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The "Little Ferries" of NY Harbor/Sunrise Ferries
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:16 pm    Post subject: The "Little Ferries" of NY Harbor/Sunrise Ferries Reply with quote

These diminutive, open-deck vessels were once operated by the long-defunct "SUNRISE FERRIES" company; the very last of this company's crossings was abandoned in late 1963, when the Tottenville-Perth Amboy made its last crossing (interestingly, until 1948, the ferry was operated by the SIRT, and was then using the last sidewheel walking-beam ferries in the harbor)

Until 1962, another (mostly vehicular) crossing operated between Bergen Point (Bayonne) and Port Richmond, Staten Island.

Another SUNRISE line operated between Elizabeth, NJ., and Port Ivory (Howland Hook), Staten Island.

This line had been closed down by 1962; in 1985, the large electric arrow, which once directed traffic to the Port Richmond slip, was still in place (I was able to get a photograph while it was still in existence)

With the exception of two boats (the "IRVINGTON" and the "PIERMONT") the SUNRISE boats were all named after stars:

SPICA

DENEB

ALTAIR

SIRIUS

ORION

VEGA

These small, open-deck boats had passenger cabins on either side of the main deck, and had a capacity of nine vehicles.

After services were abandoned, these little boats were were sold to interests in diverse locations, including New England, Florida, and the West Coast.

As a small boy, I rode both the Bergen Point and Tottenvile crossings, and am glad that I had the chance to ride these long-gone ferry lines.......

"NYO"

[On an interesting note, the little "MICHAEL COSGROVE" (built in 1961) was basically a "modern" version of a typical "SUNRISE" vessel, and operated on the City-owned, non-public crossing between City Island and Hart Island]


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Mar 13, 2020 4:35 pm; edited 3 times in total
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traildriver




Joined: 26 Mar 2011
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very interesting...I envy your experience. When I fan-tripped on the SIRT to Tottenville in the late 60’s...I walked over to the abandoned ferry slip, and looked wistfully towards Perth Amboy...so close, yet so far, at least by public transportation.
I wish they extended either an MTA or NJT local bus route across the Outerbridge, connecting the SIR with NJCL station’s.
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

traildriver:

Mom and I often rode the SIRT, and, while it was still running, ALWAYS rode the "little ferry" (as Mom called it) to Perth Amboy.

The ferry houses at Tottenville and Perth Amboy were so ramshackle and decrepit that were picturesque!

Mom took a photo of me (1962) on the deck of the "IRVINGTON" at Perth Amboy, turning my head away from the sun (the pilothouse of the ferry is clearly visible, as is the tail of a '61 Chevy!)

Even after the old ferry house at Tottenville vanished, the decaying remains of the slip were still intact for years (today, not even that remains; you would never know that a ferry had been there)

Though the ferry house at Perth Amboy is still standing (and restored nicely) it is minus the structure that housed the machinery to raise and lower the loading apron. Too bad that was not restored as well.

That heavy hoisting machinery became necessary after motor vehicles began using the boats.

One time, as a special treat, upon arrival at Perth Amboy (and, after a 'quick bite" at a five-and-ten lunch counter!) we boarded an ancient PRR MP-54 at the Perth Amboy station to Newark, where we caught a "joint service" PRR/PATH train to Journal Square, where we boarded a NHBL #1 bus for Union City (home base!)

Man, would I love to relive that day!

The old Bergen Point (Bayonne) ferry house and slip was also quite decrepit time-worn, and was located right next to the now long-gone "Uncle Milty's" amusement park.

Interestingly enough, this ferry crossing was operated by PSNJ until 1940's (PSNJ also operated the 125th St. line until 1943, when operations were taken over by "ELECTRIC FERRIES")

It's pretty amazing that the Bergen Point ferry lasted some 30-odd years after the Bayonne Bridge opened!

The 69th St. ferry from St. George (which was closed down in late 1964) should never have been abandoned; with the VZ Bridge gridlocked during rush hours, this old ferry line indeed would have made for a very convenient alternate today.

Mom and I also rode this ferry many times; I used to love watching the long lines of vehicles crawl towards the toll booths at the St. George terminal, waiting to board a Brooklyn-bound boat!

Recall, too, that, as both Staten Island and Brooklyn had a number of industries at that time, many truck lines also crossed over the narrows on the familiar green boats, with their distinctive covered stairwells to the upper deck cabin.

Alas, like the "SUNRISE" boats, all of the old Brooklyn boats have vanished; none survive.

