[?]

MILITARY RAILROADS
OF THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA:

BROOKLYN NAVY YARD /
NEW YORK NAVAL SHIPYARD
Fort Greene & Williamsburg, Brooklyn

BNY NYNY

.

.
.

.
   The Brooklyn Navy Yard, the popular and unofficial name for the New York Naval Shipyard, was organized in 1801 and is located north of the Manhattan Bridge and in Wallabout Channel at a bend in the East River and was a United States Government Military Installation (Department of the Navy / Department of Defense).

   A brief maritime history of this installation includes the construction of Robert Fulton's steam powered frigate "Fulton" (launched 1915), and the BNY would build several of the US Navy's most famous and recognizable warships, including but not limited to the:
.

   The Brooklyn Navy Yard received ship building supplies and coal as well as general freight via carfloat. It would be responsible not only for the hull construction of a vessel, but all the interior spaces as well, which basically means anything that was required in the construction of those vessels, was brought in.

   The Brooklyn Navy Yard, was large enough to have constructed a roundhouse with a turntable. Paul Strubeck located the following photographs on the 'net.

August 31, 1916 courtesy of New York Naval Yard historical archives

...

August 18, 1936 courtesy of New York Naval Yard historical archives

.

.

   By 1916, the Navy Yard comprised over 255 acres, and would come to have over 30 miles of railroad track. It is unknown at this time if included in this figure is the aggregate total of both the 18 foot and 37 foot gauge trackage for the huge cranes that wound there way around the berths and drydocks.

   Tom Flagg, graciously allowed the use of the following image ascertained from his research. It is a map of the New York Naval Shipyard Base dated 1961. Please click on the map for a large size graphic with the corresponding key for the building numbers.

.

.

   The BNY would own many steam locomotives throughout it's history of several different configurations, but unfortunately extremely few photos are known.

   Recently discovered in Lima Locomotive Company builder's records that this author has obtained, Brooklyn Navy Yard at one time; operated a 2 Truck, 25 Ton Shay. In addition to that Shay, the BNY would operate steam locomotives constructed by Vulcan, H. K. Porter and American Locomotive.

   Ironically, BNY numbers 3 and 4 would become BEDT 12 and 13 respectively; and while many photographs of those locomotives operating for the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal (BEDT) are published, all locomotives in BNY livery are scarce.  This is somewhat surprising, as the BNY and the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal, which carfloated for the Navy Yard, were quite close geographically.

   Tom Flagg was kind enough to furnish the following maps. The first appears to be facility map from 1938. Click on the map below to view large scan. Please note: Use your back arrow to return you here.

1938
courtesy of T. Flagg
added 08 May 2009

.

.

   The second map, is an excerpt from an inspection report performed on the the infrastructure within the Navy Yard. This map better shows the relationship of the Brooklyn Navy Yard float bridge to the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal float bridge, and the interim track connection installed to interchange between the two.

   Again, click on the image for a large scale scan. Use the back arrow on your browser to return you here.

1940
courtesy of T. Flagg
added 08 May 2009

  Speaking of the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal, the US Government would contract with the BEDT to transport carfloats to and from the Navy Yard property after 1940-41, however the Brooklyn Navy Yard would have their own switchers execute switching and car movements. Eventually, BEDT would also go on to take over rail operations within the Navy Yard in the mid 1960's (possibly 1966 when the Brooklyn Navy Yard was transferred from military control to civilian ownership).

.

Float Bridges

   The first float bridge installed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was a pontoon supported pony truss with overhead support gantry. The trestle at right, is for the direct dumping of loose excavation material (sand, stone, etc) into scows for removal.

    The following image, courtesy of Tom Flagg, shows the float bridge as it appeared in 1916:

Brooklyn Navy Yard float bridge - 1916
National Archives
T. Flagg collection
added 07 May 2009
 

   The Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal would install a float bridge of their own to serve their Wallabout Market Terminal, but this float bridge was not located on but adjacent to the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Clinton Avenue. For more information on this operation click here.

   The second Brooklyn Navy Yard floatbridge, would been installed circa 1941-1942 upon the completion of the Wallabout Basin expansion. This type was an  electrically powered overhead suspension "French" / contained apron type seen below:

1977
T. Flagg photo
added 07 May 2009

   This float bridge was modified somewhat in the early to mid 1980's when the overhead supported dual spans seen in the image above were replaced with a pontoon supported float bridge. Actually, there were two pontoon supported float bridges installed.

