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Home , Bowling Green station, Danbury station, New York Transit Museum, Ocean Parkway (Brooklyn), Poughkeepsie station, Roosevelt Island Tramway

RAILWAY AND CANAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Visit to

22nd to 31st May 2007

Report recorded by Alan Crowther, Edited by Brian Slater, Souvenir booklet produced by Ted Cheers.

1 Summary

Tuesday 22nd May Flights, Manchester and Heathrow to JFK; Lower waterfront; dinner on ; Illuminated vistas from ferry on return.

Wednesday 23rd May Seaport Historical District; and Manhattan Bridge walks; Tramway and Queensboro’ Bridge walk.

Thursday 24th May ; ; Ground Zero; .

Friday 25th May Manhattan Waterways Cruise; New York transit shop; Staten Island Railroad; Verrazano Narrows Bridge; Coney Island.

Saturday 26th May (Brian’s birthday); ; Metropolitan of Air Train conveyed us from JFK Airport to the Subway network Art.

Sunday 27th May , .

Monday 28th May Train to Poughkeepsie; Mott Street.

Tuesday 29th May ; Various elevated sections of subway system.

Wednesday 30th May Lobby; Architectural tour; Grand Central Station tour; More elevated subway lines.

Thursday 31st May Last minute shopping etc; taxi to JFK; return to Manchester and Heathrow.

Convoy of NYPD cars outside Grand Central Station on our arrival 0 Day one; Tuesday 22nd May 2007

RCHS party of 7 (Manchester contingent) met at 7.20am at Manchester Airport Interchange. Through checking in procedures by 8.15am and reached the breakfast café airside. Onto Boeing 767 (reg. G-BNWM) at 9.35. Backed away from pier 10.08 and took off at 10.23. Hazy visibility over the green fields of Cheshire, Stanlow and Mersey estuary then into cloud. Later vistas through cloud of Ireland and its Western coast. Occasional views of the Atlantic; seemed calm but no ships seen. Ground speed around 550/600 mph at 35000/36000 feet. At 2.55pm (UK time) approaching St. Johns, Newfoundland, headwind now 104 mph at 33000 feet; ground speed 431 mph. Outside temperature -51°C, 1250 miles to go, all this information gleaned from the small TV screen at one’s seat on the plane. A long and gradual descent into JFK over the length of , some of its illustrious properties being visible. Arrived JFK at 5.40pm UK time; (12.40pm US time). After immigration and baggage processing, met up with 2 additional members of the group who had flown from Heathrow arriving 15 minutes later, then on to Air- train (car 207) for shuttle trip to Howard Beach/JFK subway station/surface running here (1.55 – 2.05 ). On leaving the arrival area, Ted spotted that tickets for the Airtrain were available at Howard Beach subway station at the end of the journey. And, sure enough, they were purchased, along with a “One Day Fun Pass” from a stall on the Howard Beach concourse run by an Hispanic gentleman who it is assumed made more profit on ticket sales than other items which he sold. One ticket was used on the Airtrain exit barrier and the other ticket through the Subway entry gate. Depart Howard Beach 2.25pm } Line A arrive /Nassau 3.00pm } car 4061 walked to (nominal interchange) via many staircases Depart Fulton Street 3.10pm } Line 4 arrive Bowling Green 3.13pm } car 2135 (but had gone downtown depart Bowling Green 3.18pm } Line 5 in error – so reversed here) arrive Grand Central,/42 St 3.31pm } car 6956 Reached hotel on foot with baggage 3.53pm (8.53pm UK time), Madison Towers, 22 East 38th Street. Departed from hotel at 6.00pm (US time) in search of an evening meal, possible in and to check out the sailing arrangements for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island trips. Subway to Bowling Green then walked along Battery Park/ and later on to Staten Island Ferry (free). At some stage after sailing, Matthew was noted to be missing; last seen photographing on waterfront, but reunited at breakfast next morning. Now getting dusk and remainder of party discovered a restaurant Karls Klipper Diner on Bay Street. A reasonable meal for hungry people with unusual entertainment in the shape of a three part amateur video on “way-out” weird subjects, which happened to arrive to show their latest work whilst we were there. Walked back to the ferry in darkness taking 10.00pm sailing. A wonderful view of Lower Manhattan skyline all lit up, including Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Downtown Manhattan viewed from the Staten Island Ferry 1 Walked to departed 10.40pm } Line 5 Arrived Grand Central Station/42nd St. 10.55pm } car 7130 Finally reached hotel on foot 11.10pm (4.10am UK time) rather tired.!

