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New Staten Island Ferryboat to enter service/Ferry history
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2021 10:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A few SI Ferry "firsts:"

1888: Electric lighting is introduced to the fleet.

1905: Upper deck loading is introduced

1927: The first oil-burning ferry in the SI fleet, the "AMERICAN
LEGION"(I) enters service.

1951: The "MERRELL" class enters service; these are not only the first boats on the run to have three vehicular gangways, they are also the first of the "three deckers". (These boats were also the last steam-powered boats to enter service)

1965: The first diesel-electric boats enter service (these three boats were the "KENNEDY" class; only the "KENNEDY" still survives.

1981: The "BARBERI" and the "NEWHOUSE" enter service; not only were these the first SI ferries to dispense with vehicle gangways, they were also the firsst to use cycloidal pitch, instead of traditional props....

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2021 11:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Until the City takeover in 1905, the St. George-Whitehall Street ferry was operated by the Staten Island Rapid Transit, itself a subsidiary of the B&O.

Until 1948, however, the SIRT continued to operate the Tottenville-Perth Amboy ferry, using small double-ended sidewheel boats (these two boats were also the very last walking-beam ferries to operate in NY Harbor)

In 1948, the SIRT stopped operating the antiquated ferryboats, and "SUNRISE FERRIES" took over the service, using small open-deck diesels, and continued to operate the crossing until late 1963.

Your's Truly recalls many happy voyages on thee little boats as a young lad with Mom, nearly 60 years ago.

These photos show the SIRT station in 1964 (showing the ramshackle ferry house) in 1964, not long after the ferry to Perth Amboy was shut down......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?21961

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?57018

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2021 11:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's an interesting photo showing the SIRT station at Tottenville, just prior to the old ME-1's being replaced, in 1973.

By this time, the old wooden ferry house was gone, although the decaying slip and pilings still remained (today, even these forlorn reminders no longer exist)

Look closely across to Perth Amboy; you will see the ex-DL&W/E-L ferry "ELMIRA", which had been OOS since November, 1967, ferry service from Hoboken to Barclay Street was shut down; note, also, the two Navy craft......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?45587

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2021 12:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here are two views of the SIRT's CLIFTON station; until 1953, South Beach trains branched off at this point (note the interlocking tower built atop the eastbound station building)

For many years after abandonment of the South Beach line, the shell of the old interlocking tower at CLIFTON remained, until it was finally demolished.

Thee two photo were taken in 1958 and 2010......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115343

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?109482

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2021 12:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Except for rush hours and summer weekends, most South Beach trains were single-car affairs; here, in 1953 (not long before the line was abandoned) ME-1 #311 was snapped at the South Beach grade crossing.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115398

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2021 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For decades, the boats of the Staten Island fleet were based at Pier #7, Tompkinville.

Here, all work short of drydocking was performed here;. a workforce of over 200 men were once employed here.

Back in the days of wooden superstructures and wooden cabinwork, a large carpentry shop was also in full force here.

Back in the early/mid-1960's, Mom and I often took a leisurely walk from the St. George terminal down to Pier #7; it was always fun to see just what boats might be there on that day.

I can remember seeing a 69th St. boat docked there a few times, also, a few of the small ferries then used on the City's non-public East River crossings.

Pier #7 no longer exists; I have yet to find out where the ferries current fleet are maintained today......

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2021 8:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

......an interesting note regarding the St. George terminal.......

For a number of years, post-1964, FDNY's Marine Company #9 was stationed in one of the disused 69th St. Ferry slips.

The "FIRE FIGHTER" was the vessel assigned to this St. George-based Marine Company; she entered the ranks in 1938.......

"NYO"
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traildriver




Joined: 26 Mar 2011
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Location: South Florida

PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote:
Until the City takeover in 1905, the St. George-Whitehall Street ferry was operated by the Staten Island Rapid Transit, itself a subsidiary of the B&O.

