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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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Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

These three 1950's photos show ex-SIRT cars in BMT service; when these cars arrived in Brooklyn, they were revamped* before entering service:

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?87045

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?112795

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6756

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*The large SIRT headlights were removed, and, inside, subway-style "AXIFLOW" fans were installed in the ceilings; oddly, for some reason, each car had half of the flip-over seat bolted into place, requiring half of the passengers to ride backwards.

BMT-type door controls were also installed, and metal plate destination signs (salvaged from scrapped elevated equipment) were also fitted; the cars were also repainted.

In all, 25 SIRT motor cars were purchased by the TA, along with five trailers.

The motor cars lasted in service until about 1960; the trailers, however, were never used in revenue BMT service, and, instead, were used as yard offices and also for storage........

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Thu Oct 07, 2021 12:11 am; edited 2 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22290
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interestingly, the SIRT ME-1 cars, dating to 1925, far outlived the Staten Island boats that they had originally connected with at St. George.

In 1925, the SI fleet (then operated by the "DEPARTMENT OF PLANT & STRUCTURES") consisted of these ferries:

"MANHATTAN"

"BROOKLYN"

"BRONX"

"QUEENS"

"RICHMOND" (these boats made up the "FIVE BOROUGHS" class, which entered service in 1905)

"MAYOR GAYNOR" (1914)*

*This ferry was built as a "relief" boat for both the Staten Island Ferry and the Brooklyn-39th St. Ferry

"PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT" (1922)

By the time that the new St. George terminal complex had opened in 1951, the "PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT" had just been retired, and the "MAYOR GAYNOR" had been retired the previous year (1950)

This latter boat ceased to be used in regular service (about 1930), and had her main deck passenger cabins removed for increased vehicle capacity; these alterations also cut back her upper deck, and, thereafter, she could no longer load from the upper deck aprons at the terminals......

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Tue Oct 05, 2021 12:48 am; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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Posts: 22290
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 12:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a rare view* of the abandoned 39th St. (Brooklyn) ferry terminal, taken in 1955 (note the postwar TWIN COACH buses on the left:

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156958

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

This ferry was discontinued at the time of the massive St. George terminal blaze in 1946; the former 39th St. slips at St. George were used by Staten Island boats from Whitehall Street, until new temporary slips were ready for service.

A new ferry service to Brooklyn opened pre-1950, operating between St. George and 69th St. Brooklyn; this line utilized seven "ELECTRIC FERRIES", which were used until the line closed down in late 1964........

*If you look closely, you can see that this terminal also used upper deck loading facilities.......
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 12:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a snowy, depressing view taken at St. George in 1974, showing a string of now-retired SIRT ME-1's at St. George, quietly awaiting their fate*.

Note, also, the deserted B&O freight tracks; in the background is the ferry terminal, which looks quite different today (from this viewpoint) since the massive rebuilding/modernization of some years back.

Look closely on the left, and you can just glimpse a "MERRELL"-class ferry, awaiting the next call to service in one of the west lay-up slips......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?45580

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*(Until 1953, SIRT North Shore (Arlington) trains would be using thee tracks)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The same area, from a different angle (looking northwest), 1973 (again, note the now OOS ME-1's)

In this photo, there is still some freight activity at the old B&O pier; also, look closely in the background, and you'll see Navy craft docked at the old MOT terminal in Bayonne......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?45576

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 12:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This was certainly NOT your "commonplace" sight at St. George, by ANY means! Shocked

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1847

Note the "cut-apart-and-stretched" ex-IND R-1, converted to a clearance-testing car (to test clearances for the future operation of the R-44's); note another prewar IND car just behind, leading a string of ME-1's.

