BusTalk

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(SEE EARLIER POSTS) Recall through the 1960s-you not only had liners docking along "Luxury Liner Row"-but also-freighters/cargo ships representing a plethora of foreign lands docked along both sides of the Hudson-starting at Edgewater-and thence all the way down through Jersey City; the last cargo ships (of any type) departed the old Hoboken Port Authority piers in 1978-thus ending Hoboken's role as a hub for shipping (which-by this late date-was but a whisper of what it had been-a decade earlier)--------"NYO"

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There is one interesting photo in the ocean liner book I'd brought up earlier-showing an "ITALIAN LINE" liner being docked in 1961; when this photo was taken-the abandoned (since 1959) NYCRR West Shore ferry house and slips were still standing at the foot of West 42nd Street-as seen in this photo (they were later destroyed by fire-in 1962)-----"CIRCLE LINE" was the using at least one of the old West Shore ferry slips to dock boats in-between cruises--------"NYO"

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One scene in 1965's "A THOUSAND CLOWNS" (starring the great Jason Robards) features MORAN tugs assisting the "NIEUW AMSTERDAM" out of her West Side berth (classic!)

Another great bygone scene shows an (unidentified) outbound liner off lower Manhattan, with an Erie-Lackawanna ferry heading back to Hoboken from Barclay Street!

Man, the great childhood memories these long-gone harbor scenes recall!

And, for the bus enthusiast, a FANTASTIC montage of rush hour buses (mostly MABSTOA Old Looks) dominate the screen during the opening credits; Fishbowls are also to be seen in this film.......

"NYO"

["PORT OF NEW YORK"]

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On this page (filming locations for the 1965 Jason Robard's New York cpmedy "A THOUSAND CLOWNS"), you will see the photo I mentioned previously, showing an outbound liner with an E-L ferry heading back to Hoboken!

Enjoy the nostalgia!

"NYO"

(also note the sharply contrasting "then and now" photos of the area near today's South Street Seaport!)

https://onthesetofnewyork.com/athousandclowns.html

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Maritime tragedy in Baltimore.........

Overnight, a container ship bound for Sri Lanka collided with the main span of the Frances Scott Key Bridge, totally destroying it.

The high level of destruction is indeed frightening.

News reports are saying that the ship lost power prior to the collision with the bridge.

The only saving grace was that this disaster did not occur during rush hour.

One cannot help but wonder if, our nation was still a powerful manufacturer, would we need such monstrous and oversized ships, instead of our powerful reliance on foreign-made goods?

Recall, in recent years, the Bayonne Bridge had to have its roadways raised, to allow larger container ships to pass beneath (even today, it is indeed a tight squeeze)

It will take many years to build a new span to replace the destroyed original.

Prayers go out to all involved............

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also:

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

Also of interest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayonne_Bridge *

*(see article: "Roadbed Raising Project")

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This is the container ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge overnight.........

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

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The "working man's 'cruise ships' "......................

Think about it.......

Recall the long-ago days when excursion boats were as commonplace in NY Harbor as cracks in the sidewalk.

Not only did we have the legendary, historic "DAY LINE" (and, of course, the iconic "CIRCLE LINE", which, thankfully, is still with us today), but we also had the old "PANORAMA LINE", which was a "sea-going treat" for many sightseers, back in the day.

Then, too, the big, handsome excursion boats operated by the fabled WILSON LINES and MESECK LINES, both of which, until the 1960s, docked at the now long-gone PIER "C" at Exchange Place (Jersey City)

Also calling at Pier "C" (as well as the Battery and the old 69th Street ferry pier in Brooklyn) was the handsome steamer, "CITY OF KEANSBURG".

Boats from New York also docked at Atlantic Highlands (and Keansburg), where passengers transferred to buses ("BORO BUSES") to transport them to Monmouth Park racetrack during the racing season.

Poughkeepsie, West Point, Bear Mountain, Indian Point, Playland (Rye Beach), Keansburg, Atlantic Highlands.....indeed, all one-time popular destinations for the "working man's cruise ships" of so long ago.

So very fortunate that I have memories of some of those grand old boats!

"NYO"

["BRyant 9-5151"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting, also, to note that through the 1964 season, the "DAY LINE" also docked at the W. 125th Street Pier (the once-busy 125th Street Ferry to Edgewater had shut down in late 1950)

Even for a time in the 70s, after the retirement of the historic sidewheeler "ALEXANDER HAMILTON" in 1971, "DAY LINE" continued to air television commercials during the season, now featuring the new diesel-powered "DAYLINER", which opened up the 1972 season..............

"NYO"

["PIER 81"]

[traildriver]

Just got back yesterday from my "escape from summer, cruise", aboard the Oceania Insignia (formerly the Renaissance "R-1").

We sailed a magnificent 51 day journey, from New York that included the Cape Cod Canal, Boston, Bar Harbor, the Canadian Maritimes, Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, the Baltic countries, Scandinavia, Germany, Poland, the Kiel Canal, the Netherlands, Belgium, London, France, Ireland, St. Pierre and Miquelon (tiny islands off the coast of Newfoundland that are the last true French Overseas Territories in North America, Portland, Newport, and back to New York.

Great ship size for a very port-intensive itinerary!

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traildriver:

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Talk about "seeing the world"!!!!

Christopher Columbus ain't got nuthin' on you, my friend!

Glad you had a great voyage (gonna have to start calling you "VoyageSeeker")

BTW:

How was the weather?

Ship perform well?

"NYO"

["BERTH 7"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver......

See...........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Insignia *

QUITE an impressive vessel!

Have long been curious, however, why the modern cruise ship have those "angle stepped" sterns, instead of the more graceful sterns so typical of the liners of old?

I know you're the man with the answer, here!

"NYO"

["BON VOYAGE"]

[traildriver]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Thanks!

I knew you were the "man with the answers" (as usual!)

About 17 years ago, when Mom was in a rehab center on the Hudson in Weehawken, through my binoculars (looking south towards midtown) I saw what I THOUGHT was a HUGE pier that had been rebuilt for residential/commercial use.

It was not until I saw it actually MOVING (were my eyes playing tricks on me?) out into the river that I realized that I was seeing a CRUISE SHIP pulling out!!!

Like myself, Mom found it hard to believe that "anything that big could stay afloat"!

I know you've told me in the past that the cruise ship companies no longer give tours of the engine room; heck, I would have been MORE that satisfied just to go up on the bridge!

"NYO"

["BON VOYAGE"!"