AMTRAK sunnyside in winter with narrative

Amtraks' Sunnyside yard seen in video and still images from the archives of the retired conductor narrating the footage. I hope you enjoy my rambling on about the old days...enjoy

[@Flatbedkw]

The most enjoyable part for me is that you were actually there. That makes the explanations more interesting. Thanks for sharing this.

[@carmine313]

I'm a retired MNRR GCT Yard Engineer. I loved the yard moves and my GCT crew. I miss it. I even got qualified in Penn and the Hells gate to run the Meadowlands football train. I've been on those Amtrak FL9s, we had them in GCT 1n 1980 for the Empire. Great video!

[@georgewalker6368]

I worked at Sunnyside Engine House during some of your filming, great history, thank you very much

[@markemanuele1929]

WOW! Does this bring back memories!!! I worked Sunnyside in 1976-1979 while I was in college. I was a yard electrician and then a traveling electrician. When I was a yard electrician, I used to work the Southern Crescent and the Broadway Limited. Back then it was steam heat and battery and generator for power. It was all GG1 and E60 for motive power then.

[@tfman54]

mark didn't the steam make it great fun when you worked nights in the winter, visibility was zero passing signals with burning fusees hoping the fireman could see them

[@markemanuele1929]

@@tfman54 Oh Yes.....

[@jayeichler8891]

Well put together video. I cut my teeth in that area in 1997 when I hired on with New York & Atlantic and spent time switching right next door in Yard A. Amazing how much has changed since then.

[@jamesshanks2614]

Thank you for posting the video, old memories. I worked the New Haven side as an engineer but only got into Sunnyside about a dozen times, usually to get to the credit union. Once I got ordered to pick up a G at motor storage and being a hour early I spent 20 minutes walking through the DD1 for the wire train, and tried to imagine what it must have been like when everything was third rail out to the Jersey power change point where the trains swapped out the DD1's for steam locomotives. This was before the PRR electrified with AC power. How many people know The DD1 was really the last PRR 4-4-0 steamers without the boiler the D16B class if I remember correctly and a humongous DC motor driving a bell crank to the drivers and PRR simply coupled another D16 chassis on to avoid turning the power after each run. It was a simple way to make an electric locomotive out of a steam locomotive, and it worked beautifully. How many fans realize the GG1 used a new York air brake steam locomotive air compressor driven by a gearbox run off an AC motor. First time on a G I spent a few minutes poking around to familiarize myself with em and when I found the air compressor just stood There looking at it then saw the tag on it 140 cubic feet of air a minute was all she had, no wonder you had to conserve your air with a G. First time I saw the DD1 sitting there where if I remember right was where you showed the FL-9's sitting was in 1976 and I knew I was looking at history still in service. I was taking 2 GG1's to new Haven was the only time worked out of Sunnyside, and yes the steam in winter made visibility definitely trying. Thank you for bring back the old memories of Sunnyside. I look forward to more gems be they Pics or video. Jim retired locomotive engineer.

[@markhayes6407]

Well done on the video. The railroad I love the snow I can do without.

[@TrinityCourtStudios]

As a new railroader, watching content like this is eye opening and fascinating. Thank you for the footage, and the wicked commentary! Love it!!

[@wondermike8877]

Great video. Sunnyside yard has changed dramatically with the east side access project. I was the maintainer at F for a few years, shame they tore it down. Going on 25 years. Great history of the yard.

[@armonstewart112]

I have to say this is the best train video I've ever seen. Please add more videos .

[@Rafael-716]

That’s a keeper, thanks for sharing this stuff.

[@thomasackerly5367]

31 years in SSY , love you vids

[@drtom5936]

Wonderful nostalgic trip sir. Great history and wonderful memories. Thank you

[@mr.r59]

Thanks from ivy city Washington DC

[@jamesnolan9642]

It's fantastic to see day/night operations at the yard. I've lived in Sunnyside for 20 years and I found all of the train videos very informative.