Look closely, also, to spot an Old Look bus (just having departed the St. George terminal) as well as a few tugs, out in the Kill Van Kull......
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's the SIRT clearance train again, this time seen just outside the Tottenville station.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1857

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's an interesting page:

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

(note other proposals for subway connections to Staten Island, including the IRT, at one time; also, there is mention of the SAS)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 11:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is a rare photo showing ME-1 cars being washed down at St. George (the Arlington line track can be seen in the foreground); also, note the massive B&O/SIRT coal tower.

Originally, two interlocking towers* controlled SIRT movements at St. George; one tower controlled both the Tottenville and South Beach trains, while the other controlled the North Shore (Arlington) trains.

When the new terminal opened in 1951, a modern tower had replaced the two older ones, and now handled all train movements......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115372

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*(The only other SIRT tower was built in to the Clifton station house (on the St. George-bound side); the tower was closed in 1953, when the South Beach trains were abandond)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In this nostalgic 1964 photo, we see a SIRT Tottenville train clattering through the St. George terminal throat; on the far left, you'll see the modern interlocking tower, that was part of the St. George rebuilding/modernization, a little more than a decade earlier.

By the time of this photo, only the Tottenville line remained......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?43699

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Ferry" fond memories...... Wink

Remember:

The five-cent fare?

The electric "RIDE THE RAPID" sign hanging from the ceiling at the St. George terminal, at the top of the stairs leading down to the SIRT concourse?

The breezy, full-length open promenades on the upper decks of the "DONGAN HILLS and "MISS NEW YORK" boats?

The vehicular toll booths at Whitehall Street and St. George?

The large electric "NEXT BOAT" signs over the entrances to the upper deck gangways at the terminals?

The haunting whistles of the steam ferries?

The high-pitched whistles of the ancient SIRT ME-1 cars?

The clanging of crossing gate bells at SIRT crossings?

The sea of Old Look and MACK buses at the bus platforms at St. George?

The long lines of vehicles waiting to board the 69th St. boats?

Ancient history, for sure......Your's Truly is MORE than grateful for his many such childhood memories..... Wink

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

..............several months after the 69th St. ferry shut down in late 1964, two of the boats, "THE TIDES" and "THE NARROWS" were chartered by the CRRNJ to replace several retired steam ferries, and were placed on the Jersey City-Liberty Street run.

These boats were not at all popular with CRRNJ commuters; not only they could not load/unload from the upper decks, but they also lacked passenger cabins on their main decks.

After many vocal complaints, the CNJ installed makeshift passenger cabins on the main deck, reducing the vehicle lanes from four to two (remember, these boats had been built primarily as vehicle carriers)

After the Aldene Plan (1967) shuttered the CNJ's Jersey City terminal, the Coast Guard purchased both boats for the Governors Island crossing.

"THE NARROWS" was stripped of parts to keep "THE TIDES" in operation; sadly, neither of these once-familiar ferries survives today; thankfully, I remember these boats quite well, both on the 69th St. Ferry and the Liberty St. line........

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The "KENNEDY" (entering service in 1965) is the last remaining ferry in the SI fleet that was designed to carry vehicles (she has not done so since vehicles were banned from the boats after the 9/11 attacks)

The "KENNEDY"-class boats were also the very first diesel-electrics in the SI fleet; the "KENNEDY" is also the last surviving vessel of the class.

Hopefully, sane heads will FINALLY prevail, and this magnificent vessel, the last of her breed, will be one day preserved; hard to believe that, as much as the Ferry has been regarded as a New York (and American) institution,not one of the older boats was ever preserved as a historic vessel......

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tompkinsville, 1970.

The old ME-1's still had a few more years in service before they were retired; note that, back in 1970, there was still quite a bit of waterfront activity adjacent to the SIRT (at that time, also, the SI Ferry fleet was based at the old Pier #7).....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?21955

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?45584

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 12:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Until 1953, the SIRT operated passenger service to Arlington (via the old North Shore line)

Today, modern "stack trains" run where the old ME-1's once called; note, here, there is not a trace remaining of SIRT's electric rapid transit operation.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115399

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?21973

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?136666

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?136667

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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