The Elmira reverses its engines for the approach to the Barclay St. Terminal with a load of commuters for one of the last times.
Comments:
A short decade before this classic photo was taken, this scene was re-enacted dozens of times every weekday on the boats of the West Shore, DL&W, Erie, and the CNJ.
Earlier that year (1967), the CNJ ferries closed down between Jersey City and Liberty St., thus leaving the E-L boats as the last operating trans-Hudson ferries.
A few moments after this photo was taken, the air was filled with the echoing cacophony of engine room telegraph bells ringing, cable sheaves and pulleys creaking and groaning, the loud rumbling of reversing engines, the clash and clatter of gates opening,the shouts of Bridgemen and Deckhands, and the muffled pounding of the shoes of hundreds of commuters on their way to work. Soon...too soon, all will be silent forever and even the shadows would themselves disappear. A colorful and fascinating way of life was about to end.
Earlier that year (1967), the CNJ ferries closed down between Jersey City and Liberty St., thus leaving the E-L boats as the last operating trans-Hudson ferries.
A few moments after this photo was taken, the air was filled with the echoing cacophony of engine room telegraph bells ringing, cable sheaves and pulleys creaking and groaning, the loud rumbling of reversing engines, the clash and clatter of gates opening,the shouts of Bridgemen and Deckhands, and the muffled pounding of the shoes of hundreds of commuters on their way to work. Soon...too soon, all will be silent forever and even the shadows would themselves disappear. A colorful and fascinating way of life was about to end.