Posts Tagged ‘New York City’
quite convinced
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Recent financial setbacks and personal problems infect your humble narrator with a form of deep melancholy and a vast ennui. When such moments come upon me, there is a certain pizzeria in Greenpoint (Norman corner of Manhattan, near the train) whose offerings can be summed up best as: an actual and old fashioned “Brooklyn Slice”. On the day I spied this collection of rail cars at the so called “Bliss Tower” in DUGABO, I had scuttled forth from the rolling hillocks of my beloved Astoria in pursuit of one of these aforementioned slices, in an effort designed to brighten my mood.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Errors and omissions mar my record when discussing the Rails, much to the chagrin of the knowledgable railfan community (whose helpful comments and corrections are always appreciated here at Newtown Pentacle). As such, what I can categorically tell you is that this a New York & Atlantic Locomotive, one of the 11 engine units which service the 269 miles of track operated upon by the Glendale based company in Brooklyn, Queens, and both Nassau and Suffolk counties. It shares much of its road with the passenger based Long Island Railroad, and NY&A’s distinctive emerald, white, and black engines are regularly observed around the Newtown Creek.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Across the Newtown Creek Watershed, one encounters a landscape built for rail. Long abandoned track beds lie buried in inches of road asphalt, pointing the way to industrial giants long absent. Train stops orphaned from their purpose, spars and switches which were rudely severed to make room for modernity. All of it operated at street grade, and the remnants of the iron road are often the only tangible remains of great concerns and financial largesse. If you follow the right spar, you’ll discover that the NYPD Barricades unit was once Thypin Steel, or that LaGuardia Community College was once the Loose Wiles bakery and part of the Degnon Terminal.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Within the communities which surround the Newtown Creek, a complaint often repeated concerns the presence of large numbers of trucks utilizing local streets in their quest to move goods from A to B. I had the privilege last year of attending a presentation by certain factions within the Port Authority that described a proposal which would eliminate several thousand truck trips a day throughout the City and over the George Washington Bridge, simply by shipping New York City’s garbage out to land fill utilizing locomotive rather than automotive means. Calculations about air pollution, road maintenance costs, and vehicular accident rates were presented at the time which compared rail quite favorably with truck based shipping.There was a maritime component to the plan as well, which was a bit hazy, but the train concept was spun gold.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The shot above represents an NY&A Locomotive making a drop off of a customer in Maspeth near the ill fated St. Saviour’s church site, where they will uncouple a car or two for the unloading or loading of certain cargo. An unthinkable amount of trucks would be required to carry the same tonnage. The subject of Green Technology and “Greening New York” is often bandied about by many these days. Too much of the conversation, however, is “cocktail party environmentalism”- which sounds great but just isn’t practical on a policy level.
I’ve developed this funny notion, however, that the way forward is actually to re-imagine and re-invent the heaviest industry of them all.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Rail infrastructure is what made Long Island City the factory of not just New York, but the entire world at the turn of the last century and multiple generations of capitalists and real estate interests founded vast fortunes because of the initial investment in it. Newtown Creek was the busiest waterway in North America, carrying more ship and barge traffic than the entire Mississippi for a time, and all of that maritime activity was fed by rail. Intermodal rail floats actually carried whole trains across the harbor to Manhattan, Staten Island, New Jersey and beyond. Imagine the benefits, in both individual wealth and environmental health, were we to try and save the future by looking for solutions in the past.
I’m still kind of forming this idea up for myself, but the key to it is containerization. More on this soon.
What do you, lords and ladies, think on the subject? Use the comments “Reply box” below, if you would like to start a conversation about it.
searing gusts
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That which does not think nor breathe yet instead hungers, a malign intelligence which cannot possibly exist yet nevertheless stares down upon the world of men from the apex of the Megalith, sits upon what can only be called a Hlidskjalf.
Odin had one, a chair set upon the highest peak from which he would dispatch his all seeing ravens- Huginn and Muninn– to spy upon men and report tales of mortal vanity and sin back to his “high seat”.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A feverish and singular eye gazes down from its sapphire high seat, its vantage affording it the 53rd highest point of view available in New York City.
Your humble narrator maintains a vast cadre of whistle blowers, neighborhood cranks, idle laborers, low level government workers, and casual informants in the prosecution of this blog. Reports returned from this network who have witnessed the tableau laid before them from atop floors of the Megalith are tantalizing.
