Old New York

                                   My old house on the right and siding on the left............

                      Grasmere Station and my old house on the left................

  Old SIRT cars...............

    St. George - Ferry and Yard..................... Extra cars ready for rush hour's 6 car trains.

  SIRT AlCo. S-2 assigned to commuter service. 3rd rail power is cut off!

   Rounding South to Old Town Rd.....................

Hello Ben -- and Steve (SIRT)  !

Great SIRT SNOW vintage photos,   Steve  ! 

And Ben -- how do you know that the train heading to the Tunnel shot from the outbound  Ditmas Station platform - has you operating it in the cab ?  You saw the railfan taking the photo ?  Great shot from whomever also !!

Here BELOW are some Metro North heavy SNOW scenes I think rate very good   -- as we are on a snow trip here, heh --

regards - Joe F

Joseph Frank posted:

Hello Ben -- and Steve (SIRT)  !

Great SIRT SNOW vintage photos,   Steve  ! 

And Ben -- how do you know that the train heading to the Tunnel shot from the outbound  Ditmas Station platform - has you operating it in the cab ?  You saw the railfan taking the photo ?  Great shot from whomever also !!

regards - Joe F

Joe

I remember the day vividly.  10 inches of snow were forecast and it had been snowing about 45 minutes when this pic was taken.  The lower yard at Church ave was closed for switch replacements.  I was working the GO job on midnights relaying the G trains past Ditmas into the middle track before 18 ave.  There was a track circuit on 1 track right before the switch coming up the hill   We had to key by the signals and they started running the F's on the express track to bypass the problem as you can see in the picture.  When I came up the hill I had to travel 10 mph over the problem area   I remember the kid standing on the platform  As I came up to him I opened the window and told him he is devoted standing there in the snow taking pictures   After I did my relay I saw him with his camera up facing that F train so I really do know its me in that G

Hi Ben !

Great memories by you for that day -- and it was very nice you even took time to personally pay homage to the kid with the camera ! 

How many times I remember myself being out in snowstorms in the 1950's thru very late 1960's in NYC shooting transit -- on the roof of tenements in Dec. 1960 photographing the Bronx 3rd Ave EL from rooftops in the 166th thru 174th Street stations section - and that time when I caught that IRT R-33 / 36 WF fleet delivery on the old NYW&B Viaduct below E. 180th Street, Bronx,  in I think Feb 1964 in a snow storm -  both from track level on the snow covered 4 track former NYW&B RR trestle and lower earth embankment at E. 175th St, and from a Tenement Apartment Rooftop along side the Trestle over Lebanon Avenue.  Both times freezing my A--- off (and my feet) for the shots I have today !  It amazing the stamina, energy, and motivation for such when we were so much younger !

Regards ! - Joe F

Hello Ben, SIRT and others

This is one of my favored "favorited" (saved)  videos shot by a railfan.  BIG SNOW on the IRT White Plains Rd Line shot Dec. 30th, 2000 the night before the last (Dec 31) day of 2000   (date embedded in beginning of video)    With all kinds of early evening and nights scenes -- gives the great long-ago-mood feel and aura of the IRT in  the snow  (after all I "am" an old IRT man, heh)  -- reminds me of riding the IRT Bronx EL's lines in the mid 1950's into the mid 1960's on 10 car trains of IRT Low-V's and then brand new R-17-21-22 SMEES in snow storms.... as long as we are on a "snow kick" here !

KUDOS to the video photographer who was out there recording it all ---

Video Link --     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSFUDPdcqOc

Regards - Joe F

Joe,

  I don't know that much about subways, maybe you can confirm, did I see Redbirds and our 238th/Nereid Ave/Mt. St.Michael stop? 

  Nice video.

Tom 

I recall seeing, from MSM classrooms, the southbound 10-car trains going over the yard junction.

MNCW posted:

Joe,

  I don't know that much about subways, maybe you can confirm, did I see Redbirds and our 238th/Nereid Ave/Mt. St.Michael stop?

  Nice video.

Tom

Hello Tom --

Yes,  there were a number of scenes in that movie at or near  our E.238th St-Nereid AV IRT EL Station via which "The Mount" (Mt. St. Michael School)  was reached after a many block walk eastward towards the Borderline literally of Bronx and Mt Vernon -- the rear of the Mount grounds ran along Mundy Lane -- the easterly side border of the school grounds was on the Bronx, west side of, Mundy Lane, while the opposite sidewalk was on Mount Vernon land.  Nereid (aka E. 238St) on the north becomes E. 5th St in Mt Vernon,  and Pitman Ave on the south school border becomes Sanford Blvd (E.6th St) at Mundy Lane,  that Sanford Blvd which a few blocks southeast took you to (in our time) the closed former NYW&B RR Station at E.6th St.

