Riding on the revived “Ronkonkoma Rocket” from GCT to Ronkonkoma. 3/15/23

This train has returned with the new schedule chang, but as a Grand Central to Ronkonkoma train, running on a similar schedule to the old Rocket. We had a high-speed ride east of Jamaica and arrive several minutes early at our destination. Enjoy the ride on the triple track east of Jamaica to Hicksville and double track beyond. Welcome back “Ronkonkoma Rocket” (portions of the trip were cut due to sun glare thru a less than ideal M7 window. A common M7 problem lately)

[@vipraalbudhram2235]

They should really start naming trains officially like this!

[@Jeff-uj8xi]

Terrible window Tim. Delete the video.......

[@jacobhood345]

uno reverse card your comment

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

Nobody knows this train more than me! This is also my all time favorite train.

[@RichardNickels-ot6iq]

We Need Our Diesel Engine Just In case Of Power Failure 😭😿

[@m7express774]

Omg this is literally my favorite peak train on the Ronkonkoma Branch. Absolutely love it.

[@3985uprr]

The Main Line. I hate it being referred to as the Ronkonkoma Branch. I prefer to call it the Ronkonkoma Service

[@evangouldtransit]

@@3985uprr i agree with this. same with the so called "Babylon Branch."

[@m7express774]

@@3985uprr mainline yes lol. That’s my favorite peak express train on the mainline.

[@jameskerner7782]

Back in the 70's, I used to take a train out of Penn Station to Far Rockaway that was what I would call a super express. It left from track 17 at 5:33 PM with the first stop being Valley Steam then all stops to Far Rockaway. It got in at 6:19PM. Then, went into the yard. If I remember correctly, there were only 4 trains from Penn Station to Far Rockaway. A much different story today.

[@robertcantore330]

I rode this train a few years ago before the pandemic was the best LIRR ride ever for me!!!

[@evangouldtransit]

29:28 fun fact: Floral Park station used to be called Stewart Junction, Hinsdale, and East Hinsdale when the station on the Creedmoor Branch was still active. all three names were used between 1878 and 1890.

[@JosephFeleppa]

There is a lot of construction going on around the Ronkonkoma station. Growing up it was just a row of stores across the street from the station, and I remember when that bridge over Ronkonkoma Avenue used to be a 2 lane wooden bridge!

[@evangouldtransit]

32:54 Flying Yankee's return trip living up to his nickname

[@3985uprr]

Yes. That was his train wasn’t it

[@thephantomeagle2]

Did this train start at the newly opened part of Grand Central?

[@3985uprr]

Yes. LIRR Grand Central Terminal

[@thephantomeagle2]

@@3985uprr That should be a huge boon for NYC. Penn has always been so cramped, pulling these trains out and putting them at Grand Central give Penn more room. Plus gives LIRR passengers so many more options

[@MikeL0084]

I just don't understand how an express train like that is 1 hr and 18 minutes to Ronkonkoma but a local Ronkonkoma train such as the 6:14pm is only 2 minutes longer (??)

[@3985uprr]

There is padding in the schedules. More time than needed

[@evangouldtransit]

Yankee needs this train.!!!!

[@ariesarethebest271]

I agree.

[@wenopyuhe6742]

Yes the flying yankee should really be driving this train so then it will be a super sonic rocket to Ronkonkoma with the flying yankee piloting the train and rail fans could get a nice shot of him and the train going at a super sonic speed

[@javierreyes4803]

Either Flying Yankee, Spaghetti and Meatballs or King of Queens need this run. I have a friend of mine who’s a train engineer but he only does it for stand by (filling in).

[@9tomato9]

Is that huge GRAFFITI on the tunnel wall at 7:21? How the heck is that permitted to happen?

[@Mahees_230]

I used to ride that train every day in the late 90's when I worked in NYC. It was the 5:41 "super express" to Ronkonkoma with a connection to the Greenport train departing from Penn on track 19. I remember the time the train stopped in a gap outside Jamaica and the whole carriage went silent. You could hear a pin drop. This train only stopped at Hicksville, Central Islip and Ronkonkoma. Looks like the Jamaica and Brentwood stop was added and the Hicksville stop was removed. Kinda sad to see that now it originates at GCT rather than Penn. I bet its no longer a connection to Greenport. For everyone going east of Ronkonkoma, they're on their own.

[@KINGTO101]

From what I heard, it isn't I think an earlier service around 5:04 I think out of Penn connects with Greenport...someone correct me if I'm wrong

[@broyofroyo1207]

@@KINGTO101it was 5 04 from Jamaica until they changed it to 5 39 on 5/22/2023

[@KINGTO101]

@@broyofroyo1207 ahhh gotcha

[@johnburke1317]

Nice video

[@jimpern]

Considering all the complaints I've heard about windows in M7s, is there any possibility that they will be replaced? SEPTA had to replace the windows in all of one generation of Silverliner cars for the same reason.

