68jk09 said:Mack Thanks as always for your diligent history posts...in regard to this photo from reply 1800 above i remember my Father telling me about when certain Pumpers responded to the Island they had to unbolt the front bumper to fit on the elevator.... https://postimg.cc/image/hfphe20eh/
The Ahrens Fox pumpers modified with a folding rear step to fit in the Queensboro Bridge elevator in 1941 were: E 23, E 65, E 74, E 21 and E 260.
Ahrens Fox apparatus: http://www.nyfd.com/calderoneA/foxes2.html
Note: These pumpers were about 27 ft long, about 6 ft longer than most FDNY pumpers, which was why the folding rear step was needed for the elevator.
An elevator was built in the "Elevator Storehouse" in 1919 next to the bridge. It housed an elevator that transported cars and people from the Queensboro Bridge down to the present-day Tramway Plaza. There were traffic lights on the bridge to enable turns into Elevator Storehouse. In addition, the Elevator Storehouse contained storage space and a reception ward for the island's Metropolitan Hospital. The building's main lobby was on its top floor, was nicknamed the "upside-down building" and was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not for its peculiar design. With the opening of the Welfare Island Bridge, the Elevator Storehouse closed in 1955 and was demolished in 1970.
Note: a circular ramp to the top of the 130 ft Elevator Storehouse was planned but never constructed.
A trolley transported passengers from Manhattan and Queens to a stop at the Elevator Storehouse. They could then descend to Welfare Island.
http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/qborobr.html
Note: the Welfare Island trolley was the last operating trolley in NYC and NY state:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTGwnvyIw1I
Roosevelt Island Bridge - opened 1955 - between Astoria Queens and Welfare Island (now Roosevelt Island):
https://newtownpentacle.com/tag/roosevelt-island-bridge/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Island_Bridge
Engine 260 - 1st due Roosevelt Island:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CDJvEEdH6I