Exploring the old Abandoned LIRR Montauk Cutoff

Filmed on 10/10/22
I’ve wanted to explore this line for the longest, and when I went to catch 2705s final seasonal arrival into Hunterspoint Av, I decided it was also a perfect opportunity to explore this bold right of way. As you can clearly see it’s excessively overgrown but it’s walkable, also very cool to see 2 old singles still standing which is always a pleasure to see. Sadly this line won’t see any more trains, but at least it’s still here. I didn’t go to far past Dutch Kills (in the beginning of the video) because if you go further you’ll be in New York & Atlantic territory, so I avoided going down there.
The Montauk Cutoff was created around 1908. The original purpose of the line was to connect Montauk trains to Sunnyside Yard. After awhile, the line was primarily used by freight trains. The cutoff was also used as a wye track to turn diesel locomotives around, since there was no turntable. Since there was no cab car in the past, westbound trains would first discharge their passengers and the locomotives would run around the cutoff that way it can pull the train for eastbound service. But in the late 1990s (around 1997-1998) the new C3 cab cars & DE/DM30ACs were being delivered which meant they didn’t need the use of the Cutoff. When the MTA sold the LIRR’s freight division, the New York & Atlantic took over and started to use the line. But unfortunately around 2012-2014, the NYAR ceased operations on the cutoff, and as of this day the line currently sits abandoned. In 2015 the MTA announced that it was decommissioning the Montauk Cutoff. They also announced that they were trying to seek any concepts for future use, but nothing was ever mentioned again, and the cutoff that lead into Sunnyside Yards was demolished to expand space for the East Side Access.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

That would make a perfect for a 'Light Rail' line.

[@johnmoore7926]

That's tracks that felt underappreciated. New York State could have rebuilt all the abandoned tracks left by the LIRR in Queens and Brooklyn just to create a different commuter rail service that's cheaper than LIRR prices for city travel, but more than the subway cost. Places such as Bay Ridge, Far Rockaway, Long Island City, and Floral Park would benefit from it along with servicing the UBS Arena for Islander games.

[@johnmoore7926]

Amtrak shares tracks with MetroNorth and New Jersey Transit. This new commuter agency can occupy tracks LIRR don't want or share with LIRR freight only line along with sharing tracks with LIRR, but just to service Queens and Brooklyn and service UBS arena if needed.

[@johnmoore7926]

@@Railoffroader2 Service areas that aren't really being served.

[@qjtvaddict]

@@johnmoore7926 NO it’s called new metro lines sir

[@Railoffroader2]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[@dereklouther9372]

@@Railoffroader2creates more titles for unnecessarily easy jobs but people get paid so it makes everyone happy

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

It’s a line to nowhere. when sunnyside was a big freight yard it was an alternative route to send freight trains to eastern LI while avoiding the mainline to Jamaica. But the yard is long gone and the line is a needless left over that had its western connection severed

[@jonathanng2390]

I remember seeing a short NY & Atlantic freight train descending down this viaduct into what was left of Yard A back in 2000. This was also the last time I took the LIRR before moving out of NY for good.

[@brianfalzon6739]

That Montauk cutoff line deserves to be restored in the future!

[@TonyP9279]

Yes, that used to be nice before The Montauk monster destroyed everything. It was great, the riders would just have to imagine the station they wanted to go to and the train would magically arrive there!

[@brianfalzon6739]

@@TonyP9279 I agree

[@soulmate07748]

Excellent video. And an excellent explanation of the history in your introduction above. Thank you!

[@HarrisonPeloso]

i still find it sad this line got discontinued after a very long time

[@csx8851]

Woah these are some awesome shots my dude! Lots of great history on the tracks you were on!

[@ajsrailfanning]

Thanks Bro! History indeed!

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

I understand the viaduct had to come down to make room for all of the new layup tracks for trains going to grand central madison.

[@golfberg1]

As a kid I'd see Freight on that line !

[@thenewyorkrailfan]

The NYA should use this track to store locomotives or cars if bliss yard fills up

[@TonyP9279]

That looks like the same type of third rail that Chicago transit uses; closer to the running rails, top-contact for the drop-sled type of pickup.

[@golfberg1]

Freight Trackage

[@kadijasummaya3885]

Hi, can you please please please tell me where the starting line is? Like how do I get in? What street is the beginning of the track on? I’ve been searching for this for so long.

[@ajsrailfanning]

Try looking at Skillman Av, u might find something

[@grazz7865]

The tracks going over that wooden bridge is amazing. I guess the only reason for those tracks was because they couldn’t bring the diesels into the tunnel to penn station. So, LIC was as close as you could get. Or was there another purpose?

[@danielb3293]

Rip the abandoned m2s that lived there

[@lucaslucas2933]

Oh they got rid of them? Damn

[@HarrisonPeloso]

that was a very sad day

[@jbrande55]

It should be cleaned up and restored !!!

[@Urbex_Undergroundexploring22]

Where is this?

[@golfberg1]

Long Island City (Queens)

[@dwdwone]

Is that LI City? I know Montauk doesn't have a skyline.