Tis the Season for Switch Replacements

The fall has always been a busy time for the LIRR in terms of trackwork, and this fall is no exception.  One thing we are seeing a lot of are switch replacements projects.  This past weekend and next weekend the LIRR will  be replacing switches in DIVIDE interlocking in Hicksville (I beleive the LIRR spent this past weekend working on the crossover between the two Port Jefferson Branch tracks east of the split).

There are even more switch replacements going on this fall too.  We've already seen one day worth of single tracking between JS (Deer Park) and BRENT (Brentwood) for a switch replacement at Pineaire, there's one more weekend at DIVIDE, then WANTAGH will be getting a similar treatment on two weekends later in the fall.  The LIRR also added some switch resurfacing at QUEENS interlocking which will necessitate busing on the Hempstead Branch between Bellerose and Jamaica for a weekend at the end of October.

Switch replacements are always interesting things to watch if there's one going on in your neighborhood.  It pretty much boils down to yanking the old switch out and putting a new one in its place.  Below are a couple photos from a past switch replacement project at DIVIDE:

Out with the old, in with the new.  Taken 10/20/12 (Photo credit: MTA Flickr)

A Ronkonkoma train passes a string of cars and two MP15's.  Taken 10/20/12 (Photo credit: MTA Flickr)

The LIRR really brings out the big guns for these projects.  Taken 10/20/12 (Photo credit: MTA Flickr)

Parking lots next to the tracks are often used as staging areas.  Taken 10/20/12 (Photo credit: MTA Flickr)

It's like your toy train set, just much bigger.  Taken 10/20/12 (Photo credit: MTA Flickr)

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a flying piece of track.  Taken 10/20/12 (Photo credit: MTA Flickr)

There are a couple more photos from the set that I left out, but you can catch them right here on the MTA's Flickr Page.

With all this trackwork going on it's always a good idea to check the MTA's website before doing any weekend traveling.  The LIRR Today's nifty Trackwork Calendar is also regularly updated to keep you apprised of any upcoming service changes.