LIRR: Ronkonkoma Branch Diesel 'Z' Train EXPRESS Ride from Farmingdale to Penn Station

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Taken on 3/13/22.

Footage of DM30AC Engine 502 leading an 8-car C3 Set on Ronkonkoma Branch train 8057 from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma. On the weekend of March 13-14, trains were operating every 2 hours, and operating via the South Shore and Babylon. Since trains were operating on the unelectrified Central Branch, the branch used DM30AC Engines + C3 bi-level coaches on trains all weekend. This service pattern is referred to as a 'Z' train by many railfans and enthusiasts, due to the shape of the route when placed on a map. The train switches directions twice during this trip, once shortly after passing Farmingdale, north of Beth Interlocking (@5:59), and at Babylon LIRR Station.

On this particular weekend, trains were scheduled to stop at Woodside in both directions, similar to weekend Ronkonkoma Branch service patterns. However, due to a disable AMTRAK work train, all westbound service operated non-stop between Jamaica and Penn Station. This made Jamaica the only intermediate stop between Farmingdale and Penn Station on this train.

I was anticipating to do a full video the 'Z' train operation, but missed the train at Farmingdale by mere seconds, mainly due to the shuttle bus. The shuttle bus was 14 minutes late getting to Hicksville (taking his own route), and then stopped for a while before leaving. While he did haul it from Hicksville, he unfortunately took a "shortcut" approaching Farmingdale which was anything but, likely costing me the train. One of the intersections on that route (@ 2:23) is adjacent to the tracks, and vehicles cannot turn or move anywhere if the gates are down and cars ahead are trying to go straight through. Well that scenario was exactly what happened, and we had to wait until the train passed through (the one I was trying to catch, which was a bit early). The bus makes a right, but then towards the approach of the station, the roadway turns into a one-way westbound, requiring that we had to go around. The bus arrived as the doors were closing on that eastbound train, and the train left.

What was equally as infuriating were the employees' attitude and reactions. There were several of them there (at least three), and I approached two of them that were by the station platform near the shuttle bus stop/layover, and asked why they could not advise the train crew to wait just a few minutes or something. The male employee was completely silent and didn't say a single word that whole time, while the female employee answered with "we don't do that". She also replied with "it's up to you" when I asked what I was supposed to do now, and if that meant waiting 2 hours for the next train (emphasis on 2 hours). Absolutely infuriating and trash customer service & communication skills, on top of being incompetent. Trains are usually held to wait for other connections at stations due to lateness, or may provide additional service to compensate. The next train due to arrive the station was the train in this video, arriving over 100 minutes after, so delay train traffic was not the issue (even with single-tracking). The shuttle bus should have been treated just like a train connection.

Here's the rundown of the trip:
0:00 - 0:47 Train 8057 Wrong-Railing Into Farmingdale Station, With Lead Engine 502

0:47 - 1:12:44 Farmingdale to Jamaica, via Montauk Branch EXPRESS
Skipping the following stations:
1. Babylon @ 23:43
2. Lindenhurst @ 30:42
3. Copiague @ 31:59
4. Amityville @ 32:51
5. Massapequa Park @ 34:13
6. Massapequa @ 34:50
7. Seaford @ 38:03
8. Wantagh @ 41:38
9. Bellmore @ 43:56
10. Merrick @ 46:23
11. Freeport @ 50:25
12. Baldwin @ 52:39
13. Rockville Centre @ 55:15
14. Lynbrook @ 56:57
15. Valley Stream @ 58:45
16. Rosedale @ 1:00:27
17. Saint Albans @ 1:03:48

1:12:44 - 1:13:19 Waiting at Jamaica for Connections (Condensed)

1:13:19 - 1:30:29 Jamaica to Penn Station, EXPRESS
Skipping the following stations:
18. Kew Gardens @ 1:17:23
19. Forest Hills @ 1:18:28
20. Woodside @ 1:21:40

1:30:29 - 1:31:25 Train 8057 at Penn Station, After Completing its Trip

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