Approximately 45 people joined us for a return visit to the LIRR Hillside and Morris Park facilities. The Hillside tour got off to a shaky start when the security procedure proved time-consuming, but our hosts, Andrea and Chris, made up for the delay in providing an efficient tour of the facility while providing us with great photograph opportunities at the end of the visit. Joe, our host at Morris Park, was extremely hospitable in showing us the various sections of the Morris Park facility while giving us ample time and latitude to take all the pictures we wanted, including a visit to the graveyard, which contained some interesting retired equipment. We thank the LIRR for a very enjoyable trip.
The N.Y. Division of the ERA is pleased to announce a repeat of 2009’s hugely popular day of visits to two Long Island Rail Road facilities: the Hillside Maintenance Complex in Hollis, Queens, and the Morris Park Facility just west of Jamaica Station. This trip will be on Saturday, August 6, 2011. The Hillside Complex consists of a Maintenance Facility, a Support Complex and a Wheel Truing and Car Servicing Facility. Morris Park is a maintenance facility focused on the diesel fleet. Although final details have not yet been worked out with the LIRR, we assume we will first visit Hillside, return to Jamaica for lunch (on your own), and then reconvene at Morris Park.
All attendees will meet in the ticket office at the Jamaica LIRR Station, which is at street level on the west side of Sutphin Boulevard, just south of Archer Avenue, no later than 9:45 AM Division member Sid Keyles will be there to greet you. We are still working on final details for our trip over to the Hillside Complex, but anticipate we will all be led aboard a regular service train that will drop us off at the Hillside Station (which is restricted to employees and guests). In anticipation of the need for security clearance for all attendees, please make certain to have a photo ID in your possession.
Transportation to Jamaica Station from your home is, of course, on your own. You can reach that station by LIRR from Penn Station, Woodside, Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, and many other locations. Jamaica Station can also be reached by E and J subway trains to Sutphin Boulevard and by many local buses. It is expected that the visit and tour to both facilities will last approximately until mid-afternoon. Please note that the trip will end at the Morris Park facility at Atlantic Avenue and 121st Street in Queens.
Ticket Price: $25 Per Person
Join us for a very special visit and tour of two important maintenance facilities operated by LIRR in the New York metropolitan region. The ticket price of $25 includes transportation between Jamaica Station and Hillside and the tour of the Hillside and Morris Park facilities. Transportation between Jamaica and Morris Park will be at your cost. This visit and tour operates rain or shine.