Day two; Wednesday 23rd May 2007

Rose at 7.30am refreshed after a good night’s sleep. Cloudless blue sky. Breakfast in hotel dining room; basic Continental @ $17 with extra helpings – departed hotel at 9.25am. Bought a 7 day Metro ticket at 33rd Street subway station ticket office costing $24 then; depart 33rd St/Park Ave South 9.45am } Line 6 arrive stn 10.00am } car 7315 depart Brooklyn Bridge stn 10.01am } Line 4 arrive Bowling Green 10.07am } car 7771 Walked through Battery Park gardens and waterfront to Historical District observing various historic vessels, including sailing ships “Peking” of 1911 and “” built 1885 for Leyland Line, . Some shopping etc. Mid-day meal 12.15 – 1.15pm at open air café near Fulton Market. Sunny and warm with a light breeze. A lengthy walk over Brooklyn Bridge (1883) and its approaches. Brooklyn Bridge and Woolworths Building seen from Circle Line boat. Called into a main post office in Brooklyn for postage stamps, observing en-route fire brigade etc. attending a collision at a multi-lane intersection. Manhattan Bridge (opened 1909) under long term repair on , but after some enquiries and deviations, found our way onto the walkway. This bridge carries road traffic and four subway tracks. Noted from high on the bridge yet another accident on the riverside highway below, where one car had apparently driven under the rear of another; ambulance in attendance. Afternoon coffee in a McDonalds, China town area. Depart Canal Street station 4.40pm } Line 6 arrive 59th St (adjacent to Bloomingdale’s) 5.10pm } car 7651 Walked to the Roosevelt Island Tramway, actually an aerial cableway and took car no.1, a dizzy height of 145 ft and is 1046 yards long, running parallel to – 5.20 to 5.28pm. Depart Roosevelt Island subway 5.40pm } Line R arrive 21st St/Queensbridge 5.42pm } car 6157 Walked westward over Queensboro Bridge (opened 1908) 5.57-6.33pm, 2484 yards noting a turbulent area of water in , indicating tidal flow over shallows. Depart 6.57pm } Line 6 arrived Grand Central/ 7.00 pm } car 7421 Reached hotel on foot at 7.20pm. Evening meal at Chez Lawrence Patisserie Bistro, nearby on foot. We have walked many miles today. Roosevelt Island ‘’

2 Day three; Thursday 24th May 2007

Cloudless blue skies again, all day. Departed hotel 7.05am as a complete group without taking breakfast in order to stake an early place in the booking queue for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island etc. at National Park ticket office, Battery Park. Depart 33rd Street 7.15am } Line 6 arrive Brooklyn Bridge station 7.22am } car 7419 depart Brooklyn Bridge station 7.23am } Line 5 arrive Bowling Green station 7.28am } car 1129 Joined queue at Castle Clinton 7.32am, office opened 8.30. Obtained tickets at 8.35am, then joined another queue for the ferry, boarding at 9.20 after a security inspection. Meantime, several members had obtained hot dogs etc. from local vendors in the park, to alleviate hunger pangs. At this stage Queen Mary II was noted docked in a berth partly obscured beyond Governor’s Island. Ferry sailed 9.32am, and arrived at the Statue at 9.45: now very hot. Further queuing for a more rigorous security inspection of all persons and baggage then finally into Statue Museum contained within stone plinth base at 10.45am. A conducted tour ensued by an eloquent female in Park Ranger uniform 11.00 to 11.35am followed by walk up and down 156 steps to view Statue’s metal interior support structure and spiral staircase in centre, but none of this is now open to general public since 9/11 and is well supervised. Departed Statue of Liberty at 12.00 on ferry boat “Miss Liberty” arriving at Ellis Island at 12.15pm. Statue of Liberty Dined here in a busy café 12.35–1.30pm followed by interesting conducted tour 2– 2.30pm of immigration main building with description of activities of the process by an entertaining male guide of dead-pan tones and dry humour, also in Park Ranger uniform. This was followed by one’s own independent tour of extensive museum exhibits demonstrating the conditions here during the Island’s functioning years of 1892 to 1954. Departed Ellis Island at 3.42pm aboard “Miss Ellis Island” arriving at Battery Park at 4.05pm. Walked through baking hot streets to “Ground Zero”, the site of the World Trade Centre twin towers building destroyed 11 September 2001 by aerial terrorist attack. Reconstruction work in deep basement excavation has started on replacement building of 1776 ft in height. Some time was expended on reading the memorials to the 2752 persons killed in the 9/11 attack plus reconstructed PATH subway “” terminal, opened after only 11 months of closure. Walked to Rector Street station passing en-route a large and wonderful bronze plaque in a wall in honour and memory of New York firemen lost in rescue efforts. Depart Rector Street station 4.56pm } Line R arrive 36th Street station 5.16pm } car 5836 cross platform interchange to Line N depart 36th Street station 5.17pm } Line N arrive Coney Island 5.44pm } car 8753 (note; after 59th Street, into open with elevated sections toward Coney Island terminus.) Fire Department memorial to those lost in the attack on the World Trade Centre

