Elmhurst, Queens

The tracks pass out of a trench as they move into Elmhurst and become elevated after they pass under the Long Island Expressway / Queens Midtown Expressway.

Grand Avenue Station

The six-acre area to the east of the tracks was the Newtown Holder Station, better known to commuters as a traffic report landmark called the the "Elmhurst Gas Tanks". The two 270-foot-diameter and 230-foot-high structures were built in 1910 and 1921. The outer telescopic holders contained a "cups" surrounded by water that rose as the tanks were filled with natural gas. The tanks were decommissioned and dismantled in 1996 and the area was sold for $1 to the Parks Department in 2005 to create Gas Tank Park.

The area to the west and northwest of the park on Grand Avenue have been redeveloped into retail and, accordingly, might be a nice place for a subway stop. A few hundred square feet of Gas Tank Park would do nicely.

6/13/2008 07:26 PM 74th Street running under the LIE

6/13/2008 07:27 PM Queens Midtown Expressway sign

6/13/2008 07:28 PM Sitting area near the expressway

6/13/2008 07:30 PM Tracks running beside Gas Tank Park

6/13/2008 07:30 PM Retaining wall between tracks and Gas Tank Park

6/13/2008 07:35 PM Grand Avenue bridge over tracks

6/13/2008 07:36 PM Tracks running north from Grand Avenue

6/13/2008 07:37 PM Gas Tank Park construction sign

6/13/2008 07:38 PM Gas Tank Park under construction

6/13/2008 07:38 PM Grand Avenue at 79th Street

6/13/2008 07:39 PM Tree-lined residential 79th Street

6/13/2008 07:40 PM 30s-era row houses on 79th Street

6/13/2008 07:43 PM Front-yard garden on 79th Street

6/13/2008 07:44 PM Chinese realtor sign on 79th Street

6/13/2008 07:45 PM Calmus Avenue Rail Bridge viewed from the east

6/13/2008 07:45 PM Calmus Avenue Rail Bridge no tresspassing sign

6/13/2008 07:45 PM Under the Calmus Avenue Rail Bridge

6/13/2008 07:46 PM Calmus Avenue Rail Bridge viewed from the west

6/13/2008 07:46 PM Calmus Avenue Rail Bridge viewed from the west

6/13/2008 07:47 PM Lawn fountain - Calmus Ave. at 74th Street

6/13/2008 07:47 PM Houses on 74th Street

6/13/2008 07:49 PM Houses on 74th Street

Just south of Queens Boulevard, the freight tracks cross over the Long Island Railroad Main Line tracks right after where the Port Washington Branch splits from the Main Line to Jamaica. However, there is no connection between any of the tracks and it is questionable whether there would be value in encumbering the commuter line with an additional NYC subway station here.

6/13/2008 07:49 PM Art Deco power pole along LIRR tracks

6/13/2008 07:50 PM Art Deco power pole along LIRR tracks

6/13/2008 07:50 PM Art Deco power pole along LIRR tracks

6/13/2008 07:50 PM Freight track bridge over LIRR tracks

6/13/2008 07:53 PM Freight track bridge over 51st Avenue

6/13/2008 07:54 PM Freight track bridge over 51st Avenue

6/13/2008 07:54 PM Freight track bridge over 51st Avenue