   The first pontoon supported float bridge was a pony plate girder type. However, this float bridge developed an as yet undetermined conflict, necessitating a replacement.

   The second pontoon supported float bridge, a pony truss would be installed instead, and the pony plate girder would be abandoned next to the bulkhead to the left.
.

The float bridge was last used in 1995 by New York Cross Harbor RR for a subway car rebuilder that located to the Navy Yard.   The pony truss float bridge remains in place at this location to this day, although the decking is mostly destroyed, and the pontoon is no longer buoyant.    It should be noted that neither of the pontoon supported float bridge required overhead suspension, and therefore the cables were never attached, but the overhead gantry was left standing,    Also, these pontoon supported float bridges were installed after the Brooklyn Navy Yard was no longer under military control and relinquished to civilian ownership.
(looking west) Live Search Maps added 07 May 2009	(looking north) Live Search Maps added 07 May 2009

Locomotives

.

  As far as it is known only two of the Brooklyn  Navy Yard steam locomotives survived: #7 and #12.

  #7 which after serving for the Navy Yard was employed by American Creosote as their #7 as well. This locomotive is currently under restoration at the Illinois Railroad Museum shops located in Union, Illinois.

  #12 which has been cosmetically restored, currently resides at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in New York.

  #3 and #4, which became Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal locomotives #12 and #13 also survive to this day, having been converted to oil fired by the BEDT and serving this widely recognized railroad faithfully until 1962.

   #3 (BEDT #12) now resides in the Florida Railroad Museum and is undergoing a cosmetic restoration top BEDT livery.

   #4 (BEDT #13) resides in the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, and is not quite as photogenic, but it survives none the less. 

   The Brooklyn Navy Yard would dieselize their operations in 1940 through 1944, with the procurement of two Atlas and several Whitcomb locomotives during those years. The Atlas locomotives would be surplused in 1948, as would the Whitcombs, being shipped to the Naval Supply Depot in Bayonne, NJ; where they would be put up for sale. Several were purchased by private owners for industrial line use.

   In 1968 through 1981, after the Brooklyn Navy Yard was released from military control; this location would be home to Seatrain Shipbuilding, (see that page on Seatrain Shipbuilding here), which operated General Electric 44 ton locomotives on a portion of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Trackage, and utilized the float bridge.

   As for the other locomotives listed, unless otherwise stated, their disposition in unknown at this time.

_______________________________________________

   The New York Navy Yard, also commonly known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard, purchased two of the BEDT locomotives new from H. K. Porter. A four unit order of identical locomotives for the New York Navy Yard was ordered; the two that where sold to the BEDT are #3 and #4, and the disposition of #1 and #2 are unknown.

unidentified BNY loco and rolling stock - 1904 "BNY Railroad: BNY had its own railroad system for hauling heavy material around the yard. Here one of the yard's trains is returning empty gunpowder canisters to a storehouse in 1904."

.

June 27, 1917 (note steam locomotive with crew above bow of submarine on left edge of image also the Pennsylvania RR Wallabout Station Pier on right side of image) added 04 April 2009

. .

. Readers please note: photos of US Navy South Brooklyn Section #3 was misidentified as having been operated at the Navy Yard.  This image and others of that locomotive were moved to my webpage on the: Navy Department Fleet Supply Base - South Brooklyn

. .

.... #7 - September 2004 both photos: Illinois RR Museum shops, Union, IL courtesy of Donald Nute

. .

#14 - Fireless SMU E. L. DeGolyer Library archives author's collection

. .

#12 - current photo courtesy of Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum

. .

#16 - builders photo - 1940 authors collection

. .

#18 - unknown date - Brooklyn Navy Yard unknown photographer Kalmbach Publishing added 18 January 2010

. .