3 Walked up to sea front and along the lengthy wide wooden planked boardwalk for about a mile passing some of the usual “fun of the fair” amusements for which this place is famous. Nice clean sandy beach with views east to Long Island and west to Staten Island. We then walked inland to main shopping street, Ocean , with subway tracks elevated above. Evening meal at “Gambrinus”, a Russian restaurant at 3100 Ocean Parkway, 6.45-8.35pm. We seemed somehow to be well pleased/intrigued here for we were to visit it on two subsequent occasions during our holiday. Depart Ocean Parkway station 8.54pm } Line Q arrive Canal Street station 9.32pm } car 2899 (underground after leaving at 9.16pm then surfaced briefly to cross Manhattan Bridge slowly in darkness at 9.28-9.30pm allowing good views of lights of Lower Manhattan waterfront etc and Verrazano Bridge illuminated in the distance). Depart Canal Street station 9.42pm } Line 6 Arrive Grand Central/42nd Street 9.54pm } car 7421 Reached hotel 10.20pm after a very full, hot, pleasant and intriguing day.

Day four; Friday 25th May 2007

Cloudless blue skies once again – and all day. Breakfast together in Chez Lawrence Subway car 8753 (line N) at Coney Island terminus Bistro, 7.45-8.20am then depart from hotel at 8.45am. Depart 42nd Street/Broadway 9.10am } Route arrive 12th Avenue pier head 9.20am } 8650 (seating same as subway – bare stainless steel) Depart from Pier 83 on Circle Line Cruise at 9.37am, route is anti-clockwise and after a casual bag search, well filled vessel “Circle Line X” proceeded south down , around Lower Manhattan, north up East River and under all the various bridges, some of which we had already traversed, passing up the west side of Roosevelt Island, but keeping to right of turbulent water in the channel and ultimately into River and Canal of 1895, to connect up with the Hudson River to north of Manhattan Island, through an opened, low level, single track, railway swing bridge, then south under George Washington Suspension Bridge (opened 1931) towers 637 ft, span 1165 yards, and ultimately back to Pier 83 reached at 12.20pm. An informative commentary was provided throughout in usual American style, highlighting all the many notable features. Depart 12th Avenue pier head 12.40pm } Route M42 arrive /42nd Street 12.52pm } bus 5131 then walked back to hotel. Mid-day snack at McAnn’s on West 46th St from 1.40-2.45pm. Depart station 3.25pm } Line 6 arrive Grand Central/42nd Street 3.27pm } car 7465 George Washington suspension bridge, Hudson river 4 Visited New York Transit shop located near Station Master’s office in Grand Central Station Building, 3.45-4.20pm – they benefited from our visit. Depart Grand Central/42nd Street 4.32pm } Line 6 arrive Brooklyn Bridge station 4.48pm } car 7456 depart Brooklyn Bridge station 4.53pm } Line 5 arrive Bowling Green station 5.00pm } car 6786 Walked to Staten Island Ferry terminal, arriving 5.08pm where “Samuel J. Newhouse” sailed at 5.20pm. This is a very well used free service; foot passengers only employing perhaps up to 6 vessels, with 3 or 4 being in service at any one time, less during the night, but 24hour/7 day service. Noted “Queen Mary II” moving out from her berth beyond Governor’s Island and out into main waterway channel, slowly at first, but gathering speed. We had no chance of catching up, but ferry ahead would have approx. broadside on view with sun at correct angle for photographs. Arrived Staten Island 5.45pm having kept QM2 in view as she approached Verrazano Narrows Bridge prior to passing beneath it, and out to sea. Staten Island Railroad terminal is incorporated within ferry terminal building. The railroad is basically a passenger line from north to south operated at 700V DC third rail, open air, cars being of similar appearance to subway stock. Depart North Terminus (St. Georges) 5.48pm } Stopping train arrive Great Kills 6.15pm } car 424 depart Great Kills 6.22pm } Semi-fast arrive South Terminus (Tottenville) 6.41pm } car 406 Outdoor lunch near Fulton Market, South Street Seaport Historical District depart South Terminus (Tottenville) 6.45pm } Stopping train arrive Grassmere station 7.17pm } car 406 depart Grassmere (Clove Road) 7.18pm } Route 53 arrive Fort Hamilton 86thSt/4thAve, Brooklyn 7.40pm } bus 8264 This journey included travelling over the double deck Verrazano Narrows Bridge of 4260ft, one of the world’s longest suspension spans (opened in 1964) – no footpath (regrettably). Depart 86th Street station 7.50pm } Line R arrive 36th Street station 8.01pm } car 5636 depart 36th Street station 8.06pm } Line D arrive Coney Island Terminus 8.30pm } car 2688 depart Coney Island Terminus 8.32pm } Line Q arrive Ocean Parkway 8.37pm } car 5160 Visited Russian restaurant “Gambrinus” again at 3100 Ocean Parkway for evening meal 8.45 – 10.35pm. There is a sizeable ethnic Russian colony on this part of Coney Island known as “Little Russia”. Depart Ocean Parkway 10.51pm } Line Q Arrive 34th St/6th Ave station 11.37pm } car 2876 Walked along Avenue of the Americas to 38th St then back to hotel arriving at 11.57pm after another long day.

