erie910 wrote:Many years ago, I was told that H&M planned a second set of tunnels running south from the junction near the Hoboken station to the junction of the lines to WTC and Journal Square/Newark. The tower which controls the junction at Hoboken supposedly was placed in the entrance to the second set of tunnels, and there were staircases constructed from the Pavonia/Newport platform now in use to the platforms of the lower set of tunnels. Is there any truth to this?
The H&M had many plans for other routes. Most of them were never begun at all. I should have copies of all of them here. They're large and on varnished linen, so unfolding them and getting them into the scanner would be problematic.
All of the abandoned constructed parts are short segments or simple concrete pieces. Off the top of my head:
o The Astor Place extension mentioned by another poster.
o Short section of the original construction for tunnel B (from original 1874-1882 construction) abandoned when H&M took over and went to an over/under configuration in the caisson.
o In the caisson coming from NY, at the current 2-way split for Hoboken or Pavonia, there's another (center) position which would have gone to Newark. Signal shed and some power gear at the openings.
o West of Grove Street, provision for route to CRR. Signal shed and power gear blocks the westbound opening, the eastbound opening was walled off some years ago.
o East of Grove Street on route to Exchange Place, short section of tunnel with rings. This was reinforcement to handle a separate tunnel to CRR (different route from the one at Grove Street) crossing over at a 90-degree angle.
o At Hudson Terminal, provisions for 2 additional tunnels. Bellmouths built (and subsequently demolished) and short sections of tunnel along side F track and under E track, still there but sealed off.
o The previous 2 tunnels would have gone directly to Pavonia from Hudson Terminal. Provisions at the junction north of Pavonia for these, with the usual signal shed and power gear blocking the opening.
I think that last one is what you're referring to. Look at the 2 tunnels on the bottom right of this picture and you'll see how it would have worked.
Did I miss anything?