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Tom Beckett's Collection
 
5/6/2024
 
 
 
 
 
By:Tom Beckett
Dates:1/1/1977 - 3/1/2013
Album Info:Covers Long Island RR freight operations primarily in the 1980's. Power during this time period was mostly the 8 remaining C420's from the 1968 order, numbered 222-229, equipped with Hi Ad trucks. MP15AC's were also used in freight service, and rotated in and out from passenger service, so any of the 23 units, 150-172, could appear.
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Rolling into the station
Title:  Rolling into the station
Description:  RF 62 rolls into Medford behind the usual pair of Alcos. Thats NY 112 down below.
Photo Date:  6/8/1987  Upload Date: 5/5/2015 1:28:58 AM
Location:  Medford, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Action
Locomotives:  LI 228(C420) LI 225(C420)
Views:  341   Comments: 0
Getting it together
Title:  Getting it together
Description:  RF 62 put their train together at Pine Aire before heading east.
Photo Date:  6/8/1987  Upload Date: 5/5/2015 1:34:09 AM
Location:  Pine Aire, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  LI 228(C420) LI 225(C420)
Views:  278   Comments: 0
Made the split
Title:  Made the split
Description:  RF 64 rolls up the Port Jefferson Branch after making the split off the Main Line. Divide Tower, which controls the interlockings at Hicksville, can be seen at left.
Photo Date:  6/11/1987  Upload Date: 5/2/2015 11:53:07 PM
Location:  Hicksville, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  LI 150(MP15AC) LI 154(MP15AC)
Views:  567   Comments: 0
Fifteen cars east
Title:  Fifteen cars east
Description:  A pair of MP 15s, common power on RF 64/65, roll east through the Syosset station with 15 cars. Freights always look a little odd going past the high level platforms.
Photo Date:  6/11/1987  Upload Date: 5/2/2015 11:57:55 PM
Location:  Syosset, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Action
Locomotives:  LI 150(MP15AC) LI 154(MP15AC)
Views:  589   Comments: 0
Headed back
Title:  Headed back
Description:  RF 65, the westbound symbol on the turn out of Hicksville, rolls through Huntington in an effort to beat the rush hour back to its base.
Photo Date:  6/11/1987  Upload Date: 5/3/2015 1:26:05 AM
Location:  Huntington, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  LI 154(MP15AC) LI 150(MP15AC)
Views:  643   Comments: 0
South Shore bound
Title:  South Shore bound
Description:  RF 64 heads east on the Main Line, having just passed Divde Tower. It will stay on the main to B Tower in Bethpage, then the Central Branch to Babylon, then work east on the Montauk Branch. The pair of MP 15s is typical power for this job.
Photo Date:  6/16/1987  Upload Date: 5/3/2015 12:56:37 AM
Location:  Hicksville, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  LI 154(MP15AC) LI 157(MP15AC)
Views:  399   Comments: 0
East end bound
Title:  East end bound
Description:  RF 62 has passed the east end of the Ronkonkoma yard and is bound for Riverhead.
Photo Date:  6/16/1987  Upload Date: 2/12/2012 11:16:10 PM
Location:  Ronkonkoma, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  LI 228(C420) LI 225(C420)
Views:  557   Comments: 0
Stone to Holtsville
Title:  Stone to Holtsville
Description:  RF 56, a weekend train that ran the Main Line, rolls through B Towers interlocking with 35 cars of stone for Prema Asphalt in Holtsville. They were a big seasonal customer on the LIRR, getting several trainloads of stone per week from a quarry in Connecticut via the P&W. The track in the foreground is the Central Branch, which runs to a connection with the Babylon Branch just west of the Babylon station. It is used by RF 64/65 and a host of commuter trains.
Photo Date:  8/29/1987  Upload Date: 5/25/2015 1:50:54 AM
Location:  Bethpage, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  LI 223(C420) LI 224(C420)
Views:  331   Comments: 1
RF 56
Title:  RF 56
Description:  Weekend train RF 56 rolls through the east side of Hicksville on the Main Line on its way east with 35 cars of stone for Prema Asphalt.
Photo Date:  8/29/1987  Upload Date: 5/25/2015 1:52:12 AM
Location:  Hicksville, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  LI 223(C420) LI 224(C420)
Views:  339   Comments: 0
Waiting for tomorrow
Title:  Waiting for tomorrow
Description:  A pair of MP 15s and caboose wait at Pinelawn "yard office" for the next days action.