The group standing on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building 5 Day five; Saturday 26th May 2007

Cloudless blue skies again all day, and hot. Brian was 63 today and had previously decreed that he would like to visit the Empire State Building in celebration of the event, so we all enthusiastically obliged and lots of photos taken. Breakfast together at Wolf’s Bay Restaurant, 32 West 38th St. NY10018. This place recommended by hotel doorman (a relative of the owner?) and proved reasonable for an English type breakfast and we paid three more subsequent visits here the following week (8.15 - 9.10am). Walked to Empire State Building – 5th Avenue/West 34th Street arriving 9.45am. Booking queue, security procedure and bag inspection. Alan was relieved of scissors from his first aid kit for the duration of the visit, reclaiming them later. Express lift G3 to 80th floor, then second lift upwards to 86th floor, open air observatory and shop where some time was spent viewing the wares and vistas. Descended to 80th floor by stairway at 11.30am, then by express lift G8 to ground floor. Depart 34th Street station 11.55am }Line D arrive 42nd Street station 12.00noon} car2584 A second visit to Fred’s photo shop then back to hotel arriving at 12.40pm on foot. Depart 38th St/Madison Avenue 12.55pm } Route 4 arrive 57th St/Madison Avenue 1.08pm } bus 6779 Joined conducted tour of southern part of Central Park just about to move off at View looking South East from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building 1.10pm. Another eloquent and knowledgeable American female (Joyce Gold) with microphone assistance among following swarm, pointing out features of interest too numerous to recall, but enjoyable. Concluded at 2.50pm when we continued with our own walk through other parts until 3.45pm then walked up 5th Avenue to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where refreshments were taken in the café. Left the Museum at 4.40pm when Pat and Matthew detached from group for their own shopping, etc. Depart 86th St/ 5.15pm } Line 6 arrive Grand Central/42nd St 5.25pm } car 7605 Walked to hotel arriving 5.45pm for recuperation and reorientation, etc. Left hotel at 7.30pm for evening meal; Depart 42nd St/3rd Avenue 7.50pm } Route M101 Arrived 86th St/3rd Avenue 8.05pm } articulated bus 5382 Walked back to 83rd St (where we should have got off) for evening meal at Wicker Park Inn on the corner of 83rd St. & 3rd Ave. 8.10-10.20pm. These premises being discovered on earlier wanderings on leaving the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We were well captivated by baseball and other activities on big screens. Depart 83rd St/Lexington Avenue 10.37pm } Route M101 arrive 40th St/Lexington Avenue 10.50pm } articulated bus 1013 arriving back at the hotel at 11.00pm. They say ‘there ain’t no such thing as a free dinner’ but we provided Brian with one this evening on his birthday. Everyone at dinner, Wicker Park Inn, 26th May 2007 – Brian’s 63rd birthday.

