I appreciate your comments, Pumpers. I remember the LV coal tressle on the other side of the road that led to the CNJ Communipaw terminal. The Jersey Central guys were the friendliest to railfans. I even went in their shop and talked to some of the woorkers there. I would ride the ferry over from Manhattan, and getting off the boat, walk into the waiting room to avoid having to pay the 35 cent fare. If I had headed for the street getting off the boat, I would have had to pay.
I almost shortened the signal maintaineer at Upper Bay one night. There was some instruction to take the bridge all the way up (135 feet) on each lift. Nobody did it, except me. One night the maintainer was standing under the counterweight, when I made a lift. He stepped out of the way to light a cigaret, and the counterweight came down, almost bouncing off the rails. So smoking actually prolonged his life.
I almost shortened the signal maintaineer at Upper Bay one night. There was some instruction to take the bridge all the way up (135 feet) on each lift. Nobody did it, except me. One night the maintainer was standing under the counterweight, when I made a lift. He stepped out of the way to light a cigaret, and the counterweight came down, almost bouncing off the rails. So smoking actually prolonged his life.