Photo Date:  10/29/1987  Upload Date: 6/12/2015 3:33:50 AM
Location:  Pinelawn, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  LI 156(MP15AC)
Views:  214   Comments: 0
A good start
Title:  A good start
Description:  If you like Alco smoke!! RF 63 gets underway toward Ronkonkoma with a whole 16 cars, getting up to speed quickly with the usual show of power Alco is famous for.
Photo Date:  10/29/1987  Upload Date: 6/12/2015 3:28:12 AM
Location:  Yaphank, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  LI 223(C420) LI 225(C420)
Views:  446   Comments: 0
Working the siding
Title:  Working the siding
Description:  RF 63 works its cars on the siding at Yaphank as the late day sun lights up the power. Block station YA is at far right, one of many to use its telegraph call sign into the digital age.
Photo Date:  10/29/1987  Upload Date: 6/12/2015 3:32:18 AM
Location:  Yaphank, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  LI 223(C420) LI 225(C420)
Views:  219   Comments: 0
View from below
Title:  View from below
Description:  The LIRR ran cross lot through the oddly shaped neighborhoods of western Queens, crossing most streets on overpasses, such as this one at Cypress Hills St. A local with an SW 1001is wokring overhead.
Photo Date:  11/18/1987  Upload Date: 6/11/2015 2:56:45 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  LI 102(SW1001)
Views:  326   Comments: 0
RF 62
Title:  RF 62
Description:  One of the more obscure places on the Island is Calverton. Location of a National Cemetery, it is a backwater on the LIRR. RF 62 passes en route to Riverhead.
Photo Date:  11/22/1987  Upload Date: 2/12/2012 11:25:06 PM
Location:  Calverton, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  LI 229(C420) LI 224(C420)
Views:  363   Comments: 0
Caboose hop
Title:  Caboose hop
Description:  RF 57 is running caboose light as it passes through Mineola on its way to Fresh Pond.
Photo Date:  12/20/1987  Upload Date: 6/17/2015 1:59:12 AM
Location:  Mineola, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Action
Locomotives:  LI 156(MP15AC) LI 225(C420)
Views:  400   Comments: 0
Headed for Fresh Pond
Title:  Headed for Fresh Pond
Description:  RF 57 has finished its work for the day and is headed through Floral Park on its way to tie up.
Photo Date:  1/10/1988  Upload Date: 6/24/2015 4:19:24 AM
Location:  Floral Park, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Station,Action
Locomotives:  LI 225(C420) LI 227(C420)
Views:  293   Comments: 0
Working the siding
Title:  Working the siding
Description:  RF 57 is working the printer at New Hyde Park, switching cars in and out on the long siding there. Hell spend 30 minutes going back and forth before getting everything placed and pulled.
Photo Date:  1/10/1988  Upload Date: 6/24/2015 4:21:52 AM
Location:  New Hyde Park, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Station,Action
Locomotives:  LI 225(C420) LI 227(C420)
Views:  361   Comments: 0
Walking it back
Title:  Walking it back
Description:  RF 57s conductor is walking back with the shove to complete the work at the customer. He will shortly get permission out on the main to run to Fresh Pond.
Photo Date:  1/10/1988  Upload Date: 6/24/2015 4:25:32 AM
Location:  New Hyde Park, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Station,Action
Locomotives:  LI 225(C420) LI 227(C420)
Views:  262   Comments: 1
The show goes on
Title:  The show goes on
Description:  In the midst of all the hoopla surrounding the opening of the Ronkonkoma electrification, the freight work went on. RF 62 rolls east past the station behind the usual C 420s.
Photo Date:  1/18/1988  Upload Date: 6/22/2015 4:00:09 AM
Location:  Ronkonkoma, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Station,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  LI 229(C420) LI 223(C420)
Views:  470   Comments: 0
Union Hall St
Title:  Union Hall St
Description:  LIRR freights used a couple of tracks to the south of Jamaica station to pass the platforms. These tracks continued east to Holban Yard as running tracks. Here we see maid of all work on the west end of the railroad, RF 7, rolling back toward Fresh Pond on the running tracks as it approaches Hall tower in Jamaica. Union Hall St station, closed in the late 70s, once stood near this location.