[@owenhickey3786]

I really enjoyed that! Love to see your pictures of the GG1's

[@tfman54]

my only regret was that I wasn't able to afford video equipment to record them in motion...they were truly magnificent beasts

[@MidnightAspec]

Fantastic presentation on Sunnyside yard. I'm a daily NYP-Jrsy Ave rider on 'transit'. Watching this video gave me some perspective with regard to my evening commutes.

[@Sweetteawillie]

Those FL 9 units are beautiful. Would be great if they were upgraded for special excursions or periodic longhauls. Enjoyed the video.

[@garyeverhart7710]

Thank you for posting and narrating this wonderful piece of history. I never had an opportunity to visit Sunnyside yard but now have a much better understanding of the work done there.

[@PegLegGuy]

--- A walk down memory lane for me --- I'm 67 --- My building was right on the corner of 40th St & Skillman Ave --- From my 6th floor room I had a great view of "The Yard" --- I spent COUNTLESS HOURS watching the action --- Startin circa 1958, me, and my mates, "played" in the yard --- Man, we ran all over that place --- Everyday, we would wait by the wash racks for the "name trains" to roll thru --- It was easy to hop on a slow mover --- We hopped on and proceded to steal all the shit we could! --- Glasses, ashtrays, dinnerware, towels, etc, etc, --- I still have plates, an ashtray, and a glass from the Broadway Limited --- She would go thru the wash racks everyday around 3:30 --- And we would be waiting! --- I have some stuff from "The Spirit of St. Louis" too --- The Yard was a hell of a playground for us from 1958 - 67 --- By 1967, at 17, I joined the Marine Corps --- Became a Fireman in 1971 --- Retired in 1999 --- I'm in Tucson now, and a coupla times a month I go down to the Union Pacific to watch the action --- Its not bad --- But . . . its nothing like "The Yard" ---

[@tfman54]

PegLeg Guy I can remember flagging equipment around the loops and being hit by groups of kids raising hell....it may well have been you!

[@rapman5791]

We used to go inside the fire station when the box came in and steal the place blind. 😂😂😂 we got all kinds of shit. TV’s wallets, even stole cars with the keys we found. It’s funny how you used to steal from the RR, but others were stealing from you. 🤷‍♂️

[@DTD110865]

For those of us who don't work in the yard (which would be the majority of the people), the Hunterspoint Avenue LIRR station is a good place to watch the trains of Sunnyside Yard. If that place isn't a significant train watching spot yet, like Folkston, Georgia or Ashland, Virginia, don't be surprised if it becomes one in the future.

[@72867morgan]

The train I took to st pete Florida was made up here next stop nyc Pennsylvania station then Newark Pennsylvania station in the fifties to early 60 ies 3 sets of tickets Pennsylvania rr to dc then Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac then Atlantic coast line, lots of fun on those rides my husband took me to see sunnyside and take photos fir me . Finally in old age got to see theses yards enjoying your film

[@VoxelBro]

Underrated! Great commentary!

[@tristar4857]

Beautiful!! Thank you very much for this footage. Thank you for your patient steadfast collection of images over the many years for posterity and our consumption, and enjoyment :-) I thoroughly enjoyed this video! Patient collections like this are valuable, as they are becoming fewer and fewer. The future will thank you!

[@dave3216]

The best 17+ minutes I spent today. Thanks for posting.

[@chadmartin2170]

Your service and video is Greatly appreciated! My Uncle was hired on Penn Central and retired as conductor. He use to let me go to Avon yards when he had to work. We even got to do moves at Beech Grove yards as well. Got 2 see alot of dinosaurs on the rails, as well as Barnum& Bailey would park their train at Beech too. Wouldn't sell those memories for anything. I love the narration and your take on this Awesome yard as well. Thank you and God bless Sir.

[@arifakyuz7673]

I love watching the trains run in Sunnyside Yard.

[@glendenig9962]

Fabulous information, footage, and photos! Thank you!

