Hell Gate Turns 100, April 1

Nice post.  100 years and still doing what it was designed to do !   Thanks for sharing.

Attached sequence of pictures was taken as we approached Hell Gate Bridge southbound on Amtrak train 173, November 15, 2013. What a remarkable piece of engineering and construction. And the view from the bridge toward Manhattan is magnificent. I grew up in Astoria, Queens about a mile from the bridge. My Mom used to take me to the Astoria Pool during summers, right next to the bridge. Amazing to look up at it from beneath… An example of American greatness.

MELGAR

This bridge was supposed to create a short cut link between the South and New England, circumventing NYC, and its various island formations.  I grew up in NYC and I've always been baffled by this, given it connects Queens and the Bronx. Queens is part of Long Island.  So, it's not like this bridge connects "mainland" New York (Bronx) to "mainland" anywhere South of New York. It diverts or detours onto Long Islamd. Anyone? 

Since when does Hoopla not change this to **** Gate?

ADCX Rob posted:

Since when does Hoopla not change this to **** Gate?

Probable because it is in the title.

In a few weeks I'll be spending Saturday mornings on Randells Island at my Daughters soccer games. They are held right at the base of the towers holding up the approach. In fact we use the track as shade sometimes. It makes the matches that mush more interesting to me. Once or twice I've caught the Tilcon ballast rock train. You can hear the gravel dropping and pinging off the girders. 

I was just today reading a book I have on the Connecting Railroad.