Re: (erielack) PASSAIC RIVER DRAWBRIDGE

[bill guimes <vze3fhdr_@_verizon.net>]

Hi List:

	In the late 50's, I used to take a train from Ridgewood to Hoboken
daily in the summer. I remember seeing a pipe that ran along the railing
from the end of the railing on the platform to the span. My guess is
that this was for fuel oil for the boiler. It wouldn't surprise me if
they used river water to make steam.

	FWIW, the lift bridge at Seacaucus, "Upper Hack" has a similar pipe
from the end of the bridge to the lift span. This bridge has a Diesel
engine that powers the bridge.

	Bill

Ken wrote:
> 
> I have a tape which shows the operation of the bridge, but, in all the
> times that I was at the bridge, which was quite a few when I was a kid, I
> never recalled any trains or trucks which left coal for the boiler.  If it
> were coal-fired, there would have been a lot of coal consumed, and there
> would have been a storage place for it.  Wonder where it was?
> 
> Ken B.
> 
> At 09:48 PM 10/3/02 -0400, Pete wrote:
> >The Passaic bridge is featured in both "Memories of the Erie Railroad-First
> >generation Diesels" and Memories of the Erie-Lakawanna Railroad-Hoboken
> >Terminal to Arden" tapes from Mark 1 Video.  The Erie tape includes footage
> >of the bridge in operation and it is clearly steam powered.  Considering the
> >amount of smoke bleched during operation, it is safe to assume the boiler
> >was not gas fired.  In all probability it was a coal fired boiler.  If it
> >was oil some serious attention was needed to the burner.
> >
> >Both tapes include footage of the Erie and EL in downtown Passaic during the
> >1950's and early 1960's.
> >
> >Pete S

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Its the most fun you can have with 3000 HP

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