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New Staten Island Ferryboat to enter service/Ferry history
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Check out these high-speed auto ferries on Lake Michigan:

https://www.lake-express.com/

Given that the bridges and tunnels of both New York and San Francisco are often beyond gridlocked, you ponder why such high-speed vehicular ferries have not been established here in New York Harbor.....

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The stalwart, grizzled, ferry skippers of old would, surely, think that these ultra-modern, high-speed ferries were something out of science fiction! Shocked

https://horizonship.com/ship-category/passenger-vessels-for-sale/high-speed-ferries-for-sale/

["Anchors Aweigh!"]
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 12:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I left my heart in San Francisco......

The very last of the "traditionl" double-ended ferryboat service on all of San Francisco Bay ended in 1958, when the Southern Pacific shut down its Oakland Pier-Ferry Building route (the ex-KEY SYSTEM "SAN LEANDRO" had the honor of making the final run across the Bay.

Just a few years later, however, CROWLEY MARITIME CORP. began running small sightseeing boats as ferries to Tiburon in Marin County (NWP's ferryboats and electric commuter trains served Marin residents until 1941)

Then, in 1970, the public agency that owns and operates the Golden Gate Bridge established a Sausalito-San Francisco run (NWP ferries docked at Sausalito until 1941)

It was not long before the Bridge District began ferry operations between Larkspur (Marin County) and San Francisco, using modern, single-ended craft.

Over the past few decades, new vessels and new routes have been established; oddly enough, given the strangulating gridlock that strangles the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge, especially at rush hours, there is still no vehicular ferries on the Bay, and, most likely, never will be........

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 12:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The past and the present......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferries_of_San_Francisco_Bay

["FULL AHEAD"]
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 1:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a very interesting page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferries_in_Michigan

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Badger

(This massive, sleek, and graceful coal-burning ferry is a majestic relic from another era; she is also, thankfully, a National Historic Landmark!)

Interestingly, there are still numerous ferries in Michigan; there were even more service prior to the opening of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957.

Today, there are still ferries that continue to carry vehicles.

I also have just received a copy of an excellent little book, "MICHIGAN STATE FERRIES" (from the "IMAGES OF AMERICA" series), and, already, I have learned quite a bit that I had not known previously.

Interestingly, some of the oldest ferries, in their original configurations (these vessels loaded from the side), were equipped with elevators that carried autos up to the upper deck vehicle gangway, when the main deck was full.

As only one auto at a time could be carried by the elevator, loading and unloading times were quite lengthy, which certainly is not surprising.

There were times, during extremely busy periods, even in later years, where the lines of autos waiting to board the ferries was 20 miles long! Shocked

Recall, also, this was long, long before air-conditioned autos became commonplace! Shocked

At intervals along the roads leading to the ferry slips, restaurants with restrooms and gift shops were later built, along with refreshment stands, catering to the long lines of motorists waiting to board the boats........

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 1:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also of interest......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgeport_&_Port_Jefferson_Ferry

https://www.fiferry.com/auto-ferries/
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 1:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's another interesting page (w/vintage photos!)*......

https://www.steamferrytoroa.com/what-happened-to-the-steam-ferries/

*My particular favorite is the open-deck auto ferry "EAGLEHAWK", which reminds me of a steam-powered "GOVERNOR", which once served on the Governor's Island run.

Originally, this boat operated on Puget Sound as the "KULSHAN"; at last writing, she was running out of Martha's Vineyard.....

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 02, 2022 1:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mention must be made of London's Woolwich Free Ferry, which dates back to the 1800's.

Until 1963, ancient, picturesque, side-loading paddlewheelers (NOTHING like this in NY Harbor!) were in service.

Interestingly, LONDON TRANSPORT buses, and, also motor coaches, also used this ferry (see photos)......... Wink

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolwich_Ferry


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Dec 02, 2022 1:46 am; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 02, 2022 1:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's an excellent page on the Woolwich Ferry's boats, both past and present.

Not only were the fascinating old paddlewheel ferries side-loaders, but also, the vehicles were carried on the UPPER deck, QUITE the difference from here at home........

www.simplonpc.co.uk/WoolwichFerry.html
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 12:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Speaking of sidewheel ferries, the old Staten Island sidewheelers (operated by the Staten Island Rapid Transit) were all retired in 1905, when the City took over Whitehall St.-St.George ferry operations, replacing them with modern, screw-driven boats (the handsome and powerful "FIVE BOROUGHS" class)

The very last sidewheel (walking beam) ferries to operate in the NYC area were the "PERTH AMBOY" and "CHARLES GALLOWAY", which the SIRT operated (until 1948) between the SIRT station at Tottenville, and Perth Amboy, NJ.....

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The magnificently restored, walking-beam "EUREKA", for many years, carried Marin commuters between the electric commuter trains at Sausalito and the Ferry Building.

After the NWP abandoned the electric suburban trains in 1941, the "EUREKA" went on to serve the SP, connecting now with main line trains at Oakland ("Red Train" electrics were rerouted from Oakland Pier in 1939 to the new Transbay Terminal)

This grand and historic ferry ran until 1957, when mechanical issues forced her retirement (SP ferry service ended the following year, 1958)

Thankfully, this majestic relic of a long-ago era is still with us today....... Wink

https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/eureka-history.htm

["NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC"]
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 12:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's an OUTSTANDING and fascinating page* (w/many rare photos, maps, diagrams, etc.) of the "SOLANO", once the world's largest ferryboat.

This monolithic vessel ferried entire trains (INCLUDING the locomotives!) for decades, before being replaced by a bridge.......

www.cprr.org/Museum/Solano/index.html

*BE SURE to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page; there's NOTHING you should miss! Wink


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Dec 03, 2022 2:01 am; edited 2 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2022 12:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another highly-unorthodox and interesting ferryboat was the SACRAMENTO NORTHERN's "RAMON".

This unusual vessel was the only electrified car ferry in the world; it was equipped with catenary for carrying SN's electric interurban trains (until the early 1940's)

Freight trains were the last carried by this most interesting vessel.......

https://www.wplives.org/sn/ramon.html

["SN"]
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 2:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Recalling the (sadly) now-scrapped Great Lakes railroad car ferry, the "LANSDOWNE"......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Lansdowne

She had the proud distinction of being the last of the great paddle wheel car ferries to operate on the Great Lakes.

In the early years of the last century, she, like many other Great Lakes car ferries, carried pilot houses fore and aft, even though she could only load from the bow end; passengers on the WABASH trains she carried were allowed to stroll about her decks during crossings.

Later in her career, she carried only freight cars, though often "deadhead" passenger equipment would be carried.

In later years painted in CANADIAN NATIONAL steamship colors, she only operated during the winter, as her massive paddle wheels could break up the ice that often blocked the ferry slips.

Sadly, her intriguing and fascinating story did not have a happy ending........ Sad

["CANADIAN NATIONAL"]
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2022 3:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also of historical interest.....

https://worldhistory.us/american-history/great-lakes-car-ferries-the-river-ferries.php

This fascinating and well-documented site is an outstanding look (many rare historical photos) at the Great Lakes car ferries of decades ago (fleets, operations, etc.)....

www.carferries.com

["ANN ARBOR"]
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