One might see the Battery and Hell Gate, Brooklyn’s East River and its Jamaica Bay coastlines, and every bridge to Manhattan for the price of turning ones head from up there- or so I am told.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That behemoth which cannot possibly lurk there, squatting diabolically atop the highest point on Long Island as it searches the land below for rapacious profit, what can it know about the human world it gazes upon? Can it understand individuality, and environment, or does it just see numbers?
Were such an impossibility to exist, would it believe itself to be some sort of god as Odin did- an undying and omnipresent entity served globally by a growing and humorless army of mortal acolytes?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
All this is idle speculation, of course?
little memories
– photo by Mitch Waxman
What you’re looking at used to be one of the centers of the world, the Long Island Railroad terminus at 2nd street and Borden Avenue. The original version of the place was built in 1861 and provided egress to Manhattan via an enormous ferry terminal which shuttled commuters back and forth across the East River. This was (and is) the literal “End of the Line”.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The station was electrified (WRONG, Sharp Eyed Reader “Kevin” points out that these are diesel trains) along with the rest of the LIRR western spurs, when the tunnels to Manhattan were opened in the early 20th century. The tunnels allowed direct transport to Penn Station, eliminating those delays associated with weather which plagued the ferry service.
Today, excess capacity during the slack time between rush hours can be found idling on the tracks on any given day.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Several versions of the station have been installed here- for instance, a calamitous fire in 1902 destroyed the wooden buildings and train sheds which distinguished the place in the late 19th century. A trip to the acknowledged masters on the subject- the website arrts-arrchives.com is recommended for the curious.
dream breeding
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Working Harbor Committee will be presenting the annual Tugboat Race this Sunday, and I hope you’ll be able to make it. The shots in this post are from last year’s race, which I had the privilege of attending.
This is a rare opportunity, from a photographic point of view, to witness this sort of thing. Dynamic, colorful, quick moving- a challenge.
from workingharbor.com
19th Annual Great North River Tugboat Race and Competition Set for Sunday, September 4
Hudson River Park Pier 84 at West 44th Street, Manhattan – 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Events include a tugboat parade, a mile-long tug race, nose-to-nose pushing contests, line-throwing, spinach-eating and tattoo competitions.
Best viewing is from a Circle Line spectator boat that will follow the on-the-water action.
Good viewing from shore along the West Side riverfront, at Pier 84 and at the Intrepid Museum pier.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
To attend the race, one must simply show up at the pier and enjoy, however the best views (and photos) will be available form the Circle Line observer boat which will labor to keep up with the fleet of contestants. Details on ticketing for the Circle Line boat appear at the bottom of this posting.
Note: As a disclaimer, I’m a member of Working Harbor Committee, but strictly as a volunteer (It’s a non profit organization and I receive zero proceeds for promoting the event).
also from workingharbor.com
Schedule of Events – Sunday, September 4, 2011
- 9:30 a.m. – Spectator Boat departs Pier 83 (boarding begins at 9 a.m.)
- 10 a.m. – Tugboat parade heads north from Pier 84
- 10:30 a.m. – Race begins off Pier i at 70th Street and the Hudson River
- 10:45 a.m. (and earlier) Tugs cross the finish line at Pier 84
- 11 a.m. to noon – Nose-to-nose pushing contests and line-toss competition off Pier 84
- 11:30 a.m. Spectator boat returns to Pier 83
- Noon to 1 p.m. -Tugboats and crews gather for lunch at Pier 84; public is invited to participate in spinach-eating contest and amateur line-toss and knot-tying events
- 1 p.m. – Crew tattoo contest and awards ceremony
- Public Transportation: Any subway to 42nd Street, westbound 42nd Street crosstown bus to the last stop.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Working Harbor comes up a lot here at Newtown Pentacle, whether it be in the context of the Newtown Creek boat tours or the many “Hidden Harbor” trips which they produce. What doesn’t get mentioned that much are the groups many efforts at promoting and revealing the harbor as a career choice for kids from the inner city, it’s annual Senior Tours (produced in conjunction with the offices of the Borough President of Manhattan) which offer a free day on the water to senior citizens, and a host of smaller events which go largely unsung.
They’re a good bunch of joes.
also from workingharbor.com
New York, New York, August 30, 2011: The Great North River Tugboat Race and Competition-one of New York City’s most popular Labor Day weekend events-returns for the 19th year on Sunday, September 4.
More than a dozen tugboats, the maritime 18-wheelers that normally dock ships and push barges, will thunder down the Hudson River Sunday morning as they vie to be named the fastest boat in their class.