Upon the purchasing of photographs of Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal locomotives, I acquired a series of images taken by Alfred Jaeger.     For several years, I had been troubled over the identification and purpose of a centercab switcher of B-B wheel arrangement and siderods on BEDT property, which is barely visible in four pictures that I acquired from the A. Jaeger collection. These photos are dated February 19, 1961: (photos enlarged and cropped to show loco in question) ..... ..... .....    After having placed this dilemma on the back burner for a while; I once again took out my high power loupe and tried to identify this engine again. This time I enlisted the assistance of my good friend and Brooklyn terminal railroads cohort, Paul Strubeck. We argued over builders, but eventually discovered it was a Whitcomb locomotive. One of the pictures was at just the right angle (third from left) to show the nose and the Whitcomb name on the front grill.    Then inevitably, came more arguing: which model Whitcomb? With many thanks to North East Rails' Whitcomb pages, Paul and I determined this locomotive was either a 45DE27B or a 45DE28. After a little more debating, we finally settled on 45DE27B.    Now for the next argument: who in the New York area would have had a Whitcomb loco? Was it an temporary Bush Terminal, New York Dock, or Bronx Terminal unit? A loaner or demonstrator? Or was it just passing through, being shipped from one place or another? (One thing was sure: it certainly was not a BEDT locomotive!) Then, after Paul Strubeck & I discussed it for about 15-20 minutes... It dawned on us... THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.    A check of my Whitcomb builders records, showed several Whitcomb Brooklyn Navy Yard entries for both 45DE27B and 45DE28 units.    These locomotives was part of multiple orders from the US Navy for Whitcomb units, with other units going to Brooklyn Navy Yard, and the other units going to other Navy Yards & Facilities around the US.    The Whitcomb Builders Records sent to me by Allen Stanley show the locomotives going to the Brooklyn Navy Yard as: builder: model: built: c/n: USN # (orig)     USN # (renumber) prime mover: Whitcomb 45DE28 October 1941 60097 20 65-00165 (2) Cummins 150hp diesels 45DE28 October 1941 60098 21 65-00166 45DE28 October 1941 60099 22 65-00167 45DE28A September 1942.. 60165.. 65-00170 45DE27B August 1943 60325 65-00169 45DE27B June 1944 60326 65-00220 or 65-00252    Then in late 2009, I commenced on rescanning my collection to place larger images on this website. When I got to the one of Alfred Jaeger photos of #16, I realized that the USN Whitcomb locomotive was in one of the photos, and even showed the side of the cab with lettering! This is the right most photo above.    But, upon finding the image and looking at the number, I now understand that the conclusion that Paul and I came to in regard to this locomotive being a 45DE27B could be wrong. Upon some scanning and enlarging on the cab seen in the last of the four photos above, yielded this result:    The four images above are at different magifacation and resolutions, with the last two being the same except for constrast and notation.    Now, I can definitely make out the USN 65-00. It appears that the bottom half of the 1 is missing, but by the spacing to the next digit, (a 6); it is in fact a 1, making the number 65-0016. The last number is where the question lies: To me it appears to be a 5 or possibly a 6, making the number 65-00165 or 65-00166.    Either of these numbers make this locomotive a 45DE28. If that last number by chance is a 9, then it is a 45DE27B. Now, see that light square above the number? That is the original two digit number painted over. Since only the original order of 45DE28's received the two digit numbers 20, 21, 22; and subsequent locomotives received the 65-00xxx series seven digit numbers, 65-00169 (the 45DE27B) would not have had the original rwo digit number "painted over".    Therefore, I now feel we are looking at either locomotive #20 / 65-00165 or #21 / 65-00166 which are 45DE28. You draw your own conclusion and decide.    Now, most of us know; the BEDT carfloated to and for the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The questions that now remains unanswered is; was this BNY Whitcomb at the Kent Avenue enginehouse for: repair by the BEDT mechanical force; (doubtful, BNY would have it's own mechanics) shipment out of New York area after being sold or transferred to another government installation; (possible) shipment out of New York area after being sold to a private firm; (highly possible as the Navy was selling off their older locomotives) shipment out of New York area for scrapping, (possible)    or: a test unit for BEDT for their upcoming dieselization? (doubtful)    If any of you out there know the answer to these questions, please... shoot me an email!

.
Brooklyn (New York) Navy Yard Locomotive Roster

Locomotive Footnotes:

§ = The first Vulcan shown; c/n 187, has very little info recorded; however, locomotives preceding it and built after are 0-4-0T, and 36"gauge. I can only hazard a guess that the BNY locomotive was one in that that group of loco built to those specifications.    

¤ = these four locomotives have consecutive construction numbers: 6366, 6367, 6368, 6369;
and are identical sisters. C/n's 6368 and 6369 to BEDT #12 and #13 respectively. Disposition of c/n's 6366 and 6367 are unknown.

[b] = photos of these locomotives in their post US Navy liveries can be viewed at: NorthEast Rails Porter 25-45T Industrial Railroad Locomotives

[a] = Thanks to the R&GV RR Museum website, this is known about BNY #12:

(dates courtesy of R&GV website)

.

.

[?]

Create your own free Rail Blog or Website! Advertise | About Us | Contact Us | Sign up for our Newsletter