[@carrickbender]

As a West coast kid, the only yards that I ever saw growing up were in places like Seattle and Spokane. Big freights in yards like Lakebay and Yardley, and of course the Empire builder was my vision of Amtrak as a kid- nothing like this! This is an amazing video, and your narration really tells the story, a distinctly American story.Thank you for sharing.

[@SuperStarRendon]

Thanks for sharing! I will always remember seeing the circus train in the yard.

[@RSDX99]

One of the best train videos ever. More informative than most. Good Job.

[@grahamrawlings1585]

Thank you so much.

[@jonnybeck6723]

That was really great... the narration is so cool... intimate... personal Thanx so much for posting

[@kevinsmith5288]

Love those Fl-9s in the snow! Remember those on the old New Haven from Springfield to GCT.

[@AweShiyte]

What I find interesting about Sunnyside yards, and to a greater extent Harold's Interlocking, is the infrastructure itself. I mean it's all infrastructure, but just the way that it's laid out going to 4 different directions (soon 5 for the Grand Central LIRR concourse), serving 3 different train services for the greater NY metropolitan area, and the NEC. Hopefully, we'll be able to see more high speed train services being served on the Harold Interlocking and we'll see to it that the infrastructure can handle the future of train travel! This is video is so nice! I love it!

[@billconserva1461]

Great video, thanx for sharing, you are a rail fan at heart!

[@necjerseyrailfan7500]

Such a great video along the northeast corridor

[@HenrikSweden1]

Great work ! Must say I have never seen any videos of the Sunnyside yard, and with such a nice Mood ! I visited N y and the yard several times during the early 80s and had the luck to see the big GG1. Thanks a lot ! I miss the railroads of that time, although they were run down and gritty, it was an exiting world....

[@Salty_reviews]

You kind of sound like Alan Alda, love the video and history lesson, wish I was alive back in the GG1 era.

[@loisharris6558]

Jeff, oh many nights I spent there on the overnight drill. Winter, didn't stop us though!

[@tfman54]

Lois so good to hear from old friends, yes 59C was always a delightful way to spent the overnight hours especially when it rained or snowed. Still chugging along after retiring in 13 hope you are doing well , you were one of the engineers I always enjoyed working with!

[@bootednancy]

Great memories......I worked Q, F and R when they were real towers....just missed the era of the 68 tracks in the yarxd, but did handle GG-1s and the one remaining B-6, #4751....would get stuck in ruts in the bad tr5ack at R tower and stall out with only 3 or 4 cars.then Amtrak came in and changed everything to SW-1 diesels.

[@TheRimeOfTheAncientMariner]

Cool to watch. I like the narration from someone who worked there for so long!

[@acsupersport7981]

A beautiful video.

[@HAIckes]

Thanks very much! I, too, would like to see more video of the "G-s", but you get what you can. Truth to tell, I'd like to see some DD-1 footage! In the early '50s, I lived in Woodside, in an apartment in the "H" building of the Boulevard Gardens complex, across 57th St. from the New York Connecting RR. My 5th-floor bedroom looked out over the right-of-way embankment, which at that point was about level with our building's third floor. The sight of those "G-s" pulling all those cars - I especially kept an eye open for the "named" cars, wondering where they came from and where they were headed ... Later, I commuted from "the island" to Hunterspoint Ave., and even later rode Amtrak past my old apartment a couple of times on my way up to New Eng. If you have more, please post them!

[@bluedorissmith6352]

excellent, I am watching this in the UK. very informative and great narration., thanks hugely enjoyable. Geoff.

[@mathiscool66]

Very nice! Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@ErnestPSmith]

I have been a train lover for 65 years, and model Amtrak. Have passed by Sunnyside many times. Never realized how extensive or complex it really is, or how important. I loved the PRR GG1's - nothing like them. Miss them. Thanks for the memories.

[@WolfSpiritOlka58]

Thank you for sharing this amazing footage and taking the time to narrate it, what a wonderful look back at history.

