Re: (erielack) PATH question was AMTRAK F-40s for Pocono service?

["James R. Guthrie" <"jguthrie_@_pipeline.com">]

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "James R. Guthrie" <"jguthrie_@_pipeline.com">
To: <"JACK5008_@_webtv.net">
Sent: Monday, June 26, 2000 7:21 PM
Subject: Re: (erielack) PATH question was AMTRAK F-40s for Pocono
service?


> It was written:
>
>
> > As I understand it, the H&M was to go to Grand Central via of a
line
> > branching off at 9th St. If you head uptown, you can see the start
> of
> > the unfinished tunnel off to the right as you leave 9th St.
Station.
> >
> The H&M was to be extended to GCT via Sixth Ave and a curve under
> Bryant Park. The H&M Mezzannine level was preserved at GCT, and
still
> exists below the shuttle and above the #7.  The Queensboro Line
ended
> at GCT for many years because it was deemed impractical to go west
> until the H&M was built.
>
> The H&M essentially ran out of money, and although it fought to keep
> the franchise, it lost out for good about 1927. The city always
> thought it would recapture the 6th avenue line that was built --
hence
> the layout of the current F line (6th Ave local) straddling the H&M.
> Tearing out a Wall at 14th would even yield across the platform
> connections should Metro Card finaly hit the PATH.
>
> The provisions you see at 9th Street were for a line to Wanamakers
> Dept Store over at 5th Avenue, and was essentially a contingency in
> case the city recaptured the 6th Ave tracks, but save perhaps for
some
> non-realistic ideas put forth later, never had intentions of heading
> north.
>
> One more note -- the H&M was part of the interstate railroad system.
> All the old token booths had tariffs "open for examination" and were
> supposed to be able to sell interline tickets anywhere.
>
> As teens, we used to take great delight to torment the poor clerk
at,
> say, the uptown 14th St platform and demand a one way to Paterson or
> Scranton.
>
> Of course, over on the Erie where there were no fare controls on the
> ferries, passengers wishing to purchase a 46-trip to Jersey City
could
> get a lower fare by signing an affidavitt at the ticket window, in,
> say, Ridgewood -- declaring :under penalty of perjury" they would
> **never** use the ride on the Erie to continue a trip to NYC -- even
> via the H&M -- as it was counted as part of the through route for
> certain tariff purposes.
>
> Interline activity ceased when the PA took over, but it would not at
> all be accurate to (historically) separate the old H&M, from, say,
> though passenger service like it was merely some branch of the
NYCTA.
>
> Cheers,
> Jim
>
>


 ------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the erielack photopage at http://el-list.railfan.net

------------------------------