The Bay Ridge Branch

[@basictransportenthusiast4386]

As an outsider who knows a little bit about the NYC subway, I had no idea the LIRR was filled with so much history

[@eottoe2001]

Me, too. For one thing I didn't know the LIRR was still operating freight.

[@dgrullon9596]

You could mention that the Bay Ridge Branch was also part of the possible extension to Staten Island by Mayor Hylan. There are tunnel entrances dugged up in Owl's Head Park, not far from Bay Ridge station. The intent was to have a tunnel from Bay Ridge Brooklyn to St. George, Staten Island. Connecting the SIR to the LIRR and the D or R Train. You can also mention that this line is being viewed as a possible "X train" for the Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx Tri Borough connection using the Freight/Amtrak lines. The line has an entire Right-of-Way, so it is very important and still widely used for trains.

[@Mr2Floss]

where in owls head park ill go visit

[@fh4709]

3:59 the good o’l East NY freight tunnels. Me and a couple of buddies walk the thing every now and then from ENY to bushwick. Honestly it’s fun as hell

[@RideoutB]

Walking the line is always fun but miserable when it snows (tried it once never again)

[@seaburni7225]

@@RideoutB walked it after the hurricane that happened late this summer my shoes were soaked

[@Nitty290]

Is it legal or trespassing

[@clevernamegotban1752]

@@Nitty290 so not 100% sure but from my knowledge it's an "active" freight line so most certainly trespassing but as far as I know there's not much traffic so you probably wouldn't be seen as long as you aren't making yourself seen or heard.

[@fh4709]

@@Nitty290 this is where it gets weird. It technically is trespassing but there were a few times a freight train saw us but didn’t say anything. One time they even waved at us as we took a picture. So it technically is trespassing BUT the workers don’t seem to mind as long as you don’t get in their way. Though every worker is different and I don’t condone breaking the law so be careful

[@666kr]

The last time I checked you can see part of the Parkview station where the tracks go under McDonald Ave. The station is attached to a building.

[@fredleserowitz3895]

There was also an interlocking between the South Brooklyn RR running on grade on McDonald Avenue with one interchange track going south coming from the west and a second coming north going eastbound. The guest's tramway is now Shoprite's parking lot and he second is the truck rental across the street with a corrugated gate blocking the ramp down to the ROW

[@democraticpatriot2657]

Back in the 1950s I took a railfan excursion of the LIRR sponsored by the Branford Electric Railway, whatever that was. Anyway, the train was drawn by steam, and it went to Bay Ridge among other places. At that time there was catenary along the New York Connecting Railway extending to Bay Ridge, probably due to connection with the New Haven rwy. I recall a LIRR electric switcher at Bay Ridge with pantograph and snapped a photo. Oh how I wish I still had the photo of that switcher!

[@fredleserowitz3895]

Branford Electric Railway is a trolley museum in East Haven, CT that has gone through a number of name changes. The Bay Ridge Branch became the NYCRR and was jointly owned by the NYC, which owned the NYNHH and PRR which owned the LIRR, for the purpose of floating fright cars across the Harbor and the either servicing LI, NYC or sending them up to New England. This was a short cut, rather thsn using the Pooughkeepsie Bridge of the NYNHH or gping up to Albany on the NYC. The PRR didn't send freight through PennSta NY.

[@whereisthedollar]

@@fredleserowitz3895 Portions of this route where double tracked back then too from ENY to BR. Freight ran quite frequent daily in the early 60's.

[@jimkaplan]

Thanks for your efforts in making this series. (NB: please note that New Utrecht is pronounced by Brooklynites as New Yootrekt)

[@ernestosantini7134]

Yes!! and some Brooklyn natives say "new youtrikked." The fictional HS on "Welcome Back Kotter" was based on New Utrecht HS.

[@oofyalDAMMIT]

Really interesting video, I just love exploring old parts of NYC I guess, I don't actually urban explore-but I do find these artifacts interesting. Glad you did one on the Rockaway Beach Branch one, I always have looked up and around where I live see the old bridges, and then one day I found out what they were used for. WOw!