The video, even tho shot in 2000,  17 years ago NOW,  could well have been in a snowstorm in the 1950's and 60's with IRT SMEE trains barreling thru the snow.  I liked the addition on the sidewalks of the installation of those retro reproduced Bishop Crooks Gooseneck streetlights -- like those along the Avenue in the 1920's thru late 1960's -- the night scenes with the snow and the vintage lamp posts' globes glowing warm light !  And the Christmas decorations crossing the avenue under the EL.  They don't even do that anymore, heh !

The FIRST TWO photos BELOW side by side are  looking north from the south end of the E. 89th St Local Station, 3rd Ave EL, Manhattan, in the early 1950's.  The B&W photo at left is on the west sidewalk of 3rd Ave and shows the antiquity of the EL line & neighborhood I grew up with -  as does the station platform level view photo at its right.  This was the EL Station just north of my E. 84th St Local Station.  My mother and I walked up 3rd Ave. along the EL to shop regularly at the corner fruit & vegetable store seen in both photos.  And at some other stores along that block.  I remember it so well !   That boy with the hat could be me around 1952.  My EL station was fully identical to this one at E.89th Street.  This general view is typically what I saw all along the EL back in the 1950's -- pure Victorian and pre-WW-I era real estate, heh !

The THIRD photo BELOW is what I saw daily along the Avenue growing up -- with the Mack (and some GMC) Red and Cream transit buses bouncing and rattling on the uneven cobblestone paving with its embedded streetcar tracks under the then ancient 1878 built EL Structure still lined by then ancient real estate.

The FOURTH & FIFTH photos BELOW are in 2016 taken at the corners of Lydig Ave and White Plains Rd. along (our) EL line north to "The Mount" -- with the re-installation classic of the retro-repro cast iron Bishop Crook gooseneck type streetlights along the a short few blocks section of the avenue just below Pelham Parkway Station,   along a more solidly built and heavier modern 1917 built EL Structure -- but still able to create a nostalgic look back to a decades earlier era even with more modern storefronts and signage.  I can imagine trains of IRT Low-V's thundering by overhead as I remember them there back in the 1950's-60's !

The LAST photo BELOW looks north in 2016 towards our EL station at E.238th St-Nereid Ave which we both used to and from "The Mount" at the end of Nereid Avenue for the long walk eastward.  The city put that stupid wide sidewalk into the roadway -- for what purpose.  Takes away all the parking spaces.  When I went to the Mount there was still cobblestone paving on the street under the EL, and abandoned trolley tracks.  The street was blacktop paved around 1960 or so.  And old iron pipe streetlights with ornamental under-support scrolls, mounted on wooden utility poles that lined White Plains Road !

Well,  our memories of the EL train and route to the Mount are very similar - even if mine are older from a now long ago visually-vanished era !  You can always go "back",  but you can never truly go "home" - in most cases !

Best Regards, Tom - - Joe F

zz

Joe F, when were you a Mounty?

RJR posted:

I recall seeing, from MSM classrooms, the southbound 10-car trains going over the yard junction.

Whoa...I don't recall seeing anything good from the windows of Mt. St. Michael!  

I graduated in 1978. 

Tom 

You must have faced the courtyard.  When I first arrived, in Fall 1950, we were in the locker room.  I do remember in second year, being in a classroom in front, upper floor at end of building nearest the gym being built, from whence one could see the el.  I transferred out in June 1952

RJR posted:

Joe F, when were you a Mounty?

Hello RJR

I was a Mountie at Mt St Mikes in Sept. 1955 thru June 1958 -- when I left for a school on Park Avenue a few blocks from my Manhattan home.

When I first went to the Mount I took the Lex. Ave. Subway in Manhattan north and changed to the Bronx 3rd Ave EL at E.149th St Station...and took the Bronx portion of the 3rd Ave "EL" to its Gun Hill Road Station terminal,  where I went to the upper level to again ride the same route-line (White Plains Road EL) to Nereid Ave. Station to get to the Mount.  I did this because the 3rd Ave EL had just a few months before (on Thursday, May 12, 1955, 7PM.)  had permanently stopped all service below E. 149th Street, Bronx, south  to Chatham Square Terminal.  The 3rd AV EL was still standing abandoned in Manhattan by Sept. 1955 but was being dismantled,  including the EL station on my Block.

Of Note!!:  The section of lower Bronx EL from Harlem River edge and to and from E.133rd St to E.149th St (The "Alley" double-decked EL from 133rd to 143 St Stations) was kept active but NON revenue -- as then the only physical way to turn back trains south of the E.149th St "new south terminal" station until the track X-overs switches and signals at the north end of the then "new" Terminal -- could be installed and put in service. That was done by late 1957.

But I could still ride my old friends of 6-car trains of wooden EL cars  ( MUDC's and those Q Types) on the remaining Bronx portion from Friday May 13th, 1955 until the wood cars were replaced completely by Dec. 16, 1956,  by 6 car trains of steel ex-subway Low-V Steinway Cars.    Other times I just took the Lex Ave - White Plains Rd trains direct to the Mount - and back.

