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| Re: Significant part of former LIRR Wading River Branch to become rail trail (769721) | |||
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Re: Significant part of former LIRR Wading River Branch to become rail trail |
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Posted by Hart Bus on Mon Apr 13 10:31:16 2009, in response to Re: Significant part of former LIRR Wading River Branch to become rail trail, posted by GP38/R42 Chris on Sun Apr 12 23:35:40 2009. Let me step in with a little history lesson from someone who has lived near the Port Jefferson Branch for more than thirty years.When I first moved here there was only diesel service and no platforms. At Greenlawn you could park in the south lot, cross over the tracks on a concrete walkway to the north side where the platform and ticket booth were. Also if the train had pulled in and there was an open door on the old diesel cars, you could climb in as if nothing happened. Around this time, then Congressman Robert Mrazek secured funding for the electrification to Port Jeff. Then LIRR president Bruce Mc Giver decided to take those funds and electrify to KO. He claimed by closing some of the minor stations and moving others, such as Deer Park, the commute would be 1 hour instead of 90 minutes, primarily due to fewer stops and that the track goes fairly straight and level to allow higher speeds. PJ branch in comparision would only have 10 minutes deleted from the commute since it is very windy and hilly, not making for a high speed track. Then the LIRR decides to high-level all platforms. That means both north and south side of Greenlawn with an overhead bridge. Of course the south track has never been used and the railroad wonders why its running a deficit? Finally due to the ESA, the LIRR proposes building a storage yard on the corner of Lake Road and Pulaski Road, just east of the Huntington Station. Community opposition is strong. When it is suggested to use the Cerro Wire site in Syosset (spot for a new mall) the railroad says that they'll be having too much deadheading. I was against this proposed site for two reasons. One it would destroy the residential nature of the community Two was if this yard, which would be an easy "put in" for Huntington trains, what is the incentive to electify to PJ. My feeling is to put the yard somewhere past PJ so that the electrification would be forced to go to PJ. BTW - If this electrification were to occur and with the pending ESA would there be enough cars to carry the load ??????? |
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