A view looking in to the CHRR storage/maintenance facility.



This CHRR diesel locomotive is getting ready to perform some work, as it sits idling awaiting orders.  I always wondered why engineers let their locomotive engines run idle for long periods of time.  I've seen idling diesel locomotive engines when I've visited Fresh Pond, the Long Island Railroad's Long Island City yard, the LIRR's Jamaica yards, and now the CHRR yard.  I was told that engines are left idling because it is very difficult to start them up when it is cold out, and the amount of fuel burnt is negligible compared to the time that it takes to fire up the engine.  It was around twenty-three degrees on the day of our tour, and the wind gusts made it feel colder.  This locomotive's engine was not going to be shut-down anytime soon.

This is a picture of the rear of the locomotive.



A view of the front of the locomotive and the maintenance building.  To the left of the picture, notice the overhead pipes.  According to OldNYC.com contributor Harry Hassler, the CHRR was one of the last railroads to use steam engines to power their locomotives, right up until the late 1950's.



An old caboose that has been transformed in to an office resides in the yard.



A view of the yard, looking south.  The yard is about the size of the city block in width, and eight city blocks long in length.  This "mainline" track runs from the maintenance garage to the end of the yard.  Before the track terminates in the maintenance garage, the track splits off to provide access to 1st Avenue and spurs along the street.  At the other end of the yard, the "mainline" splits two ways: one track goes to the float bridge, and the other track goes out to 1st Avenue.



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