The race, on a one-nautical-mile Hudson River course that extends from about West 70th to West 44th Streets, typically draws thousands of spectators, some watching from shore; others getting right in the middle of the action aboard a Circle Line spectator boat that travels alongside the tugs.
This year, tugs will range from 100-foot, state-of-the art 5,000-horsepower workhorses to a 25-foot, 200 horsepower workboat, named The Bronx, to a century-old harbor tug, now a museum ship, named Pegasus. Working boats from many of New York Harbor’s major towing companies will also complete, including tugs from McAllister Towing and Transportation, Miller’s Launch and Donjon Marine. A handicap system will give smaller and less powerful boats a chance to win trophies.
The race typically draws thousands to the riverfront, which is one of the reasons the tug companies enjoy participating. “New Yorkers sometimes forget they are surrounded by water, and that there is a whole maritime industry working here. This tug competition is the one time a year people can really see what we do,” explained Craig Rising of McAllister Towing and Transportation, one of the largest and oldest tug companies in the country. It is also a field day for the tug crews, many of whom bring their families aboard.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is a great party on the Hudson, and a tremendous boost for the crews of the maritime tugs which seldom get a chance to show off their skills and incredible hardware to the public. In addition the race itself, there are “best maritime tattoo” and “spinach eating contests (Popeye brand spinach, natch)“.
Line throwing contests are scheduled, as well as nautical knot tying classes for kids. Family friendly, the event will be at Pier 84 (just south of the intrepid and just north of 42nd street), and the spectator boat will be boarding at the Circle Line pier at 42nd street and the Hudson River.
Hope to see you there.
also from workingharbor.com
The tug race spectator boat will be a Circle Line Sightseeing Boat. It will depart at 9:30 from Circle Line’s Pier 83 at 43rd Street and 12th Avenue (boarding will begin at 9 a.m.), and it will return at 11:30 a.m., so that passengers can walk just one block north to the events on Pier 84. Tickets are $30 adults; $25 for children under 14. Free for ages 4 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at http://www.workingharbor.org or at the Working Harbor Committee tent on the north side of Pier 83 on the day of the event. Admission to the Pier 84 events is free.
The race is organized by the Working Harbor Committee, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to spreading the word about the rich history, current vitality and future potential of the New York/New Jersey Harbor. The organization also provides Hidden Harbor Tours® and runs an extensive youth educational program.
Full information is available at www.workingharbor.org.
Friends of Hudson River Park and Circle Line 42 are co-sponsors.
revel and chaff
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As soon as the rain died down, I descended from Newtown Pentacle HQ here in the rolling hillocks of Astoria to the so called “Zone A” to see what Irene might have wrought here in western Queens. The shot above is from Second Street near Borden Avenue, at the largish worksite which Skanska has been employing hundreds for the last few months. Cleverly, the construction giant had dug a diversion ditch to allow storm water drainage.
Smart.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
“There will be plenty of cameras walking around in Tower Town, so it would be silly of me to spend much time there” were the actual words spoken to my walking companion, who we’ll call the Charismatic Croat (CC). CC was also told that we’d be taking a short walk, and would be back in a half hour. He’s used to my lies and wasn’t surprised when we had inexorably headed for another part of “Zone A”.
All through the storm, I was wishing that I had the camera out at Newtown Creek, or at least Dutch Kills.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Curiosity about the actions of the much feared storm surge upon the fragile bulkheads of Dutch Kills was killing this cat, and I dragged CC back and forth over these streets. There was some flooding, but in the usual places that flood anyway. Back on 2nd street, a few nice shots of the surge were captured by Jesse Winter and others, and an actual wave of East River had risen up and flooded 2nd. The Crab House was bailing water from their basement and more than one giant puddle still remained.
Down at Dutch Kills, 29th street and the large truck yard which houses this cement company were under a foot or more of water- but they are regularly immersed by small amounts of rain anyway.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
What made the day noteworthy, from a Newtown Creek point of view, was this little river of urban chocolate flowing out of one of the many CSO’s (Combined Sewer Outfall) which are found abundantly along the waterfront of the Creek and it’s tributaries. It smelled just the way it looks like it might. One often sees discharges coming from these CSO’s, but this was just a spectacular flow.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I will point out that this could be soil washed into the pipes during the tremendous amount of rain which Irene brought to Queens. It could be sand or actually be a chocolate spill at some industrial confectionary which got washed into the sewers or something. That’s what I said to CC at the time.
Doesn’t smell like chocolate, the Charismatic Croat opined.