6 Day six; Sunday 27th May 2007

Overall hazy, cloud and weak sun, later developing into another hot sunny day with blue skies again. Breakfast in the hotel; (Wolf’s Bay Restaurant not open today or tomorrow) the expensive Continental at $17 (plus some extra helpings, including fruit). Depart from hotel at 10.10am and walked to Grand Central Station, busy even on a Sunday and there booked tickets: MTA North Railroad trip to Danbury, 65 miles, and admission to Railway Museum site, changing at South Norwalk en route ($14 senior rate). Depart Grand Central Station 11.10am} arrive 12.12pm} EMU car 8836 Approx. half the 4 mile distance on leaving Grand Central to Harlem 125th Street is in under to East 96th Street. Good views ahead through centre door window of leading car, chatted to amiable driver. Around Pelham, changed from 700V DC 3rd rail to overhead AC done on the move. Called at Stamford 11.52am, Noroton Heights 12noon, Darien 12.05pm, and Rowayton 12.07am. A fairly fast and level run on quadruple track with sweeping bends through urban territory. Occasional small river crossings, level crossings and bridges and some wooden houses. Depart South Norwalk station 12.20pm } EMU driving desk Alan in control ? arrive 1.02pm } car 6364, loco 2014 This is a 24 mile non-electrified single line with passing loops at some wayside stations at which there was light passenger traffic. Mainly rural with woodlands and some river crossings, a few sharp bends; quite a charming steady run, especially on the return trip where we enjoyed frontal views; loco propelling at the rear. Stopped at Merritt 7 at 12.29pm, Wilton at 12.35pm, Cannondale at 12.38pm, Branchville at 12.44pm, Redding at 12.50pm and Bethel at 12.57pm and Danbury at 1.02pm. Walked into town, lunch at Los Andes Restaurant (Ecuadorian) 1.20 – 2.40pm then spent the afternoon in and around the museum and preservation site, including a spin on a turntable and a yard trip in the cab of an early Budd stainless steel single unit railcar, also a guided tour of US and Canadian caboose vans; interesting to discover how well their freight train crews were accommodated and equipped. Everybody welcomed us, and seemed pleased to be visited by an English delegation. Depart Danbury station 4.49pm} Danbury branch arrive South Norwalk station 5.35pm } driving car 6307 with loco 2014 on rear. Depart South Norwalk station 5.52pm } New Haven line arrive Grand Central Station 6.47pm } EMU car 9081 Evening meal at Bloom’s Delicatessen Café, 350 Lexington Avenue, NY 7.00 – 8.35pm, then walked back to hotel by 8.45pm. Four trains, but no subway rides today.

