Stumbled across your EL page tonight. Great work !!! I share your enthusiasm for all things EL, particularly the ferries. I'm a lawyer-psychologist living on Davis Ave. in Kearny (diagonally across from the KHS "wall") who commuted to high school in NYC from Harrison from 1962-66 via the Morris & Essex lines and the ferries. I also frequently rode the Newark branch to Harrison & Kearny stations. Unfortunately, I didn't save my memorabilia as you apparently have.
Cinemagraphic aside : The Newark branch bridge (East Newark to Newark) was featured in the climactic scene in the film version of "Annie" several years ago (though IMHO, the film stank). It was called the "B & M bridge."
I was born & raised a Lackawannan. My dad was a raliway clerk in various local freight yards (Newark: Orange St [by the Borden milk plant]; Passaic St. [Newark branch]; and Broad St [now the site of the Lincoln motel]; Harrison [currently Route 280] ; and Paterson). During my commuting days I made friends with some EL employees and received some "perks," including daily rides in the cab of the MU's from Hoboken to Harrison, and once "piloting" (under supervision, of course) the ferry Binghamton from Barclay St. to Hoboken.
Binghamton is the only survivor of her class -- her sisters (Scranton, Elmira, and Pocono), and her older sister (Lackawanna, aka Weary Willie) all languish in a marine graveyard in southwest Staten Island near the Outerbridge Crossing. She herself has found new life as a floating restaurant in Edgewater, NJ for over 20 years now. The restorers have preserved most of her exterior (except for returning her to her original white color), and much of her interior features (i.e., woodwork, staircases)
. I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know of any sites where I can find photos and/or a roster of Erie or Lackawanna ferries. I haven't had much luck in finding any myself. Thanks. Bill Flock.
He then indicated that at some time in the future, he'd be building a site of his own to share some of his E-L memories with the rest of us. He then shared one more:
I'm very envious of your good fortune in having ridden the Phoebe Snow through to Chicago. I used to see her pass by the Harrison station (old Lackawanna) when I was a kid and was always dying to ride her. Thought she was one of the most beautiful things in the world !! I followed the custom, taught to me by my dad and other railroaders, to "tip your hat to Phoebe Snow" as she passed by. I read somewhere that her Tavern Lounge cars were sold to the LIRR in the 1960's for use on their Montauk service during the summer months, and later were re-sold to Metro-North for use on an inspection train. Do you know whether any of that iinformation is accurate, or where the Tavren Lounges and/or other cars in the 1949 consist are today?