From Conrail to Crusty: NYC’s touring abandoned locomotive.

Published on: February 15th, 2019 | Last updated: February 2, 2020 | Written by: Bad Guy Joe

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It seems our favorite resident ‘abandoned’ locomotive still lives.

In late 2017, we heard that NY&A 9321 (seen above) was finally dragged to a scrap metal dealer in East New York on what was presumed to be its last ride.

As it turns out, reports of its death were gravely exaggerated. Instead of ended up at Gershow recycling, it landed at a siding further down the line, on a short spit of track that previously connected to the NYCTA L line.

Curiously, 3/4ths of the locomotive was professionally painted the same dark green that NY&A uses on it’s active locomotives. My theory is this repainting took place while the locomotive was stored just above NY&A’s shop and offices at Fresh Pond. The repainted side faced the shop and offices. One might imagine having a graffiti covered locomotive right above where officials and business people might arrive set a bad tone.

Ultimately 9321 was relocated here, which is a curious spot to hide a locomotive’s dead body. It presently sits in full view of two subway lines, directly below a subway station. The locals of course have already tagged over the repainted sides, so to an untrained eye one might assume it hasn’t seen a drop of professional paint since it left the Louisville & Indiana Railroad nearly fifteen years ago.

As always, the future of this odd beast is unknown. The likelihood of this 1950s relic ever running again are lower than Trump’s morality. Perhaps someone will gut it and turn it into an AirBnB? Get that full East New York experience sleeping in an abandoned locomotive. What could be more Brooklyn?

Update: This locomotive finally met its maker on January 28th, 2020, when it was finally cut up for recycling by Gershow.

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