[@iamtreyevans]

Great stuff.. It took me forever to figure this out. I always wonder which trains used those elevated platforms.

[@qolspony]

Even though the video was very short, this was the best explanation of the Bayridge Branch that I heard so far. Hopefully at some point you could.do.a part two. Reason? This is the line under major consideration of being built for public rail transportation. And that put it ahead of every other abandoned line you spoke of previously.

[@MagicMike-rd8mz]

Goodmorning Sir. And thanks for the history of LIRR Bay Ridge Branch . Do you know that might end comming back . But as the Interboro Express From Jackson Hts to Bay Ridge

[@sillytoy1]

The Bay Ridge Line will most likely never see anything more then what is there now. With the oil pipeline there ( that's the reason second track was taken out ). I remember when they serviced the coal yard on McDonald and Elmwood The ramp was there for years now they built on it. They also had right next to it the Parkville Terminal ( where Shoprite is now ). They had a freight station there and they interchanged with the South Brooklyn Railroad. Steeple cabs used to go into the yard and pick up the new subway cars and bring them to Coney Island Yard and Freight cars too were picked up for customers along the line. Where the track crossed Ave. I there was a factory ( believe it was named Shecks ) they had 2 sidings that handled 1 car each and was serviced with a crossing ( 2 switches on the track coming in to the yard from the Ave. There was freight platforms parallel with the main line and a passing siding so locos can push the cars in properly. Have photos somewhere.

[@antoniocognato5023]

Nope. Article online today. They are re opening it. Bay ridge to jackson heights/woodside. As a shuttle!!!

[@danielclark4624]

5:43 Hey, I know I am late, but you are dead right with the old Bay Ridge Station location. It was slightly to the west underneath the current tower. I did some work with those two Towers a few months ago, and was able to access the old sanborn maps from when the line was active, and the station was shown as a small platform and small bridge.

[@MagicMike-rd8mz]

What's up Bro. And thanks for making this great video of the Bay Ridge Branch. The Bay Ridge Branch may end up coming back as a Interboro Express. The New governor was talking about that MTA may be looking into bring it back witch will cut down traveling time between Brooklyn and Queens. For the public !!!!

[@CyanChrysocolla]

What do you think of the proposal to reactivate the branch for passenger service? (Triboro RX)

[@travelinnewyork2988]

I think it’s a great way to connect the Bronx to Brooklyn without having to take the subway.

[@qolspony]

I don't.think he cares one way or another. All he cares is the history of these lines or what use to exist. So call him a history buff.

[@stevenroshni1228]

I think they should extend it to Astoria and the Bronx during nights and weekends (with the eventual hope of make it full time if technology increases capacity). Bronx Queens and Brooklyn to LGA (via transfer to an extended N/W train) needs to be much better.

[@theguyfromnyc654]

Cant wait for this to be the interborough express

[@jaydottt_transitfanner]

1:15 I think that branch goes somewhere near Avenue H on the Q I was wondering why I saw un-electrified tracks under a bridge near the station

[@bits2956]

i know that area. Its for cargo trains.

[@fredleserowitz3895]

That is the Bay Ridge Branch

[@stevenroshni1228]

The line passes directly under the Q train station. There's space for stairs elevators and platforms, almost as if it was meant to be a transfer point...

[@JohnLarsenJL]

The Bay Ridge line ends at Upper New York Bay not the East River. LIC station is close to the East River by comparison. Great videos!

[@RareCameoFan]

This line is gonna be reactivated as the Interborough Express (IBX) to Jackson Heights- Roosevelt Avenue

[@redbird1train855]

Is there a source for this info?

[@RareCameoFan]

The MTA said

[@Flash_Warn1ng]

I learned so much from you keep up the good work man

[@alexisgonzalez9175]

Keep up the good work !

[@busfannerchris]

And now the Triboro Rx is in the works. Nice vid

[@geniuswithacapitalk]

With everything going exactly perfect (meaning the least amount of delays) we can expect it to be finished in about 20-30 years. The second avenue line has already taken 10 years to develop 3 stations so figure a full line to take about twice that long to complete.

[@drakeil]

Hopefully these stations will return if and when the line is rebuilt as the Interboro Express.