[@trussell8510]

Thanks for this, great film. Great experience!

[@johnnystall9683]

Thank you ever so much!

[@KingSNAFU]

That was a great video, I really enjoyed that.

[@SupernalOne]

in nordic countries the switches/points have heaters to keep them clear of snow and ice - a lot of trouble to retrofit, no doubt, but it seems to work well

[@Ostermond]

The left-facing FL-9 starting at 6:10 (number 485) is actually still around! In storage on the Vornado Spur with the Morristown & Erie Railway!

[@gda44256]

Great video, thanks for sharing

[@NubianKweenJay]

Loved this. Thank you.

[@btheatre1]

I've always loved trains and railroading and love all of your train videos! 👍🏽

[@Mike-James]

Worked for British Rail when it was a thing, as a Freight Guard, most of the yards I worked into are now gone.

[@Astepatatimekvarn]

I enjoyed playing around on these tracks as a kid. Yes, it was dangerous, but I loved trains. Late 70s early 80s Railroad express etc.

[@tfman54]

The REA buildings were deserted when I Hired in 1979 but I remember the kids in the yard at times.very foolish as the railyards are dangerous if you are not familiar with them

[@anthonyhro1903]

ENJOYED! THANKS!!

[@mikeyd.234]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your memories. Rode the 'Pennsy' (Philadelphia Division) as a Fresh Air Fund kid back in the '60's. Left from the 'original' Pennsylvania Station going to a farm in East Earl, PA via Lancaster, PA - the locomotive was a GG1. Up the road from the farm was trackage of the PRR's New Holland Branch with a siding for the local grain mill. Years later I rode the LIRR into Manhattan and I remember passing through Sunnyside always on the lookout for any motive power that I could see.

[@marty2872]

Nice wander back in time... Thanks!!

[@1903A3shooter]

That was very well done.

[@thewmreed]

Thank you for sharing your great memories and insight

[@aeyb701]

Fascinating “backstage access” look at operations there. I noticed in some of the scenes with P42’s there was still steam rising from the ground in places. When we’re all the steam pipes removed? I was also surprised to see Amfleet equipment with steam coming out from between the cars. I presume that since they’re still running they’re all electric heat now? Thanks for posting this. Now I’ll have to look at your other vids.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

Amfleets have always been powered by HEP, not steam.

[@ThumperKJFK]

Hello tfman54. Thank you for the flash back memories of days gone by. I live on the LIRR main line Hollis station, and way back in the 1960's I would ride my bike to Sunnyside yard and stand at the stair entrance to Q tower and watch all day the yard movements. And of course what I miss the most is watching all the GG1's. I have also be there so often that I was invited into Q many a time by the operator on duty, I only wish I had remembered his name. Last time I was at the yards it had brought a tear to my eyes to see all the missing things that I had saw as a kid. That yard has changed so much I do not know any of the things I saw in 2013. That entire neighborhood has changed, the old Harold Tower is gone with a new brick thing standing there. The big power plant at the west end that feed Amtrak tunnels is gone. I got a tour in that boiler room once. :). again Thank you so much for sharing.

[@101MTA]

Very nice video!

[@dmrr7739]

This was very enjoyable. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheMrTrainman]

Great video!

[@OregonRailfan83]

Loved it. I used to ride the 7 Train daily for many years.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

Impressive. I’ve always wondered about Sunnyside Yards. Thank you.

[@tincanboat]

great video

[@rrrglynn]

Wow this was amazing. Very interesting to see what things were like back then.

[@sophornnmun3479]

Wow very nice video

[@williamkane9746]

Oh my..sounds like Jeffrey..good man.wirked with him frequently through the years

[@tfman54]

Bill Good to hear from you! I retired in 2013 after slight stroke. No lasting I’ll effects turned 76 last July. Still keep in touch with some of the guys once a month for breakfast. Caruso, Nick Volpe (92), Sal Guida, Bill Carney, Rocky, Adam Nowiki. The railroad videos are quite popular, many buffs world wide glad you liked them. My son has 26 years at Amtrak be well

[@williamkane9746]

@@tfman54 good to hear your doing well..I also,am good physically..say hello to all at breakfast...going to check these out😁

[@DD-qr1yi]

Thank You Sir.

