BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

SEE PREVIOUS POST (for additional info)........

This is a very rare (1890s) photo which shows the "Bridge Railway" in operation, prior to the introduction of electric "El" trains; the cars on the right are being switched by one of the "Forney" engines........

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

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["BRIDGE RAILWAY TO BROOKLYN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This circa-1882 photo shows the Sands Street station under construction; like its counterpart at Park Row, this facility was expanded greatly as the "EL" lines were electrified and expanded.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?132290

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["STEP LIVELY! WATCH YOUR STEP!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This photo (looking west towards Park Row) dates to about 1910, after the cable trains had been entirely replaced by electric "El" trains; note the trolley poles on the "El" cars.

A number of these wooden cars remained in service into the 1950s.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?27214

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["PAY FARES HERE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Sands Street in its heyday; hard to fathom that not a trace remains today of what had once been one of the largest and most complex transit hubs in the world........

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

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

)courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["ALL TRAINS TO NEW YORK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This spectacular 1940 view of the Sands Street complex is indeed mind-boggling on the extreme left, we see a PCC outbound from Park Row; in the center, the main interlocking tower, which straddled the throat trackage.

On the right, a train of BMT "C"-type cars, rebuilt from open platform "EL" cars............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?112757

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["BROOKLYN-MANHATTAN TRANSIT"]

[Cyberider]

Thanks, NYO. I don't remember reading about the cable cars or maybe I forgot! Very interesting about Sands St. and Park Row.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

My pleasure:

Interestingly, after the cable trains of the "Bridge Railway" was discontinued, several cars went west to one of the smaller interurban lines, and were converted unto combines (I remember seeing a few pictures, a long while back)

The old "Bridge Railway" cars were not compatible with the BRT's elevated rolling stock, and were sold off not long after the cable railway was abandoned in 1907

These cars were originally lit by gas fixtures; around 1895, the cars were upgraded with electric lights, powered by storage batteries under the floor...........

"NYO"

["BRIDGE RAILWAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Adjacent to the Sands Street complex, there was also an elevated storage yard, to store trains between rush hours (note the trolley pole son the cars in this undated vuew)............

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

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["FULTON ST. LINE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Note the center door on this wooden BMT "El" car, near Sands Street; the center doors were adapted from those used on the "Bridge Railway" cable trains.

These doors were only used at Park Row and Sands Street; in later years,these doors were sealed, and seats were installed, blocking off the former doorways..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?113234

See also:

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116204

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["BRIDGE-JAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Curca-1937, we see a B&QT convertible (inbound from Park Row) approaching the massive Sands Street station..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?118244

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["FLATBUSH"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Circa-1948, we see a PCC departing the Bridge trackage at Sands Street; note how barren the scene looks, without the looming Sands Street station complex in view...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140661

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["ST. LOUIS CAR COMPANY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In happier days (circa-1938) we have a PCC nearing Sands Street, outbound from Park Row; note the heavy overhead trusswork guides used by the streetcars; these were extensively used at Sands Street.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140715

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["67-SEVENTH"]