The Montauk Cutoff is located in Long Island City. It is a double tracked railroad right of way, running between the old ‘Yard A’ (currently a Long Island Rail Road passenger train yard), Harold interlocking in Sunnyside Yard, and Blissville yard (near the Greenpoint Avenue bridge along Newtown Creek).
This set of tracks was used for a variety of purposes, though its primary use was for hauling freight trains out of Long Island City. In 2014, the final rail customers were relocated closer to Blissville yard, rendering this section of track disused and ‘abandoned’ (in railroad terminology – meaning no further rail movements). The MTA retailed ownership, and for a short time was considering leasing it to a community group with very robust plans for developing an arts and education space along the route (think High Line, but significantly more purposeful to the community). For one reason or another, those plans never came into fruition. The tracks have laid overgrown ever since, becoming a rare neglected playground in a rapidly gentrifying area.
Sooner or later something (probably something hideous) will come of this property. Until then, enjoy the view, and read up below about all things Cutoff related.