[@majorlee76251]

Nice to see what it looks like. Tough when you are on the train coming in from Boston.

[@dennykurzawski3690]

Well done!!

[@ricksadler797]

Nice vid thank you

[@thomasabramson100]

In 1970s to 1990s do you remember a LIRR Alco RS3 1554 on the wire train ???

[@herbertrodriguez9236]

beautiful railroad scenery. Iwould love to have a model railroad just like that.

[@MrLuvOldies]

I think that I read, that The Sunnyside Railroad Yard,Queens,NYC, was the largest Railroad Yard in the world, at one time.

[@tfman54]

jay capp Sunny side was the worlds LARGEST PASSENGER COACH YARD at one time. Growing up on Long Island I can remember seeing a sign on building two which mentioned that fact when passing on the Long Island rail road going to the city. Building two was demolished in 2010 but some of my videos show parts of the old sign in the 1980s

[@kenkramer6529]

Just great!

[@michaelbonacci4777]

Loved it! However, that AEM-7 wasn't towing a P40DC. It was a P42DC, but great video anyways!

[@tfman54]

right you are...sorry about the slip

[@farmerdave7965]

The road number said it was a P40.

[@easyamp123]

love the videos, awesome stuff. But, you did not see coaches ride up on snow, maybe ice, although that is also highly unlikely. More likely, and maybe what you meant was because of snow the points didn't close and you saw a car ride up on what appeared to be snow but was only the points held open by the snow. cheers

[@officialmcdeath]

Beautiful compilation of solid source material - one question: how close to the tunnel entrance did/do the diesels switch to electric?

[@joshmeister4449]

Wonder what ever happened to those two FL9's in the video? That looked to be in pretty good shape.

[@silverskyscraper1179]

The Transit 🤔..... Interesting. I only thought and heard the terminology for NYC Transit lol. I guess is where you work out of 👍🏾

[@garylindenmuth7468]

Very nice

[@xanadujohn79]

Great video it was a shame that it took the railroads so long to adopt HEP. C&NW was one of the first to do it in the early sixty's. And finally switch heaters during the 70's.

[@AllAboardAudio.]

My good man, if you have any footage of Cabrides in the AEM-7 locomotive, may you share them?

[@jackchen7003]

Now it never snows in NYC and now they are planning to build over sunnyside yard one day

[@johnburke777]

Wow!

[@thomasackerly5367]

NJT still has those MU's in service.

[@rollinwithunclepete824]

Very enjoyable! I like that you don't over-talk the video. And you may have missed another career doing VO for documentaries!

[@taurus-astrobike104]

I 💘 🚆👍👍&THANKYOU FOR SHARING BEAUTIFUL FABULOUS MEMORIES... 💘 Passionate voice of narratives... Music & VIDEO editing and Very Educational... Looking forward to MUCH more my friend🏆🏅🎇SEASONS🎊GREETINGS🎉🎅🎄✌

[@martinwhiskee5809]

Great

[@StevenTorrey]

Fascinating. Is this located in Long Island, and where exactly?

[@russellrobinson6404]

Queens, NY

[@MoneyOverFame]

I work for NJ Transit as a relatively new conductor, but I’m always nervous to take drill jobs in the yards. As a conductor are you supposed to remember what each switch lines you to a specific track? How do you drill in such a complicated yard?

[@tfman54]

When I was working sunnyside entrance to yard tracks controlled by air switches on the leads. When lining hand thrown switches you look for the open switch point, the equipment follows the open points

[@thomasackerly5367]

31 years and 6 to go.

[@auricom8472]

That p40 that went to the engine house looked burnt