Photo Date:  1/29/1988  Upload Date: 6/24/2015 3:43:33 AM
Location:  Jamaica, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  LI 153(MP15AC) LI 160(MP15AC)
Views:  352   Comments: 0
Working the yard area
Title:  Working the yard area
Description:  A side view of MP 15 154 and caboose in the Fresh Pond yard area, where they were working local traffic. Typical consist for local freight work.
Photo Date:  1/29/1988  Upload Date: 6/24/2015 3:45:48 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Action
Locomotives:  LI 154(MP15AC)
Views:  374   Comments: 0
Nose on
Title:  Nose on
Description:  The Fresh Pond yard job on a customer siding, in a nose view of the MP 15.
Photo Date:  1/29/1988  Upload Date: 6/24/2015 3:56:30 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Action
Locomotives:  LI 154(MP15AC)
Views:  306   Comments: 0
RF 7 working
Title:  RF 7 working
Description:  RF 7 reported at Yard A in Sunnyside, and worked the Montauk Branch to Jamaica, then as directed east of there. Here it is working at Fresh Pond before going to Holban.
Photo Date:  1/29/1988  Upload Date: 6/24/2015 4:06:41 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Yard,Action
Locomotives:  LI 160(MP15AC) LI 153(MP15AC)
Views:  401   Comments: 0
Headed for Holban
Title:  Headed for Holban
Description:  RF 7 rolls east at Maspeth past one of LIRRs position lights, a legacy of its PRR ownership.
Photo Date:  1/29/1988  Upload Date: 6/24/2015 4:15:23 AM
Location:  Maspeth, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  LI 160(MP15AC) LI 153(MP15AC)
Views:  401   Comments: 0
Oops!!
Title:  Oops!!
Description:  RF 7 had a problem while working the Conrail interchange at Fremont when some cars bit the ballast. Looks like a few of them bit pretty hard.
Photo Date:  2/5/1988  Upload Date: 6/27/2015 3:04:11 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond Junction, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  RollingStock,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  235   Comments: 0
RF 7
Title:  RF 7
Description:  RF 7 has pulled down the Bay Ridge branch for head room after picking up the Conrail interchange at Fresh Pond. It will soon find an unpleasant surprise, as several cars have derailed back at the switch to the LIRR at Fremont tower.
Photo Date:  2/5/1988  Upload Date: 6/27/2015 3:19:38 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  LI 157(MP15AC) LI 159(MP15AC)
Views:  333   Comments: 0
Working in the yard
Title:  Working in the yard
Description:  RF 7s power works at the east end of Fresh Pond yard, posing on the Cypress Hills St over pass before backing into the yard.
Photo Date:  2/6/1988  Upload Date: 6/27/2015 3:22:00 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Bridge,Action
Locomotives:  LI 159(MP15AC) LI 157(MP15AC)
Views:  395   Comments: 0
Delivering the cars
Title:  Delivering the cars
Description:  RF 7 rolls up the connecting track from the LIRR to drop cars for Conrail. The tower is the former New Haven Fremont tower, which once controlled a much busier section of railroad here.
Photo Date:  2/6/1988  Upload Date: 6/27/2015 3:25:30 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  LI 160(MP15AC) LI 153(MP15AC)
Views:  400   Comments: 0
Whiling away the hours
Title:  Whiling away the hours
Description:  An MP 15 and caboose cool their heels over the weekend at Pinelawn.
Photo Date:  2/13/1988  Upload Date: 6/27/2015 3:09:29 AM
Location:  Pinelawn, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  LI 150(MP15AC)
Views:  345   Comments: 0
New digs
Title:  New digs
Description:  The Ronkonkoma electrification project eliminated Pine Aire as a starting point for freights. The new reporting terminal for RF 62 and RF 91 is now Deer Park, with the office being in the old passenger station, seen in the distance at right. The elimination of most diesel trains on the line freed up a bunch of units, and MP 15s are now powering these trains, instead of the C 420s that had been doing the honors for many years prior. A pair of MP 15s is at the new starting point, waiting to go out with RF 62 to Riverhead.
Photo Date:  2/13/1988  Upload Date: 6/27/2015 3:17:05 AM
Location:  Deer Park, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Action
Locomotives:  LI 152(MP15AC) LI 158(MP15AC)
Views:  417   Comments: 0
Special load
Title:  Special load
Description:  One of LIRRs SW 1001s has a dimensional load behind the power on a depressed center flat. Must be valuable, they have it covered up.