[@democraticpatriot2657]

Does Holban yard still exist? Back in the 1950s a freight would come down to West Hempstead 3 times a week to service the old team track yard there. It originated from/returned to Holban yard.

[@matthewhernandez8342]

Wow the platforms at Grand Central Madison look so crisp and clean. It's too bad they can't fit the double decker canonballs down there.

[@RoyalRoverTales]

Awesome ride!

[@KINGTO101]

Damn I remember that 5:41 train out of Penn I think it was nonstop to Hicksville then Central Islip(Brentwood added later) and Ronkonkoma..wasn't that also the Greenport connection train??....I'm sorry but I miss the Express trains that also skipped Jamaica as well

[@ENTERTAINMENT35]

Wasn't the time 5:41 out of Penn to Ronkonkoma way before the pandemic? I rode it plenty of times and remember it stopping at Hicksville (where I always got on and it would always be 5 minutes early) Then Brentwood/CI/Ronk

[@christophercancel934]

Is that the line you take to get home?

[@3985uprr]

It’s an adjacent line. I don’t really live near Ronkonkoma. It’s about a 30 minute drive.

[@nosaya3]

Is there an order of the most desirable runs among the veteran engineers?

[@3985uprr]

They can pick jobs to their liking better than a newer engineer

[@nosaya3]

@@3985uprr great video. I don’t remember consistent 80mph speeds as shown here when I frequented Penn to Ronkonkoma in the early 2000’s. Way before all double track east of Farmingdale.

[@3985uprr]

@@nosaya3 This train has a pretty clear path

[@NickyD]

been saying for years KO needs more express about time now only if they added this on weekends

[@artiebreland7162]

Love your narrated tour of the various LIRR branches. Give me more. Thanks

[@paulmonk427]

enjoy your posts now listen to caig dumcan another interesting subject . really enjoying the trtains

[@javierreyes4803]

Before Ronkonkoma Rocket, there was train 2066 from Penn and Wyandanch was their 1st stop

[@KINGTO101]

That sounds like the old 5:22pm out of Penn, I liked that service alot

[@javierreyes4803]

@@KINGTO101 same but never got to ride them

[@scottyerkes1867]

Great ride on the Ronkonkama Rocket. Thanks Tim😀💚

[@ryanconnelly3685]

When you said we could see some trash containers on the track above, I thought to myself, now what would Silverliner IVs be doing on Long Island???

[@3985uprr]

Good one!!!

[@joanne-n3b]

nice history of the WALL

[@edkammerman2533]

Happy Saint Patrick's Day Tim 😊

[@KINGTO101]

Hold up I never seen an eastbound train arrive at Jamaica on track 3..this is a first for me

[@3985uprr]

Since to Brooklyn trains now use tracks 11 and 12 at frees up track 3 for eastbounds

[@KINGTO101]

I looked online and noticed one schedule for both Ronkonkoma and Huntington from Grand Central actually bypass Jamaica(4:54pm to Ronkonkoma and 5:33pm tto Huntington), both non stop to Mineola. I didnt know they brought back at least one of them to bypass Jamaica. Unless thats an error.

[@3985uprr]

That is correct.

[@KINGTO101]

@@3985uprr oh snap I gotta soon experience those particular services lol. Mta, to me needs to put a few more Huntington service(maybe like 2 more) express for the Main Line on pm rush hours

[@mattdiaz1006]

We need more Gloveman!

[@jamallhayden2512]

Thank You!

[@smacwhinnie]

+/- 1990 I recall an express from Penn that was 59 min to Ronkonkoma. I think it only stopped in Jamaica. Few summers ago took a Sunday afternoon train back from Geeenport. Only did about 35 mph. Connecting train in Ronkonkoma stopped pretty much everywhere. Not a great ride.

[@stanstas8354]

Originally scheduled to be 59 minutes...they wanted a train under an hour

[@3985uprr]

That was for a morning train but it couldn’t keep the schedule.

[@stanstas8354]

@@3985uprr i know! I rode it !

[@3985uprr]

@@stanstas8354 they might have an easier time doing it now with the second track built and the third track built as long as there weren’t a lot of trains ahead of it

[@bobainsworth5057]

If this is second fastest what is the longest?

[@Robbi496]

Looking forward to some videos from New Haven to Penn Station Metro North Trains!

[@michaelpeterson8334]

It’s just strange where you don’t feel the curse.

[@kevinhoward9593]

2:53 brand new station and the escalator is already broken?

[@langr752]

I really dont like change… like i wont know what to do if i ever end up at grand central… im a penn guy…last 35 years… i dont really want to learn the back of my hand again ya know…

[@3985uprr]

You will get used to it

[@Touchybanana]

I wish SEPTA cared more about the railroad like the MTA does.

[@Jeff-uj8xi]

SEPTA is a 'bus' company. That's what they really care about. Another operation that looks upon rail kindly is N. J. Transit. In the case of NJT, buses are the stepchild. But actually, I think it should all be equal. There really shouldn't be favorites. Each mode has its place. It should be a unified, coordinated system. Each mode; railroad, light rail and bus should work together.