In 1967 an experimental Road and Rail bus enters Long Island Rail Road tracks in Maspeth, Queens. These buses had an extra set of wheels that fit on rail tracks at the correct gauge and would enable the vehicles to travel on both roads and rail.

These tracks comprise the so-called “Montauk” LIRR branch that runs from Jamaica west to Long Island City. They still see freight use; most passenger service has exited the line.

You can see how the Road and Rail bus operated at the 6:10 mark of this collection of newsreels. It’s a shame the experiment apparently didn’t work out, at least around here.

Photo courtesy Dave Stork.

2/28/14