
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Wheelspur Yard:
![ex-Wheelspuryardonright.jpg (341019 bytes)](ex-Wheelspuryardonright_small.jpg)
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!
![WheelspurYardArtHuneke.jpg (55782 bytes)](WheelspurYardArtHuneke_small.jpg)
Montauk cutoff drawbridge at “M”
cabin, looking west at
Wheelspur Yard
Photo: Art Huneke 1955
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![backtowardsBliss.jpg (364335 bytes)](backtowardsBliss_small.jpg)
Back towards Bliss. The shot facing up towards the old signal bridge
is also on the C-secondary.
![backtowardsBliss2.jpg (439707 bytes)](backtowardsBliss2_small.jpg)
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
![bordenave_jorgregory06-07.jpg (438501 bytes)](bordenave_jorgregory06-07_small.jpg)
View north, LIE above
06/2007
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![HabermanStationMontukBranch03-19-76.jpg (70360 bytes)](HabermanStationMontukBranch03-19-76_small.jpg)
Haberman Station - Montauk Branch
03/19/1976
Archive: Henry Wagner
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![lirr216eastofHaberman3-5-76.jpg (66314 bytes)](lirr216eastofHaberman3-5-76_small.jpg)
LIRR
#216 east of Haberman 03/05/1976
Archive: Henry Wagner
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![lirr106-cab56BlissOnCutoff12-12-77.jpg (57792 bytes)](lirr106-cab56BlissOnCutoff12-12-77_small.jpg)
Blissville looking at the Montauk Cutoff LIRR #1106, caboose #56
heading east
Archive: Henry Wagner
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Photos and
Commentary: Joseph Gregory 06/20/2007 unless
otherwise noted.
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