1980s-era LIRR trains back with nostalgia, duct tape, 'funky' smells and breakdowns

Massapequa commuter Chris Arbisi stepped onto his morning train last Thursday and was transported back in time.

“The conductor welcomed everyone one with a ‘Welcome to throwback Thursday,’” said Arbisi, 51, recalling boarding a Long Island Rail Road “M3” train for the first time several years. “I said out loud, ‘We are going old school today.’”

After pulling the 1980s-era trains from service early in 2020 — when the railroad curtailed service because of low ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic — the M3s are back.

The rolling relics, known for their faux wood-paneled interiors, flickering lights, and upholstery held together by duct tape, have caught some riders by surprise, though the railroad had signaled its intention to bring back the old trains by the end of the year.

The return of the M3s has drawn mixed reviews from riders, including some who have embraced the nostalgic charm and comforts of the classic cars. Others have been put off by their antiquated amenities, penchant for breakdowns, and by what Arbisi described as "funky"-smelling bathrooms. 

Others have noticed that, too.

"The first thing that hits you is the smell. The smell of the bathrooms that emanate throughout the car. It hits you like a wave," said Babylon commuter Michael Cannetti, 40, who also recently rode an M3. He kept his hood over his head during his ride "so as to not make contact with the back of the duct-taped seat cushion."

The LIRR needs the antiquated cars to supplement its fleet as it begins serving its new Manhattan terminal, Grand Central Madison, by December as part of the MTA’s $11.1 billion East Side Access megaproject. LIRR spokesman David Steckel said about 70 M3 cars were recently put back in service, and are “performing well.”

But that wasn't the case with one M3 train that rolled out of Long Beach Tuesday afternoon bound for Penn Station. It only made it as far as Jamaica, where a conductor announced it was being pulled from service because of "equipment trouble."

LIRR officials later said the train had a flat spot on a wheel — a common problem on all trains in the autumn, when wet leaves cause trains to slide on rails.

"As soon as I walked on the train I said, 'Oh, I haven't seen this kind of train in a long time,'" said Elizabeth Sullivan, 55, of Long Beach, just after reluctantly stepping off the train. "Now I know why."

Other passengers were more forgiving of the Reagan-era train, including Dean Morelli, 62, of Long Beach. "You breakdown, but you keep running," Morelli said in an interview seconds before his train broke down. "It's like me. I'm on my way to the doctor now."

The M3 cars are far less reliable than the rest of the railroad’s electric fleet, according to LIRR statistics. The old trains travel an average of about 66,000 miles between breakdowns, as compared to the 409,000 miles traveled by their successor, the M7.

In July, LIRR interim president Catherine Rinaldi defended the decision to resurrect the M3s, and said she didn’t think riders “should have any concern about the safety or reliability of these trains.”

“They’re going to require maintenance, but all our fleets require maintenance,” Rinaldi said.

The M3, built by the now-defunct Budd Co./Transit America of Philadelphia, first rolled out in 1985. The LIRR initially planned to retire the cars years ago, but has needed to keep them around, in part, because of delays in the arrival of its newest fleet, the M9 and M9-A cars. The latter aren't expected to arrive until 2027.

Like visitors to a rolling museum, some passengers have shared photos of the old trains on social media, prompting snarky responses, including from some who claimed to be able to smell the M3 cars through the photos. 

Twitter user @peterjdilorenzo, recently asked the railroad, “Why are these trains still running? I genuinely want to know.”

The LIRR responded to him, “we will occasionally run M3 equipment to help support our current schedule while our fleet goes through their regular maintenance cycles.”

Some riders are happy about the return of the M3s, which were known to be roomier than more modern trains. They also feature the only single-seat row — ideal for those who like to be left alone.

Self-described "rail fans" Diego Yurra, 18, and Nathan Djokic, 19, boarded the ill-fated M3 in Valley Stream Tuesday, with hopes of riding it to Penn while shooting video to share on social media. Their ride was cut short when the train was pulled out of service in Jamaica.

"I'm pretty disappointed … This was something I always wanted to ride," said Yurra, who hopes it wasn't his last trip on an M3. "I want to get as much video as possible before they actually retire them."

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.