YOU were up in the Mount around 1950 to 1952 I think you stated --   therefore you know the neighborhood "look and feel and character"  that I described from my 1955-1958 period up there.  The sort of country-suburban aura of the area. Very quiet, safe, crime free and civilized way back 60 years ago !! I use to hang out at the IRT EL E. 239th St  Subway-EL yards by the gate at the north end of Barnes Avenue, and chat with the friendly gate man.  He even let me inside a few feet past the gate to see and take pictures of the wooden El trains stored there at their track bumpers.  Sometimes I went to the north end of the adjacent Byron Ave to see the trains stored alongside the shop building.  I had a school pal who lived at 4400 Wickham Ave whose apt. house I visited  also faced Barnes Ave.  Most all of the streetlights were those ancient 1910 era iron pipe with curlicue scroll supports fixtures attached to wooden utility poles

I was at the Mount  when the enclosed brick 2nd floor "walkway bridge" being built between the Main Head-house building and the Gym-Cafeteria.  I saw the construction daily  from start to end -- I think it was started in 1957

Another pal, schoolmate, was Robert Mayer,  whose dad owned the huge Mayers' Parkway Restaurant & Caterers on E.233st down the hill west from the EL station there at White Plains Rd.  Had many after-school snacks and "late lunches" there with Bob.  That famous restaurant and catering house finally closed down I think in the very late 1990's, perhaps into 2000 or so. A Multi level garage building is now on the site. It has a Facebook site.

I have visited the mount countless times between the 1960's to just a few years ago !  Here are my 3 yearbooks from the Mount -- all in mint condition !

regards ! - Joe F

Joe, I lived in NJ and boarded.  Early on Monday morning, Mom would drive me to the bus stop on the NJ side of the GW.  I bus across, grab the SB A train (they were new then, with fluorescent lights) to 145th St, switch to the NB D to 205th ST, and then the 16 Webster Ave bus to the Mount.  Friday afternoon I had a choice: D to 59th and A to PA Bus terminal, or walk to 241st, and take the IRT down a few stations to catch the 3rd Ave El to 42nd St or go straight down to 42nd (don't remember if there was a transfer involved.)

In 1952 I switched to St. Peters Prep in JC, day-hopping.  The 44 bus crossed the Erie Station 4-track lead, and steam still hauled some commuter trains.  Down by the Prep, PRR still ran Exchange Place Station, with MU trains and one daily Jersey Coast train hauled by Baldwin Sharks.

I suspect the MSM area has changed drastically.

Speaking of that area, during WWII, Mom & I would take subway to visit Grandma who lived a few blocks from the Dyer Ave shuttle station.  2-car trains, open platform.

Hello RJR -----------

You, I and Lionel 1933 here could share some great memories of our riding those lines now gone - riding the great 3rd Ave EL-  or significantly changed  per the Dyre Ave. (ex-NYW&B RR) Line shuttle with wood IRT EL Gate cars which I rode a few times there in 1953,  and with IRT Hi-V subway cars from mid 1953 thru 1957 -- and the now very vintage -back then visual way the city looked in those times !!  The transit vehicles we rode -- all now long gone (except for a scant few cars in Museums or the NYC Transit Museum --- but riding them in daily revenue back then in the city the way it was,  are now all but distant memories.  Memories which spurred me to create the earlier HO EL layout and later O-Scale EL & Trolley layout and  vintage real estate and street scenes along the "EL" on the layout.

Wow, your mother sent you from NEW JERSEY to the Mount at the far east end of the Bronx !!! -- WHAT a long trip !!  And time consuming !  Obviously to board (live at the school,  a boarder) there for the week and come home weekends and holidays....and summers (?)   I boarded there part time in 1955-56.  Riding all that transit back then for you as very young back then must have been almost magical, enchanting  and exciting !  

If you have not seen my layout webpage, here is the Link to the Main PAGE and Albums PAGE. Some of the modeled scenes and rolling stock will be familiar to your memories of the prototypes.  Also check out the FAVORITES section photos - videos on my site

MAIN PAGE ----    https://www.flickr.com/photos/44268069@N00/

ALBUMS PAGE ----   https://www.flickr.com/photos/44268069@N00/albums

BELOW is an aerial MAP and aerial PHOTO of the Mount and the landmarks nearby circled in red

regards - Joe F

Joe, I was 12 years old when I started at MSM.  Can you picture today sending a 12-year-old on that route?

Ok this picture is ok for this thread  Because I'm old and this is New York  LOL   Its pretty rare seeing an R46 on the Q

Where were you when the picture was taken?  Looks like it might be the Coney Island yard.

It’s Coney Island but not the yard. It’s stillwell terminal.  I am waiting for the lineup to bring me to the yard. 

You Sir, have all the fun!!!

I happened to stumble upon a link for the New York Public Library that has pictures of old piers on the Hudson/North River and the East River. Being a Pennsy fan, I knew Piers 49-50 (North/Hudson River) were used by the Pennsy and just learned so were Piers 77-78.

This post is so large now, not sure if this was ever posted before, apologies if it is a duplicate post. 

https://digitalcollections.nyp...tan#/?tab=navigation 

Tom