Photo Date:  4/12/1988  Upload Date: 7/10/2015 3:55:38 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  LI 106(SW1001)
Views:  265   Comments: 0
RF 7
Title:  RF 7
Description:  Since the Ronkonkoma electrification, MP 15s had become the typical power on RF 7, as well as other trains. Heres a pair about to head east on the Montauk Branch at Fresh Pond.
Photo Date:  4/21/1988  Upload Date: 7/8/2015 4:03:58 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  LI 151(MP15AC) LI 157(MP15AC)
Views:  406   Comments: 0
Cars for Bay Ridge
Title:  Cars for Bay Ridge
Description:  A train working the Bay Ridge line heads past the old NH Fremont tower en route to Brooklyn behind an SW1001, which was a low clearance version of the SW 1000. Long Island was one of only a few roads to get this model
Photo Date:  6/2/1988  Upload Date: 7/16/2015 1:50:41 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  LI 104(SW1001)
Views:  350   Comments: 0
Working for the road
Title:  Working for the road
Description:  RF 7, the west end day freight, works at Fresh Pond, pulling cars down from Conrail on the overhead ex NH line. Trailing unit 167 is set up to work as a power pack on passenger trains. Here we see that such units are not exempt from freight service when the need arises.
Photo Date:  6/14/1988  Upload Date: 7/28/2015 2:27:38 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  LI 151(MP15AC) LI 167(MP15AC)
Views:  397   Comments: 0
RF 65
Title:  RF 65
Description:  RF 65 heads west toward Hicksville behind a pair of C 420s. When LIRR started building high level platforms at all its stations, it also built pedestrian overpasses, which opened up photo angles previously not available. Here, Im taking advantage of the the new overpass to get this panoramic view of Kings Park on the Port Jeff branch.
Photo Date:  6/14/1988  Upload Date: 2/12/2012 10:33:45 PM
Location:  Kings Park, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Action
Locomotives:  LI 223(C420)
Views:  479   Comments: 1
Yard freight drill
Title:  Yard freight drill
Description:  This SW 1001 was working the Fresh Pond yard. LIRR referred to its yard jobs as Yard Freight Drills, with a number. I think this one was YFD 301. Note the crewman riding the shove at far left. Basic railroading in those days.
Photo Date:  6/16/1988  Upload Date: 7/28/2015 2:23:59 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  LI 106(SW1001)
Views:  209   Comments: 0
Shoving back
Title:  Shoving back
Description:  RF 7 pushes its interchange cars for Conrail onto one of the "yard" tracks at Fremont, on the ex New Haven. WNOP17 will arrive shortly to make the swap with the LIRR.
Photo Date:  6/16/1988  Upload Date: 7/28/2015 2:31:09 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  LI 166(MP15AC) LI 152(MP15AC)
Views:  385   Comments: 0
Here comes Conrail
Title:  Here comes Conrail
Description:  The power for RF 7 sits to the side as WNOP17 arrives from Oak Point yard in the Bronx. Theyll swap cars and the CR job will be on its way back in 30 minutes. Since CR sold the Bay Ridge line to the LIRR several years earlier, the job from the Bronx is now a turn, since CR does not have to work the branch.
Photo Date:  6/16/1988  Upload Date: 7/28/2015 2:36:24 AM
Location:  Fresh Pond, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  LI 166(MP15AC) CR 2810(B23-7)
Views:  357   Comments: 0
No Garden
Title:  No Garden
Description:  RF 7 pulls past Garden tower as it comes off the Mitchell Field Secondary, one of the more industrial areas of the Island.
Photo Date:  6/16/1988  Upload Date: 7/28/2015 2:39:45 AM
Location:  Garden City, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  LI 166(MP15AC) LI 152(MP15AC)
Views:  520   Comments: 0
Sunday freight
Title:  Sunday freight
Description:  On Sunday Sep 10 1989, LIRR ran a fan trip that allowed fans to ride cabooses. It was well attended, and there were many chasers as well. The LIRR is a busy road, and normal activities went on as they always do. One such was weekend freight RF 60, seen here on the Montauk Branch with a pair of MP 15s. The caboose special would be along shortly.
Photo Date:  9/10/1989  Upload Date: 11/24/2015 4:47:40 AM
Location:  Richmond Hill, NY
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  LI 164(MP15AC) LI 152(MP15AC)
Views:  384   Comments: 0


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