Passenger Trains > BNSF varnish on crappy LIRR track

Subtitle:  Hauled by ratty MP15s

On Monday September 29, 2025, a quartet of LIRR's "immaculate" (cough cough) MP15s was sent east onto the Garden City-Mitchell Field secondary to pick up the parked BNSF OCS train.  As most of you know, the train was sent there last week to wine and dine dignitaries during the Ryder Cup, which took place over the weekend in nearby Bethpage, NY.

Because I forgot my tripod (idiot), I ended up taking still shots with my 300mm lens, and then would grab my iPhone to take some video.  I included a couple of video stills to fill out the narrative, as well as a video clip (longer vid posted on the 'Tube).

1:  Just east of Clinton Road in Garden City, the lovely quartet slowly heads towards the OCS set on the Garden City-Mitchell Secondary



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/25 16:15 by rbenko.

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2:  The lead MP15 cuts off from the quartet - it will be used to follow closely behind the train as it pulls west

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3:  Relocating west of Clinton Road, the train, along with the single MP15 "chaser", slowly heads west.  A gaggle of railfans is set up by the old Clinton Road station (on left), which is now a fire station.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/25 12:07 by rbenko.

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4:  The train has now switched over to the south track as it passes the station

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5,6:  Time for a closeup (with a 300mm) and a more standard view (video still)

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7:  As the train sloooooooowly passes, the chaser MP15 follows close behind (video still)

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8, 9:  I moved a bit west to Franklin Ave in Garden City, where the secondary meets the LIRR's Hempstead branch.  Here's a video still, and a snippet of a longer video I put up on the unmentionable video sharing site.  A very nice lady started asking me questions, so I didn't get the entire train at this location - no biggie since I filmed it earlier.  

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If you want to see the entire video of my exploits (only 12 minutes long), including a very slow runby where you'll see each car in detail, search for "BNSF OCS on the LIRR" on the 'Tube.  (NOTE - a whole bunch of videos, many much better than mine, will come up - look for the one with my name if you're interested). 

Thanks for viewing!! 

Rob Benkovitz
West Palm Beach, Florida

I read on a FB page that the train was handed over to CSX at Fresh Pond, then Amtrak in the Bronx, but they tied up for the night there since Amtrak locomotives had mechanical problems. 

Anyone know what those bronze, winged bird-lookin' things on top of the last car are all about??

Tom Loftus
Omaha, NE

Fantastic post and photos. Really enjoyed this and don't know anything about the railroad. Nice to see all the fans out there catching this move. Love the MP15AC/DCs!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/25 14:59 by phthithu.

3 MP15's pulling a BNSF pax train on the freight only, not used too much LIRR Garden City/Mitchell field  secondary line.  This is great stuff.   Now you know why I get bored with the 8 million pix of GE widecabs out on some main line.   There is great, unusual and rare stuff out there. 
Thx for the video

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/25 16:54 by pdt.

Good coverage of a rare move.  Surprised our brother didn't bang in and join you.

Great catch!!!
 

Great pictures!! 7+ man crew for that move?! ;-)

Posted from Android

OmahaTom Wrote:
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> Anyone know what those bronze, winged bird-lookin'
> things on top of the last car are all about??

Exhaust stacks - it's a generator car.  In my video on the 'Tube you can see the other side of the car, which has one side service door and two large floor-to-ceiling louvered vents.

SNY1337 Wrote:
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> Great pictures!! 7+ man crew for that move?! ;-)

Yeah, no shortage of LIRR employees for this move!

and stop critisizing branch line trackage.   It looks worse with the telephoto compression.   I love branchlines. 
You could have taken pix out on the main line if you want to see 80 mph trackage.

 

pdt Wrote:
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> and stop criticizing branch line trackage.   It
> looks worse with the telephoto compression.   I
> love branchlines. 
> You could have taken pix out on the main line if
> you want to see 80 mph trackage.

It is a sparely used branch line good for 10 MPH, used mostly twice a year by the foregone Circus train, and an  historical remnant of the Central RR of Long Island to Bethpage and Babylon, still a 65MPH railroad east of Bethpage.

West of Garden City's merger with the Hempstead Branch at Franklin Avenue, it is good for 80MPH.

All the LIRR employees from various departments were watching the track structure like hawks for damage to 3rd rail and dwarf signals, such as on the 4th locomotive running solo as a "chase engine". Those ex-Santa Fe cars barely made it. They had to use 50 year old LIRR engines due to their ASC speed code equipment, unique to the LIRR. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/25 09:30 by joemvcnj.

Thanks for posting this rare move Rob, and congrats on VOTD!

mike woodruff
north platte ne