As
we heads towards Brooklyn, one notices several layup tracks and manual
switches at this location. The IRT subway line has a yard in this
area, and there are connecting tracks to and from the Bay Ridge Branch
ROW to the yard.
As
we heads towards Brooklyn, one notices several layup tracks and manual
switches at this location. The IRT subway line has a yard in this
area, and there are connecting tracks to and from the Bay Ridge Branch
ROW to the yard.
The rail road tracks and ties in this area are in fairly good shape,
but they aren't strong enough to support high-speed freight traffic through
this area.
The NYA locomotive
makes its way past the IRT yard, and railfans gather around to take photos
of the train as it makes its journey.
Once
the ROW makes its way into Brooklyn, the ROW was constructed to be above-grade
from the surrounding street crossings. Once the ROW travels further
in to Brooklyn, the ROW travels below-grade via a trench. Street
crossings are carried over the ROW trench via bridges.
An interesting note that was taken along the ROW: Rockaway Parkway,
a four-lane north/south roadway, is cut-off by the ROW!! No trestle
was constructed to carry the Bay Ridge Branch ROW over the road!
The road simply ends at each side of the ROW. None of the railfans
on the trip were able to provide an answer as to why a "major" road was
blocked by the ROW. If I find out the answer as to why Rockaway Parkway
never had a trestle built for it, I will post here.
OldNYC.com
contributor Michael Harrington provided this photograph of a train he used
to ride along the Bay Ridge Branch. Michael explains, "This picture
was taken in the summer of 1978. Its located on the north track just
east of Albany Avenue. The engineers name was Vern. They were
switching the "brick yard" as we called it. Everyday the train came
by and would actually stop at my house honk the horn and wait for me to
climb the fence and get on."
Photo courtesy of Michael Harrington
A
view of the spur from the main Bay Ridge Line to the IRT subway yard.
There are no gates in the ROW... trains can go right in to the yard unimpeded.
OldNYC.com frequent contributor Neil Sullivan explains: "On the Bay
Ridge line, the subway yard is called Linden Yard and it is used only for
work trains, formally known as Division C. There was also a connection
to the BMT L subway line just north of New Lots Avenue station, but
it has since been torn up".
-->> Click Here to continue to explore along
the ROW!