Morris Park Facility

In the heart of Queens, nestled amidst the urban sprawl, lies the Morris Park Facility. It’s not a glamorous landmark, not a place typically featured on postcards. But for those who know where to look, the Morris Park Facility whispers tales of a bygone era, of steam engines and bustling rail yards. The Morris Park Facility, officially opened in 1889, wasn’t always just a maintenance yard. It began life as a vibrant passenger station, a crucial link in the Long Island Rail Road’s Atlantic Branch. Imagine the hustle and bustle of commuters, the hiss of steam, the clatter of arriving and departing trains. Those original wooden platforms, though now employee-only, still exist. Each just two cars long, they stand as silent witnesses to the past, lit only by flashlights signaling trains to stop. The Morris Park Facility has undergone a significant transformation. What was once a bustling passenger hub has evolved into a vital maintenance and refueling center for the railroad’s diesel and electro-diesel locomotives. The iconic roundhouse, a relic of the steam age, was lovingly renovated in 2018, ensuring its place in the modern era. This 21-acre facility now houses a locomotive shed, sidings, and the all-important Morris Park Locomotive Shop, home to the EMD DE30AC and DM30AC locomotives. A unique feature of the Morris Park Facility is its operational turntable, one of only four remaining on the entire Long Island Rail Road system. While the others at Riverhead, Oyster Bay, and Greenport serve as historical artifacts, the Morris Park turntable continues to perform its vital function. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of the railroad. The original Morris Park passenger station met its demise in 1939. A victim of progress, it was demolished as part of a grade elimination project. The tracks were lowered, the station disappeared, and a piece of Queens’ history faded into memory. Even the efforts of local residents to have an underground station built were thwarted by the infamous Robert Moses. Yet, remnants of the past persist. The 1889 yard office and engine shops, divided into front and back shops, still stand. Though part of the back shops was demolished during a 2009 reconstruction, the front shops and yard office endure, a tangible link to the facility’s rich history. So the next time you find yourself in Queens, remember the Morris Park Facility. It’s a place where the echoes of the past mingle with the hum of the present. A place where the spirit of the railroad lives on, not in the roar of passenger trains, but in the quiet dedication of maintaining the machines that keep the rails alive.