New York Transit Museum
#DidYouKnow City Island in the #Bronx once had its own #monorail? When the monorail opened in 1910, it was the only monorail in the United States. It ran from Bartow Station (a now long-forgotten ruin inside Pelham Bay Park) to Marshall's Corner, and over a bridge to the tip of City Island.
Mar 3 at 2:30pmWeb
Show threadNew York Transit Museum3d ago
In its first year of operation, the monorail had two major accidents. The @nytimes.com@bsky.brid.gy reported that the monorail's “long, cigar-shaped yellow car” began its inaugural ride packed at about two-and-a-half times its capacity.
Show threadNew York Transit Museum3d ago
Moments later, it toppled over while traveling on a curve, injuring many passengers who “were thrown one on top of the other on the floor of the car, so that they lay literally in layers.”
Show threadNew York Transit Museum3d ago
To make matters worse, the conductor, worried that the overhead electrical rails would collapse, locked the passengers inside the car until rescue arrived. After some troubleshooting, the monorail reopened three months later and hit and destroyed an automobile.
Show threadNew York Transit Museum3d ago
Eventually, after further adjustments, the monorail was able to run regular service for a few more years. It only lasted until 1914. New York City would not see a monorail again for another 50 years, when the AMF (American Machine and Foundry) debuted its monorail exhibit at the 1964 World’s Fair.
Show threadNew York Transit Museum3d ago
These #NYTMCollection images show monorail cars from the Pelham Park and City Island Railway, and include documentation of the infamous first ride accident.