1956 ALCO RS11 at Danbury Railway Museum, Connecticut

7 Day seven; Monday 28th May 2007

Cloudy and weak sun, but later hot and sunny again. Depart hotel at 8.35am – our usual breakfast haunt, Wolf’s Bar closed today (Memorial Day Holiday), so we had to make do at “Food Exchange” on Madison Avenue at East 41st Street 8.50 – 9.25am. Walked to Grand Central Station, and booked tickets to Poughkeepsie (74 miles), the northern terminus of MTA Railroad’s Hudson Line; beyond is Amtrack’s line to Albany. Ordinary fare $25.50; senior 1/3 off at $17.00. Depart Grand Central Station track 37 9.55am } Hudson Line arrive 11.45am } car 6432, loco 209 Emerged into daylight after 8 minutes of tunnel from Grand Central, stopped at Poughkeepsie old railway bridge (now a pedestrian walkway) Marble Hill at 10.13am, then skirted east shore of Hudson River all the way to Poughkeepsie, a beautiful and interesting ride of well over 60 miles. By Yonkers at 10.20am, blue skies appearing. Vertical rocky cliffs on west bank opposite Greystone. Tarrytown (10.30am) has a long fixed bridge across the Hudson with a curve at the western end. Ossining (10.38am) has a ferry service across, but not apparent this morning. At Croton-Harmon (10.43am) is a large car depot to north of the station and end of the 700V DC third rail system – no overhead beyond. Also large multi-tracked disused freight yard. Cortland (10.52am), Peekskill (10.56am), Garrison (11.09am) where West Point Military Academy located on west bank – a collection of large foreboding edifices, Cold Spring (11.14am), Beacon (11.22am) and New Hamburg (11.29am) arriving at Poughkeepsie (11.45am). Now hot and sunny. After some discussion, Jean, Robin and Matthew decided to do their own thing; the rest of us found our way through a small residential estate, up onto the magnificent Mid-Hudson suspension road bridge (opened 25th August, 1930). Whilst doing so, a lengthy freight train was heard, but not seen: we wondered if it would appear on a long high level bridge further upstream, however we later discovered that this had been out of use since 1974, because of fire damage, presumably to wooden decking. It may have been single track only. Opened in 1889 after many Freight train heading South at Poughkeepsie years in formulation; its steel spans of various designs are quietly rusting, though there is understood to be a preservation effort in embryo. We crossed from Dutchess County into Ulster County at the centre of the road bridge, flying the usual large patriotic flag and soon became aware of another freight coming south on a single track line on the west bank of the Hudson. Impossible to get closer in the time available for photos, so viewed from bridge. Thelma said it consisted of 147 cars, but only appeared to be double headed. My hunch that these freight movements occur in batches at about 15/20 minute intervals proved correct, by which time we were down on a minor road at rail level next to the track: no fencing of any kind, to witness the passage of the third freight train; very lengthy containing bogie box cars, tank wagons, gondola cars, etc. of several US railroads, all passing like a huge snake at approx. 25mph. By this event, we were encouraged to wait for the next, but by 2.45pm nothing had appeared. Nevertheless we spent a pleasant time in a shady glade between two magnificent bridges over the Hudson River with quite a lot of small pleasure craft and occasional commercial traffic, with the odd fisherman perched on Poughkeepsie road and pedestrian bridge 8 the rocks of the stone lined river bank. We walked back to Poughkeepsie station the same way arriving at 3.20pm. Depart Poughkeepsie station 3.45pm } Hudson Line arrive Grand Central Station 5.26pm } car 6111, loco ???? A lovely return riverside run along the wide Hudson River for some 65 miles to Marble Hill; noted a northbound freight train on the far bank during the journey. Depart Grand Central Station/42nd Street 5.50pm } Line 6 arrive 86th Street 5.58pm } car 7315 Evening meal again at Wicker Park Inn at 83rd/Lexington 6.10 - 8pm with baseball entertainment on screen. Depart 86th Street 8.12pm } Line 5 arrive 14th Street/Union Square 8.20pm } car 6770 depart 14th Street/Union Square 8.40pm } Line 6 arrive Spring Street 8.44pm } car 7371 Thelma had earlier talked about Mott Street which is mentioned in the song “I’ll take Manhattan” by Lorenz Hart – ‘And tell me what street compares with Mott Street in July’, and wished to visit it. Now dusk and in ‘Little Italy’ district, leading to ‘China Town’; she bought a nice folding fan, frequently demonstrated and also provided ice creams all round. We walked on, now dark, to the waterfront at Pier 17 hoping to find open the shop where she had seen, on our second day, the desirable ‘Unique Media Map’ of New York district, but alas, it had just closed for the evening, and the shop Matthew in the New York Transit Museum keeper would not open up for us. Walked on to Bowling Green station to return home. Depart Bowling Green station 10.00pm } Line 4 arrive Grand Central/42nd Street 10.12pm } car 1196 On foot to hotel arriving at 10.20pm – Another full day.

Day eight; Tuesday 29th May 2007

Breakfast resumed this morning at Wolf’s Bay Restaurant, 8.30 – 9.30am A hot and sunny day is in the making again. Depart 42nd Street/ 9.45am } Line F arrive Jay Street/Borough Hall 10.05am } car 5709 Visited New York Transit Museum located below ground in the former Court Street subway station on a short lived section of line, 10.25am -1.45pm. Well stocked with vehicles and component exhibits, models and photo displays/videos. Their well stocked and assorted shop was again a beneficiary of our visit. We then embarked on a series of subway rides on elevated sections, mostly to their extremities;- Depart Jay Street/Borough Hall 2.00pm } Line F arrive Delancey Street 2.05pm } car 6202 depart Essex Street 2.15pm } Line E arrive Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave, for JFK 2.54pm } car 4773 depart Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave. 3.00pm } Line E arrive 23rd Street/Ely Avenue 3.25pm }cars – various In transit on the Subway 9 (we tried to move to the front of the train one car at a time each time the train stopped using cars 3390, 3391, 3451 and 3450 but stopped as the train became very full) depart 45 Road/Court House Square ?????? } Line 7 arrive Flushing, Main Street 4.00pm } car 2108 depart Flushing, Main Street 4.07pm } Line 7 arrive Queensboro Plaza 4.29pm } car 1741 depart Queensboro Plaza ?????? } Line N arrive Astoria, Ditmars Blvd 4.45pm } car 4364 depart Astoria, Ditmars Blvd 4.49pm } Line W arrive Lexington Ave/59th Street 5.09pm } car 4229 depart Lexington Ave/59th Street 5.16pm } Line 5 arrive Eastchester, Dyre Ave 5.55pm } car 7009 depart Eastchester, Dyre Ave 6.00pm } Line 5 arrive Grand Central/42nd Street 6.40pm } car 7011 Walked back to hotel arriving 6.55pm, Matthew said he had picked up a bug and was slightly ‘hors de combat’ and would not be joining us for an evening meal. Left hotel at 7.40pm once more for Coney Island. Depart 33rd Street/Lexington Ave 7.50pm } Line 6 arrive Bleecker Street 7.56pm } car 7381 depart Bleecker Street 8.03pm } Line F Lexington Avenue Subway station – line 5 arrive West 8th Street, NY Aquarium 8.45pm } car 5866 (the lights of Coney Island and Verrazano Narrows Bridge looked good against a dark but clear sky) depart West 8th Street, NY Aquarium 8.53pm } Line Q arrive Ocean Parkway 8.55pm } car 2874 Dinner at Russian restaurant “Gambrinus”, Coney Island for the third and final time 9.00 - 11.00pm; another good meal. Depart Ocean Parkway 11.08pm } Line Q Arrive 34th Street/ 11.53pm } car 2874 Reached hotel on foot at 12.10am – our 7 day have now expired, after considerable exploitation.!

