horsecar

The Street Railway of the New York and Harlem Railroad

Arguably one of the most famous photos of a horsecar in New York City, by famed photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Want to irk a railfan or a history buff in only a matter of seconds? Just tell them that you’re in Grand Central Station. Grand Central is, of course, a Terminal – and as Danny Brucker would explain, “because trains terminate here.” The previous incarnation of Grand Central was, however, a station, and had tracks that did continue further south. This is Grand Central Station, circa 1905. This, on the other hand, is not Grand Central Station. If you’re up on...

July 19, 2012

The New York & Harlem Railroad in the 1860’s – Tryon Row

Early photograph of a New York and Harlem Railroad horsecar. New York & Harlem transfer tokens from the American Numismatic Society. I’m not sure how many of you frequent twitter, but I think it seems to be a running joke that every day there is some sort of “national holiday” that is trending. I’m not exactly sure how things like “National Fried Chicken Day” (July 6th) or “Walk on Stilts Day” (July 27) get declared, but people on twitter totally love this crap. Manhattan, not wanting to miss out on the action of remarkably stupid “holidays,” even declared a “Justin...