Lower Manhattan at Sunset

piranha erem: 11th Aug 2005 - 16:52 GMT

i enjoy the rail tracks running out onto the dilapidated pier.

Peter: 11th Aug 2005 - 16:53 GMT

such development and decay, transition, change and static history co-exisitng in one dense place. this is the story of new york city in a nutshell... this is the essence of citynoise.

elaine: 11th Aug 2005 - 17:28 GMT

wow, what a fantastic suite. i specially like the first 2. the way the light is pulled in by the reflection of the sun in the second one is perfect. plus i like the antique postcardness of the turqoise sky in the first

Peter: 11th Aug 2005 - 17:49 GMT

for the record, "antique postcardness" = smog :D hehehe

olivia: 11th Aug 2005 - 18:24 GMT

wow, super pretty. I love the waterfront. and I always think the financial district is going to get too heavy and just ... break off the tip of manhattan and tip into the water.

Peter: 11th Aug 2005 - 18:28 GMT

olivia, check out this vaguely-related story: home.nycap.rr.com/useless/manhattan

Paige: 11th Aug 2005 - 22:36 GMT

I just got a book on those tracks. They were part of the New York Dock railway and were in operation until the 1980s when waterfront railroads were on their last legs. The company merged with another company, the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal railroad (BEDT), to form the NY Cross Harbor which I think is actually still in operation down in Sunset Park. But barely. Carfloat operations moved to NJ and container shipping eliminated profits. Forgotten-ny.com has a page on all this, including the Jay St. Connecting Railroad (those tracks lacing DUMBO), in their trains section.

If I remember correctly, there's a picture of that pier and the webmaster calls it the Pierrepont St. Carfloat.

Peter: 12th Aug 2005 - 13:33 GMT

thanks for the tip, paige! i just dug up the link: www.forgotten-ny.com/SUBWAYS/Southbklyn/waterfront.html