Day nine; Wednesday 30th May 2007

Clear blue skies again, sunny and very hot. Matthew rejoined after overnight recuperation. Breakfast again at Wolf’s Bay , 32 West 38th St. 8.15 – 9.20am then walked to Grand Central to buy a one day ‘Fun pass’ Metro ticket for $7 in the Transit Museum shop. Again, spent some time – our last chance to buy.! Walked to the Chrysler Building, 3rd Avenue / 42nd Street. Viewed the marble panelling and general Art-Deco style of the lobby etc., above is not open to the public; a nice piece of design work. Walked back to Grand Central Station; Depart Grand Central/42nd Street 10.30am } Line 6 arrive Canal Street 10.40am } car 7366 Inside the Lobby of the Chrysler Building

10 Our own architectural wanderings around Greene Street, Broom Street and Mercer Street/Broadway viewing 19th century cast iron frontages. No 561 Broadway has a green wrought iron front of 1904, now Kates Papers. Coffee at Fanelli’s, an 1840s bar in Soho district at Prince St. / Mercer St. Depart Bleecker Street 12.09pm } Line 6 arrive Grand Central/42nd Street 12.21pm } car 7621 Joined architectural tour of Grand Central Station by ‘Marti’, another large, bearded, eloquent, voluble American. The magnificent hall we see today and much of the rest of the building has been rescued in the 1960s from dereliction, demolition and redevelopment; a wonderful achievement, 12.30 – 2.20pm. A major person responsible for its saving was Jaqueline Kennedy. By this time, staying upright on one’s feet was becoming difficult. Depart Grand Central Station 2.27pm }Line S (shuttle) arrive 2.29pm } car1933 (note; Platform is on a sharp curve and has a retractable ‘plug’ to fill gap between train and ‘platform’. With a pneumatic hiss, it draws back under the platform after the train doors close and train moves off). Depart Times Square 2.40pm } Line R arrive 34th St/Madison Square Gardens 2.42pm } car 6110 Walked to 33rd St station of PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) Railway. MTA tickets not valid on PATH system, therefore bought return to Newark for $3 (rover tickets not available); valid if you don’t go through any intermediate barriers. 561 Broadway, Cast Iron Building frontage Depart 33rd Street station 3.02pm } PATH line arrive Hoboken, 3.14pm } car 682F depart Hoboken, New Jersey 3.16pm } PATH line arrive Exchange Place 3.26pm } car 878F depart Exchange place 3.35pm } PATH line arrive Newark, Penn Station 3.50pm } car 740F Refreshments in nearby café, very good view of Railroad, Newark Station frontage of the 1920s. Depart Newark, Penn Station 4.41pm } PATH line arrive World Trade Centre (basement) 5.00 pm} car 664 PATH subway system is independent of the New York subway system and was the only occasion where official hostility to photography was encountered. A great pity because the line goes through the vast freight yards in New Jersey, with double decker container trains hauled by 2 or 3 locomotives. Depart Fulton Street station 5.26pm} Line 5 arrive 125th Street Harlem 5.50pm} car 7001 depart 125th Street Harlem 5.52pm } Line 6 express arrive 6.22pm } car 7466 (note; Elevated after Hunts Point Avenue) depart Pelham Bay Park 6.34pm} Line 6 arrive Grand Central/42nd Street 7.22pm} car 7351 PATH subway train in 33rd Street station 11 Walked back to the hotel, arriving 7.32pm; washed and changed then out for our final evening meal together at Grand Central Station Oyster Bar, 8.15 – 10.30pm. Walked back to hotel for 10.45pm to conclude our last full day.