[@BlenderheadByran]

I live in Woodside Queens right next to where the tracks go north towards the Amtrak in Astoria. Do you know why the tracks extended that much beyond fresh pond Rd? Did the LIRR go that far north?Will you be doing a video on that next?

[@nobleroman1133]

Nice work ! Just when you ended it in bay ridge you said the east river , ,,,,, , wrong ! At this point we're still in the Narrows , at the entrance to NY harbor , the east river is going up the Eastside of NYC , thus - the east river. But overall a good job except for the mispronunciation of new utrecht , but I'll cut you some slack because you have to be an old timer like myself and brooklynite ,,,,,, I'm looking forward to seeing more videos, thanks for sharing.

[@railfansammy4974]

nice what days does this train Run on

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

You didn’t mention that the New York, New Haven & Hartford used to operate electrified freight service on the bay ridge branch

[@stevenroshni1228]

DMK - AGR 2021 KZbin channel has a video where they go into the tunnel. From the footage at least there doesn't appear to be a platform where Fulton Street is written predominantly on the wall. Despite being directly below the A/C platforms, most proposals for passenger service return, do not include include it as a stop. One of the main selling points for the passenger service is that it's inexpensive, making it part of Broadway Junction would probably cost more than all of the other stations and trackage combined. The MTA has yet to make any decisions. 3min 25sec into: "Exploring Bay Ridge Branch abandoned LIRR New York Tunnels + Old East New York station".

[@dougleclaire9424]

I don't' know what it is. Don't assume. I live in Ditmas Park and there is a track that runs through Midwood out to Bay Ridge I think

[@Sparkey069]

So you missed the station 'Parkville Station' & The Actual Station that still exists at the Brooklyn Amy Terminal! You can visit the station at the Brooklyn Army Terminal Too...

[@86Crisp]

This is about to blow up

[@Trerockstar221]

So what was that other line (Blue line)

[@ianproduction2]

I seen that track before many times but I don't know what's this for.

[@afterthefox]

new what rect ave???...its pronounced u-treck...love ur videos...

[@antoniocognato5023]

Big article today. Lirr is gonna open up the bay ridge branch. Bay ridge to jackson heights/woodside!

[@ecuador.mapping3953]

The bay ridge branch is gonna be the inter bourgh express right?

[@travelinnewyork2988]

Correct!!

[@VianoMusicAcademy]

Great video. You’re doing God’s work. Or at least a really good train critic’s.

[@r179ctrain_foamer4]

I like how we have the same pfp

[@qolspony]

I never heard Utrecht spoken like this before. Maybe Ive been miss pronouncing it all these years. I always said U Rich Avenue. Sorry. 😐

[@captainkeyboard1007]

A late time to upload this motion picture is better than no time.

[@michaelmorales1475]

The Triboro RX.

[@michaelmorales1475]

Or The Interborough Express lol.

[@someonerandom8726]

There bringing the Branch back But it’s going from ba ridge to Woodside

[@garyeisenberg4251]

Someone long overdue train inc

[@ukkfayooyay]

New Utrecht is pronounced YOU-trek.

[@paulsheridan424]

Correct, originally after the city in Holland, Utrecht. The English version is here, followed by the Dutch. But being the US we would use the English pronunciation

[@craigcohen8654]

I guess the governor just oked to reopen this line

[@BMTEnjoyer160]

I already know all of it lol

[@BMTEnjoyer160]

Hmm he has 456 subs squid game lol

[@NJT7023]

I hate squid game

[@TheStig_TG]

Your so funny hahahaha

[@NJT7023]

No im serius lol Sorry if i spelled "serius" wrong but hahah

[@garyeisenberg4251]

It’s about time bay ridge trip super line double r

[@garyeisenberg4251]

And we can’t go to manacello by by train

[@dock_yard1149]

Where???

[@paulsheridan424]

Good videos, but please work on your "enunciation" of words...slow down, get a better product!

[@kalinystazvoruna8702]

Ut-ritch? Ut-RITCH??? It's properly pronounced You-trick. As in New You-trick avneue. You obviously never grew up in either Bay Ridge or went to New Utrecht High School !