BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS PHOTOS)

Another rare "BLUEBIRD" photo (1939); here we see one unit approaching the BMT's cavernous Sands Street terminal, after having just crossed the Brooklyn Bridge from lower Manhattan.

Note the signal tower in the distance; also, the overhead girderwork used as trolley pole guides for the streetcars, which also ran to and from Park Row........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46908

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["SANDS STREET"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This 1944 clearly illustrates just how complex the approaches to the huge Sands Street complex were; on the left is an El train. while on the left, we see one of the famed and iconic "4500"-series convertibles.

This impressive photo was taken not long before the El trains stopped crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?113235

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

See also:

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?132302

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?18195

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?113238

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116186

["BMT LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Until 1950, B&QT streetcars crossed the Brooklyn Bridge on their reserved trackage; in 1944, when the BMT elevated trains stopped running over the Bridge, the streetcars were shifted over to the former elevated tracks, and the old streetcar tracks were paved over, creating an additional vehicular traffic lane,

In 1950, the cars stopped running over the bridge, the tracks and trusswork were removed, and another lane for traffic was opened in each direction.

The following photos depict PCCs operating over the span, throughout the years.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?141900 (1936)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140715 (c-1938)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?132316 (1942; this rare, nostalgic, and most interesting historic photo shows a B&QT PCC on the Brooklyn Bridge, passing [on the left] a train of elderly BMT 1300-series "BU" convertible El cars on the "FULTON" line)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140705 (c-1948)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?30945 (c-1950; we are looking west towards Manhattan-the massive BMT Park Row elevated terminal has totally disappeared)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?7789 (1949)

)courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["67-SEVENTH"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

After the demolition of the BMT's massive Park Row elevated sration in 1944/1945, the multiple streetcar loops beneath the extensive structure were then exposed to the elements.

These post-1944 photos show PCCs awaiting departure at the Park Row (Manhattan) loops, heading back to Brooklyn via the bridge.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140728

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140795

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?7748

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["68 CONEY ISLAND"]

[Cyberider]

Bluebirds, Park Row, Sands Street. All interesting (and mysterious) things and places of the past, that one sometimes reads about but rarely sees much of. Thanks, NYO!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

You are most welcome....it's indeed a pleasure to share what I know with others who are teally appreciative!

After the El trains stopped crossing the Bridge in 1944, they were cut back to a new terminal, "BRIDGE-JAY" which had been a through station until 1944.

The streetcars that crossed the bridge until 1950 were either cut back to the Brooklyn side, or converted to buses.

Oddly enough, buses did NOT replace streetcars over the bridge; to this day, the BB is the ONLY major East River crossing to NOT have ANY public transit crossing it...........

"NYO"

["TO BROOKLYN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are several historic views of the Park Row terminal through the decades; over the years, it was expanded to even greater proportions.

The sheer massiveness of this monolithic structure is clearly evident here.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?113413 (note the numerous "NY RAILWAYS" conduit streetcars and the IRT subway kiosks)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?101411 (train on the left is a BMT "C" type, rebuilt from older open-platform cars)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?113224 (looking west towards the terminal shed from the Bridge, c-1940)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?52468 (until 1944, direct connection could be made at Park Row/City Hall between the IRT's 3rd Avenue El and the BMT elevated lines which crossed the bridge (extra fare was required)

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["BROOKLYN RAPID TRANSIT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a rare early 1900s view of the interior of the cavernous Park Row trainshed, during one of its many expansions.

Note the early (uncovered) third rails, and. also, the trolley poles on some of the L cars.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116198

(courtesy: nycsubway.org}

["BROOKLYN RAPID TRANSIT"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

It is also interesting to note that, when the BB opened in 1883, "rapid transit" consisted of cable-hauled trains, between Park Row and Sands Street.

Traffic grew so heavy that, soon, trains of wooden "L" type cars were being hauled by cable over the span, instead of single cars.

The cars were switched at each terminal by small "Forney" locomotives, the type which hauled El trains prior to electrification.

As Brooklyn's El lines were extended and electrified, they were also extended over the Bridge to Park Row.

Interestingly, until about 1907, both cable trains AND the electrified El trains ran together during rush hours!

After 1907, only electric El trains crossed the bridge.........

"NYO"

["WATCH THE GATES!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The sheer volume of rail traffic over the Bridge is more than evident in these fascinating views from before 1910.

In the first photo, we see a cable shuttle train; in the second picture, we see BRT "BU" (electric) elevated cars and intense streetcar traffic.

Hard to believe that none of this rail infrastructure survives today.

Both views look towards Manhattan.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116298

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116297

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["SLOW"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a VERY rare early 1890s view of a cable train being switched by a "Forney" locomotive..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116196

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["LOOK OUT FOR THE CARS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Adjacent to the huge Sands Street complex, there was also an elevated storage yard, to store cars between rush hours..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?113232

(courtesy: nycsubway.org0

["FULTON L'C'L']

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

More streetcar action on the Brooklyn Bridge (non-PCC)...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117639

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117858

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117867

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117588 *retired car #3740, after the demolition of the Park Row El terminal, was relocated to the Park Row loops and used as a "waiting room" for waiting passengers.

The car was stripped of its poles, and was connected via a cable to an adjacent feeder line, to provide heating and lighting for waiting passengers; note, on the right, one of the electric route designators).

See also:

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140682

"NYO"

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["FULTON"]

["GRAHAM"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In revenue service PCCs, did not cross the "Willy B" to access the underground trolley terminal in Manhattan at Delancey Street; none of the routes that served this terminal (closed late 1940s) used PCCs.

The few photos that show PCCs either crossing the "Willy B", or, at the Delancey Street loops, depict cars that were running on a fan trip......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?30887

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["1038"]

Here is a detailed page with track plans, routes, photos, etc., depicting the long-abandoned, underground Delancey Street trolley terminal (this had to be QUITE interesting to experience, back in the heyday of the streetcars!)

https://columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/willb.html

[Cyberider]

NYO,

Thanks for all the interesting info and photos on Sands St., Park Row, and Delancey St. You've greatly increased my knowledge of these formerly important places.

That's interesting about how much rail traffic the BB once carried and that there is none there at all now. Of course, there are a lot more alternatives now than there were 100 years ago but is there any other reason why this is?