Thank heavens for photographs and memories....... Very Happy

"NYO"
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N4 Jamaica




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PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where was the ferry dock in Perth Amboy? Was it at the end of Smith Street, which is somewhat south of the Tottenville dock? As a youngster with small steps, the walk on Smith Street to the railroad station in Perth Amboy seemed endless, but it is only about 0.6 mile.
---
I had the same complaint when we rode from Staten Island to Elizabethport. The walk to Elizabethport station was long.
---
The walk in Bayonne to the CNJ at West 8th Street was also 0.6 mile, but I think we may have taken a Boulevard bus from the dock.
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

N4 Jamaica wrote:
Where was the ferry dock in Perth Amboy? Was it at the end of Smith Street, which is somewhat south of the Tottenville dock? As a youngster with small steps, the walk on Smith Street to the railroad station in Perth Amboy seemed endless, but it is only about 0.6 mile.
---
I had the same complaint when we rode from Staten Island to Elizabethport. The walk to Elizabethport station was long.
---
The walk in Bayonne to the CNJ at West 8th Street was also 0.6 mile, but I think we may have taken a Boulevard bus from the dock.


Joe:

Yes, the old Perth Amboy ferry slip was (is) at the foot of Smith St.; the Tottenville slip was at the end of Bentley; through the 1980's, the collapsing remains of the covered walkway that connected the SIRT platform at Tottenville to the ferry house (then long gone) was still partially intact.

As a kid, I remember the Bayonne Boulevard bus (SHBL) displaying "JERSEY CITY-BAYONNE LOCAL" on the roller curtains; they used to turn around near the old ferry house (recall, the street leading down to the slip was sloped)

I remember reading quite awhile ago that one of the old SUNRISE boats was being towed to new owners in Florida (not long after NY operations shut down) and broke free from the seagoing tug that was hauling it, during a storm, and sinking, somewhere off the East coast.

After nearly 60 years, the superstructure would have long since disappeared, and the only remains would be the hull and the engines (if that), thickly encrusted with rust and algae.

I know that, after the Tottenville-Perth Amboy line closed down in late 1963, the "IRVINGTON" and her sister "PIERMONT" were sold to interests in Greenport, Long Island..........

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 11:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Perhaps the "littlest" of all the "little ferries" that operated in NY Harbor was the obscure "New Blazing Star Ferry".

This long-defunct company once operated sidewheel double-ended boat between Linoleumville, Staten Island, and Carteret, New Jersey.

This crossing's origins dated back to the American Revolution; the ferry stopped operating during the Revolution, and, oddly, did not start operation again for over a century; in 1916, service started again with a single double-ender.

This boat operated only until 1929, when a gas launch replaced it, carrying foot passengers only.

This unusual "little ferry" was finally shut down in December of 1960........

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

While on the subject of "little ferries", the very last "upriver" ferry operation was the Newburgh-Beacon run, which ended operations in late 1963.

Sadly, "progress" killed off the business districts in these towns, as the new bridge bypassed both.

The handsome ferryboats were known as "hand bombers" (meaning, their boilers were hand fired); the very last such ferries on the Hudson were the E-L's former DL&W boats, which ran until 1967)

These were the "DUTCHESS", "BEACON", and "ORANGE", all grand examples of classic double-ended passenger/vehicular ferries.

Until the end in late 1963, long lines of cars and trucks waited at the two terminals for the next boat to dock; interestingly, several local bus lines also used the ferries to cross the Hudson.

The new bridge, much touted in the early 60's, ended up causing more decline than progress.

With the ferries gone, the busy business districts fell upon hard times; also, the convenient connection to NYCRR trains at Beacon was also severed.

As you might guess, none of the boats survive; all are long gone.

However, until fairly recent days, the collapsing, rusting hulk of the "ORANGE" was still visible at the Witte Marine Scrapyard on Staten island, where many of New York Harbor's retired ferries, tugs, and other vessels languished on the mud flats for many years.

When the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry closed down on that dreary day in in 1963, it not only marked the passing of the very last ferry above Manhattan, but also, an entire era........

"NYO"
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traildriver




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PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are still several ferry routes operating in and near NYC...

Besides all the NY Waterway and Hornblower ferries, there are the Governor’s Island, the high speed boats to Monmouth County, the LI/Connecticut ferries at Port Jefferson and Orient Point, Montauk/Block Island, the Plum Island, and perhaps the shortest of all runs...the North and the South ferries to Shelter Island. Perhaps some more I left out...?
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

traildriver wrote:
There are still several ferry routes operating in and near NYC...

