My great-grandfather was probably working as a clerk at the Devlin clothing store when this thing was built (in secret, at night, to avoid Boss Tweed's attention), so I've been keenly interested in this for a long time. Back in the early '80s, I spoke to some people who told me that workers around that time had found some more relics of the subway, and that someone had a sign from Beach's waiting room. Never did see it. Nice job on this video.
The first successful rapid transit system in Manhattan was the Elevated Railway. Lines were built on Greenwich Street and 9th Avenue from 1867-1876 and by 1878 three steam powered lines (3rd Avenue, 6th Avenue and 9th Avenue) ran the length of Manhattan. In 1880, the 2nd Avenue elevated line opened and in 1886. The lines were converted to electric propulsion from 1901-1903. In the then-independent city of Brooklyn, five elevated lines opened from 1885-1893 [parts of today's J and M lines date from that era and remain in operation]. All of the original Manhattan elevated system was razed in stages from 1923 to 1955. For an all-original color record of the last years of the Manhattan Elevated (1951-1955) see my book, "By the El, Third Avenue and Its El at Mid-Century." It is available from the New York Transit Museum Shop at $19.95. Lawrence Stelter, Author=Publisher, 2/27/24
I don't know if it is still the case, but long ago I traveled around Moscow on their subway system and to my recollection each station had ornate themes. Some had stained glass (a little odd since there is no natural light), chandeliers, a collection of busts and so forth... It made riding the subway around Moscow really enjoyable. Great story you told here. I never knew about this early pneumatic subway attempt.
I sincerely thought this was going to be on a beach, when I first read the title. (lol) Fascinating story, as always, Bridget. Thank you for the video.
I appreciate this perspective on the Beach Pneumatic Transit system. Thanks for posting this! Very informative and saddening to see how few landmarks remain from old NYC
They did also build one in London outside Alexandria Palace, and some of it's remenants are still there. Mostly hills as it was a cut and cover approach they made to building it.
There's a song about this called Sub Rosa Subway by the band Klaatu. 1930's and '40's pulp hero Doc Savage used a pneumatic car to get from his NY headquarters to his Hudson River warehouse, it was called the Flea Run.
The subway was originally clean. It’s dirty because this city has many people who do not care about a clean subway. In the 1910s, it was not a messy system. Someone from 1910 would not recognize today’s subway system.
Thanks for your comment. A clean subway would be night and day better, I agree--but I do think there's a difference between the cleanest NYC subway station, and a subway system built with beauty in mind. (Like the Moscow metro system. If you're unfamiliar, here's a site I found with some good photos: iamaileen.com/moscow-metro-stations/)
Boss Tweed looks like Mel from "Alice." I can just hear him saying, "ANY WOMAN WHO RIDES THIS COCKAMAMIE CONTRAPTION IS A DINGHY BROAD! STOW IT, BEACH!"
This seems like an idea whose time has finally come. With electricity being generated by hydropower and our ability to construct to very close tolerances now, I see no reason why we can't all travel like the little pneumatic cylinders at banks and pharmacies. At least it would be appropriate to call them the dream children of the "Blowhards".
You mentioned London.....maybe you should expand.... there's an inference that people move around the world quickly without logical explanation...... there's a lot under our feet from mud flood
0:54 what do you know little thing 😅, back to primitive Grece😮! 1:31 yeah i am shure that he founded that year as publicly,yeah never before in history was such (at least stupidest primitive trys to do whiacle) driving machinery. No chance they actually founded 😅 this things ,yet never was knowledge or skills to copy origins!? 5:13 yeah I am shure tunnels are all connected diged and yet failed to do original machine to move in side already done tunnels 😮... Make more sense like that 🥱🫵🫵🫵 NOOOOTTTTT
My great-grandfather was probably working as a clerk at the Devlin clothing store when this thing was built (in secret, at night, to avoid Boss Tweed's attention), so I've been keenly interested in this for a long time. Back in the early '80s, I spoke to some people who told me that workers around that time had found some more relics of the subway, and that someone had a sign from Beach's waiting room. Never did see it. Nice job on this video.
Wow, it must be so incredible to have a connection like that to this bit of history! I would have loved to see that sign.
How cool. What I'd give to speak with your gramps!
Learning more about the river of slime in GHOSTBUSTERS 2 lead me here.
You have an amazing talent for telling stories. Thank you, Bridget!
I really appreciate it :) Thanks!
The first successful rapid transit system in Manhattan was the Elevated Railway. Lines were built on Greenwich Street and 9th Avenue from 1867-1876 and by 1878 three steam powered lines (3rd Avenue, 6th Avenue and 9th Avenue) ran the length of Manhattan. In 1880, the 2nd Avenue elevated line opened and in 1886. The lines were converted to electric propulsion from 1901-1903. In the then-independent city of Brooklyn, five elevated lines opened from 1885-1893 [parts of today's J and M lines date from that era and remain in operation]. All of the original Manhattan elevated system was razed in stages from 1923 to 1955. For an all-original color record of the last years of the Manhattan Elevated (1951-1955) see my book, "By the El, Third Avenue and Its El at Mid-Century." It is available from the New York Transit Museum Shop at $19.95. Lawrence Stelter, Author=Publisher, 2/27/24
If I had never heard the song "Sub Rosa Subway" by Klaatu in the late 2000's I would have never know the name Alfred Beach.