Day ten; Thursday 31st May 2007

Another fine, hot and sunny day. Breakfast for the last time at Wolf’s Bay Restaurant 8.45 – 9.45am. Depart hotel after checking out at 10.15am for Grand Central Transit Museum shop with Thelma to buy Metro ‘Fun Pass’ tickets for journey to map shop near pier 17. Depart Grand Central/42nd Street 10.30am } Line 5 arrive 10.43am } car 6873 Walked to pier 17 via Wall Street and US Stock Exchange. Thelma finally secured a “Unique Media” map of New York (folded version) as first seen on 23rd May visit. Tea at café on pier 16 (11.20-12noon) and chewed over the amazing holiday, now drawing to a close. Depart Wall Street 12.15pm } Line 2 arrive Times Square 12.35pm } car 6429 Leisurely walk back to hotel via 41st, 40th and 38th Streets, reached by 1.07pm. Collected luggage and departed hotel – full party of 9 with luggage in Ford Transit Taxi CYM3231, driven by Juan (Fangio ??). Arrived at JFK by 2.45pm – 17 miles Penn Station, Newark, New Jersey costing $25 each (approx. £13.34). All booked in and checked over by 3.30pm so spent remainder of afternoon in café area. Onto plane at 5.45pm, British Airways 767. Left gate on time at 6.15pm but did not take off until 7.10pm, 55 minutes delay in queue to reach take off point. Matthew and Pat about 15 minutes behind on the Heathrow flight – similar delay. At 7.20pm we were 3414 miles from Manchester. Arrived Manchester Airport at 1.28am (US time); 6.28am (UK time) and through baggage collection and customs etc. by 7.08am when we departed on our various homeward journeys.

Participants (in alphabetical order).

Ted Cheers - Wolverhampton Alan Crowther - Furness Vale Pat Dennison - Kenley Matthew Searle - Oxford Brian Slater - York Fred Thornton - Kendal Jean and Robin Welton - Ashton under Hill Thelma Wright - Shuttleworth

Grand Central Station, 42nd Street 12 Modes of travel used during visit;

Tues; 22/5/07 Mon; 28/5/07 Subway cars in numerical order Air-train 207 MTA 6432 1129 4364 7011 Subway 4061 “ 6111 1196 4773 7130 “ 2135 Subway 7315 # 1741 5160 7315 # “ 6956 “ 6770 1933 5636 7351 “ 7130 “ 7371 2108 5709 7366 “ 1196 2135 5836 7371 Wed: 23/5/07 2584 5866 7381 Subway 7315 # Tues; 29/5/07 2688 6110 7419 “ 7771 Subway 5709 2874 § 6157 7421 ¥ “ 7651 “ 6202 2876 6202 7456 “ 6157 “ 4773 2899 6429 7465 “ 7421¥ “ 3390 3390 6770 7466 “ 3391 3391 6786 7605 Thur; 24/5/07 “ 3451 3450 6873 7621 Subway 7419 “ 3450 3451 6956 7651 “ 1129 “ 2108 4061 7001 7771 “ 5836 “ 1741 4229 7009 8753 “ 8753 “ 4364 “ 2899 “ 4229 M T A “ 7421 ¥ “ 7009 1013 5131 5382 “ 7011 6779 8264 8650 Fri; 25/5/07 “ 7381 Bus 8650 “ 5866 Metro-North Railroad Central Park, New York “ 5131 “ 2874 § 6111 6307 6432 Subway 7465 “ 2874 § 6463 8836 9081 “ 7456 “ 6786 Wed; 30/5/07 Port Authority Trans-Hudson St.Is.Rly. 424 Subway 7336 664 682F 740F “ 406 † “ 7621 878F “ 406 † “ 1933 Bus 8264 “ 6110 Subway 5636 PATH 682F 406 † 424 “ 2688 “ 878F “ 5160 “ 740F “ 2876 “ 664 Subway 7001 Sat; 26/5/07 “ 7466 Summary; Subway 2584 “ 7351 Bus 6779 54 Subway cars Subway 7605 Thur; 31/5/07 6 Buses Bus 5382 Subway 6873 6 Metro-North rail cars “ 1013 “ 6429 4 Cruise boats 4 PATH subway cars Sun; 27/5/07 3 Staten Island Ferries MTA 8836 # used twice 3 Staten Island Railway cars “ 6463 ¥ used twice 1 Roosevelt Island “ 6307 § used twice 1 Air-Train “ 9081 † used twice 1 Taxi

Our final vehicle in New York, the taxi back to JFK for the flights home 13