Besides all the NY Waterway and Hornblower ferries, there are the Governor’s Island, the high speed boats to Monmouth County, the LI/Connecticut ferries at Port Jefferson and Orient Point, Montauk/Block Island, the Plum Island, and perhaps the shortest of all runs...the North and the South ferries to Shelter Island. Perhaps some more I left out...?


traildriver:

Yes, indeed....there are many ferries in opration in the area, but all are PASSENGER ferries; the only ferry to still handle vehicles (AFAIK) is the Governor's Island crossing.

Even after the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, several East River crossings were still in service; the last operated in 1924.

Until the 1920's, the LIRR operated ferries from the foot of W. 34th St. to Long Island City.

The last ferries to Brooklyn from Manhattan (South Ferry) operated in 1942.

There was also a (City-operated) short-lived vehicular ferry, operating between South Ferry and Stapleton, Staten Island, which used two ex-Staten Island (SIRT) sidewheelers.

This line proved to be a major money loser; service was established in 1909 through December, 1913.

With the arrival of the new "FIVE BOROUGHS" class ferries for the St. George-Whitehall St. run in 1905, these "modern" sidewheelers (dating to 1888) were transferred to the run between Manhattan and 39th St., Brooklyn.

Interestingly, the two 1888 sidewheelers, the "ROBERT GARRETT" and "ERASTUS WIMAN" were also the first boats in the Staten Island fleet to use electric lighting (the CNJ had installed electric lights on their ferries not long before this)

Both of these boats had also been rebuilt for upper deck loading..........

"NYO"
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traildriver




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PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 3:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Governor’s Island ferry carries (official) vehicles. The Long Island/Connecticut ferries carry vehicles, (except for a high speed catamaran for casino gamblers, the Shelter Island boats carry vehicle’s, as does the govt only Plum Island.
Of the Staten Island boats, I believe the only one still capable, is the John F. Kennedy, but not for the public, since 9-11.
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 3:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Today's small "Waterway" ferries are a far cry from the massive double-enders of years past, those huge, graceful vessels that each carried close to 2000 passengers, in addition to a number of vehicles.

Back in the day, passenger-only ferries were most certainly in the minority; recall the venerable "ELLIS ISLAND", that shuttled back and forth from Lower Manhattan to Ellis Island, carrying millions of immigrants to the fabled shores of the New Land, guided by the glowing torch of "Liberty Enlightning The World".

After Ellis Island closed in 1954, the unwanted old ferry sat moored at her Ellis Island slip until the late 1960's, when she sank in a storm.

Her grizzled, rotted, decaying hulk was visible for many years afterwards, before finally collapsing altogether in the early 1980's.

The Staten Island ferry has not carried vehicles since 9/11 (IMHO, the transporting of vehicles should never have been stopped)

The new "BARBERI" class boats of the early 80's were the first Staten Island double-enders to be be built in passenger-only configuration, a standard that still is followed today with the newest boats.

Interestingly, there was talk in the 1960's of converting the late 1930's "MISS NEW YORK" class ferries into all-passenger vessels, converting the vehicle gangways into expanded passenger cabins.

Nothing ever came of this idea.........

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

traildriver wrote:
The Governor’s Island ferry carries (official) vehicles. The Long Island/Connecticut ferries carry vehicles, (except for a high speed catamaran for casino gamblers, the Shelter Island boats carry vehicle’s, as does the govt only Plum Island.
Of the Staten Island boats, I believe the only one still capable, is the John F. Kennedy, but not for the public, since 9-11.


traildriver:

I rode the Port Jefferson-Bridgeport ferry a few times close to 20 years ago; like the Cape May ferry, these massive vessels indeed look more like cruise ships than "ferry boats"!

Yes, you are correct on the "KENNEDY"; she is the very last of her class, as well as being the only ferry left capable of carrying vehicles.

She has now been in service for 55 years (Mom and I rode her not long after she entered service in 1965; I still have the postcard of her that Mom bought me at the newsstand at Whitehall Street!)

The "Kennedy" now has the longest house record of any SI boat' previously, the sidewheeler "NORTHFIELD" held the record for longevity in the fleet, after serving for 38 years before colliding off Whitehall St. with the Jersey Central ferry "MAUCH CHUNK", in 1901.........

"NYO"
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 3:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Recalling the bygone car ferries of Chesapeake Bay (this is an interesting historical page).........

http://esva.net/~rwest/ferries.html
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 3:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Cape May Ferry.............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_May-Lewes_Ferry
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 3:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

NY Waterway (history, routes, boats, etc.)........

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