BusTalk

[Cyberider]

This is superb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhIXhg9Vq3A

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

The old PRR terminal at Exchange Place closed down in late 1961; I only have a few vague, hazy memories of this long-gone facility.

Until 1957, "K-4" steamers hauled NY&BL trains to Bay Head, before being replaced with Baldwin "Sharks".

Ferry service to Cortland Street was shut down in late 1949 (this fleet was once the largest on the Hudson, also running to Desvrosses and W. 23rd Streets.

At the nd of service, only one regular boat (and one spare) remained in use.

Unlike the other Hudson River rail terminals, the tracks were elevated, and passengers could board the upper deck of the ferryboats on the same level as the trains.

It was also the only electrified waterfront terminal in Jersey City.

By 1963, all of the terminal buildings had been razed (along with the four-track viaduct); the skeletal remains of two of the remaing old ferry slips remained until; 1975; not a trace remains of this massive, once-busy terminal.

Thanks for the link!

"NYO"

["ENTRANCE TO FERRY BOATS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are two mid-50s photos taken at Exchange Place; the terminal building itself would have been been behind (east) of the photographer.

With connections to the H&M also available at Newark, and through service into Manhattan, this echoing facility was quite deserted during off-hours......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?142328

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?142308

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["PENNSYLVANIA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting link; this details the H&M/PATH station (opened in 1909) directly below the former PRR terminal; information about the PRR terminal through the years is here, as well.

I once passed through this station twice daily, way back in the day; there was also an old interlocking tower at the far western end of the Newark/Hoboken-bound platform.

A rich, interesting history, to be sure.......

https://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/exchange.html

["PRR"]

["H&M"]

["PATH"]

[Cyberider]

NYO,

Thanks for the info on the area as well as the photo links. Wish I could have been there back then! I've been watching a lot of steam loco videos lately and came across this one. I like the MP-54's too. "Mini-blimps" that remind me of PE, NWP, IER, and SP's west coast blimps though I suppose closer in size to SP''s Oregon Electric cars that PE acquired in the late '20's.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

As a VERY small lad, I DO recall PRR trains from Exchange Place passing through the open-cut station of the H&M/PATH at Journal Square; mostly "MP-54s".

The only other New Jersey terminal on the Hudson River waterfront to serve electric MUs was the Lackawanna Terminal at Hoboken (still used by NJT); electrification came in 1930, and to Exchange Place in 1932.

On another note, interesting to remember that the "Blimps" originally ran for the SP/IER and NWP!

"NYO"

["TO THE TRAINS"]

['TO UPPER DECK OF FERRY BOATS"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Correct you are, my friend!

Hard to believe that, when Your's Truly was born in January, 1957 (in Jersey City!) those classic "K-4s" (my all-time FAVORITE PRR steamer!) were STILL hauling NY&LB trains out of Exchange Place!

Most of the MU runs out of Exchange Place were South Amboy locals, a service that no longer operates); the old "motor yard" at South Amboy was long ago closed, used until at least the early 1980s (the last "GG-1s", operated by NJT for the NY&LB trains, were also based here)

The Pennsy also had an engine house/servicing area at South Amboy, that lasted through Penn-Central and ConRail.........

"NYO"

["SOUTH AMBOY LOCAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Bygone days at South Amboy..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?94153 (note CNJ "Shore" train heading for Jersey City and its ferry connections on the far left; also, note the variety of motive power, in this timeless 1957 photo!)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?36755

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?123324

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["SA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Came across this interesting page.......

https://embankment.org/about.html

Note 1900s postcard view (riverfront view) of the Exchange Place terminal, showing the ferries; the massive arched trainshed was gone by the 1930s, and the tall Victorian PRR office building was torn down in 1955..........

"NYO"

["TO ALL TRAINS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Until 1952, the PRR also operated ferries between Philadelphia and Camden; note how the terminal echoes those then in use in New York Harbor.

Unlike the New York Harbor operations, upper deck loading was not used in the Philadelphia operations..........

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/314266880248334173/

["WATCH THE GATES!"]

[Cyberider]

Speaking of Hoboken Terminal, this video popped up in my YouTube feed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coaITvbih6E

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

The Hoboken Terminal was indeed a "second home" for me growing up, 60-odd years ago; it was the most monumental and ornate of all the Hudson River rail/ferry terminals.

The now-closed upper ferry concourse (with its impressive Tiffany skylights) is one of the largest enclosed spaces in the world, featuring high ceilings, Roman columns, marble, brass, and mahogany.

The main waiting room also boats a huge Tffany skylight; this had been covered over during WW, due to blaclut regulations.

Until WW2, an open-air restaurant (connected to the lofty and elegant interior dining room) afforded patrons a sweeping view of the Hudson River.

It was closed due to security reasons during WW2, and never re-opened.

The massive clock tower is a replica of the original, which was razed in the late 1940s, due to damage suffered in a storm; it was built to the original blueprints from 1906.

Its sprawling Bush trainsheds were the first on the East Coast.

Erie-Lackawanna ferry service to Barclay Street in lower Manhattan was shut down in late 1967..............

"NYO"

['ERIE-LACKAWANNA HOBOKEN TERMINAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is a rare photo of an H&M Class "A" train at the (still unfinished) Exchange Place station on a special run, just before regular service began to lower Manhattan in 1909.

This train is eastbound, heading to the new Hudson Terminal (closed 1971)

Elevators carried passengers directly to the main PRR concourse.

Note the signals; believe it or not, some of these were STILL in use at certain stations as late as the early 2000s(!!)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?145912

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["HUDSON TUBES TO NEW YORK"]

[Cyberider]

Hoboken Terminal sounds like it is/was quite the place. . .