Until 1948, however, the SIRT continued to operate the Tottenville-Perth Amboy ferry, using small double-ended sidewheel boats (these two boats were also the very last walking-beam ferries to operate in NY Harbor)

In 1948, the SIRT stopped operating the antiquated ferryboats, and "SUNRISE FERRIES" took over the service, using small open-deck diesels, and continued to operate the crossing until late 1963.

Your's Truly recalls many happy voyages on thee little boats as a young lad with Mom, nearly 60 years ago.

These photos show the SIRT station in 1964 (showing the ramshackle ferry house) in 1964, not long after the ferry to Perth Amboy was shut down......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?21961

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?57018

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)


I wonder how the ferry-SIRT-ferry combination compared with an all rail ride via the H&M and PRR from the financial district, back in the era? Probably longer?
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

traildriver:

Good question!

From the PRR/CNJ Perth Amboy station I would guess it was much quicker to take a PRR MP-54 from Perth Amboy to Newark, and then transfer to a PRR/H&M/PATH "joint service" train to Hudson Terminal.

Or, for that matter, taking a CNJ (NY&LB) train into Jersey City from Perth Amboy, and then taking the ferry to Liberty St.

By the time that the Aldene Plan shut down the CNJ's Jersey City terminal and its ferry connections in 1967, the old Tottenville-Perth Amboy ferry had already been gone several years (that crossing was shut down in October, 1963).......

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 2:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Remember, too, service was more frequent through Perth Amboy in those days; the PRR was then operating frequent South Amboy-New York locals (MP-54's).

The MU's assigned to these locals lay over in the "motor yard" at South Amboy (long gone today), along with the GG-1's assigned to hauling PRR/NY&LB trains between New York and South Amboy, where diesels would take over........

"NYO"
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traildriver




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PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now, you can't go from Tottenville to Perth Amboy directly...there is no bus service over the Outerbridge crossing...its either take Uber, or go the loooong way. Only the Bayonne Bridge has local bus service. The Goethal's bridge only hosts 'closed door' routes to the PABT, or some Atlantic City casino buses.
I suppose there is little to no demand for public transportation between Tottenville and Perth Amboy.
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

traildriver wrote:
Now, you can't go from Tottenville to Perth Amboy directly...there is no bus service over the Outerbridge crossing...its either take Uber, or go the loooong way. Only the Bayonne Bridge has local bus service. The Goethal's bridge only hosts 'closed door' routes to the PABT, or some Atlantic City casino buses.
I suppose there is little to no demand for public transportation between Tottenville and Perth Amboy.


traildriver:

Agreed.

It would, indeed, seem that there is very little demand (or need) for public transit between Tottenville and Perth Amboy (this month, the old Tottenville-Perth Amboy ferry will be gone 58 years!)

Re; the Bayonne Bridge; recall when DOMENICO once operated commuter service over the Bridge, several decades back?
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DOMENICO Fishbowl #513, signed for "HYLAN BLVD", back in 1975.

Note the sedan door......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155292

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayonne_Bridge

Interesting to note, that, when the bridge was being planned, the Port Authority required that the plans include space for the addition of rapid transit tracks, at some future date.

That, of course, never came to pass.

As I had mentioned earlier, back in the 1920's, it seemed almost a done deal that the SIRT would be connected to the BMT's 4th Avenue line in Brooklyn, via a new set of tubes under the Narrows; this was why, when the SIRT was newly electrified in 1925, the ME-1 rapid transit cars were built to be compatible with the BMT's steel "AB" Standards (when, in the mid-1950's, a group of SIRT cars was sold to the NYCTA for use on the BMT after the South Beach and Arlington lines were abandoned, it was discovered that the ex-SIRT cars could not MU with the BMT cars)

To this day, there are still tunnel pockets just beyond the 59th St. station (Brooklyn) that would have connected the new SIRT connection to the BMT.

There have been talks in fairly recent years of either extending the SIRT over the Bayonne Bridge, or, have the HBLR cross the span into Staten Island from Bayonne.

I very strongly doubt that, for many reasons, neither of these proposals will ever come to pass......

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a rare photo showing a group of ex-SIRT cars riding across NY Harbor via carfloat (note the steam tug in charge!), on their way to being delivered to the BMT......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?87049

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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