I'm here because of Klaatu too 😅
I don't know if it is still the case, but long ago I traveled around Moscow on their subway system and to my recollection each station had ornate themes. Some had stained glass (a little odd since there is no natural light), chandeliers, a collection of busts and so forth... It made riding the subway around Moscow really enjoyable. Great story you told here. I never knew about this early pneumatic subway attempt.
Amazing video and story. Alfred Beach is an unsung hero.
Then in 1989, three scientists discovered a river of slime flowing through it
That is exactly correct
Ghostbusters 2 brought me here.
Me too
Me Tooooo🚀👻
Me too
I sincerely thought this was going to be on a beach, when I first read the title. (lol) Fascinating story, as always, Bridget. Thank you for the video.
Haha, thanks!
Excellent! Thank you.
wow, never heard of it before, so cool! you are such a great storyteller!
Thank you :)))
I appreciate this perspective on the Beach Pneumatic Transit system. Thanks for posting this! Very informative and saddening to see how few landmarks remain from old NYC
Thanks for watching :)
That's very cool!
They did also build one in London outside Alexandria Palace, and some of it's remenants are still there. Mostly hills as it was a cut and cover approach they made to building it.
Great story.
There's a song about this called Sub Rosa Subway by the band Klaatu. 1930's and '40's pulp hero Doc Savage used a pneumatic car to get from his NY headquarters to his Hudson River warehouse, it was called the Flea Run.
I knew about the song, but not about Doc Savage. Cool!
3:58
Slimmmmme. It’s a river of slime !
😆
You are really great at communicating !
Thanks!
I bet the motors and fans, all of the hardware is still down there. I originally learned about this from an American taile movies. How amazing
I found out about this subway in "An American Tale" when I was a kid. I thought it was fake. "A train pushed down a tunnel by air? It'd be too heavy!"
Good story thank you!
Thanks for watching!
So crazy
The subway was originally clean. It’s dirty because this city has many people who do not care about a clean subway. In the 1910s, it was not a messy system. Someone from 1910 would not recognize today’s subway system.
Thanks for your comment. A clean subway would be night and day better, I agree--but I do think there's a difference between the cleanest NYC subway station, and a subway system built with beauty in mind. (Like the Moscow metro system. If you're unfamiliar, here's a site I found with some good photos: iamaileen.com/moscow-metro-stations/)
@@TheCuriousWorld plus the other subway systems close for hours each day for cleaning and maintenance.
So thats what hyperloop is based on. 1870... how crazy is that?..
I'm in love
the lighting was a radium type
I'm gonna try to find the last bit of it
Boss Tweed looks like Mel from "Alice." I can just hear him saying, "ANY WOMAN WHO RIDES THIS COCKAMAMIE CONTRAPTION IS A DINGHY BROAD! STOW IT, BEACH!"
I would suggest a listen of the song Sub-Rosa Subway by Klaatu that tells the story of this.
Wow--thank you so much for the recommendation. I didn't know this song existed! Very cool.
Built in 58 days in the 1800s? Talk about a story full of pure comedy. Can't imagine it being built that fast with current technology.
All it needs is some neon lighting and a better name and it will be the future of transportation
You incredible
Not only are you wicked smart. Your awesome
This seems like an idea whose time has finally come. With electricity being generated by hydropower and our ability to construct to very close tolerances now, I see no reason why we can't all travel like the little pneumatic cylinders at banks and pharmacies.
At least it would be appropriate to call them the dream children of the "Blowhards".
They destroyed it??! It must have been beautiful!
Klaatus pretty good
You mentioned London.....maybe you should expand.... there's an inference that people move around the world quickly without logical explanation...... there's a lot under our feet from mud flood
Klaatu sent me
Sub-Rosa Subway
Even if the pneumatic system was a success how long do you think in NYC it would have stayed nice. I agree it should have been given a chance.
0:54 what do you know little thing 😅, back to primitive Grece😮! 1:31 yeah i am shure that he founded that year as publicly,yeah never before in history was such (at least stupidest primitive trys to do whiacle) driving machinery. No chance they actually founded 😅 this things ,yet never was knowledge or skills to copy origins!? 5:13 yeah I am shure tunnels are all connected diged and yet failed to do original machine to move in side already done tunnels 😮... Make more sense like that 🥱🫵🫵🫵
NOOOOTTTTT
All aboard Sub Rosa Subway…..
Such a bummer that those pneumatic tunnels suck
1/2 the truth.... the technology has been here before we arrived
Elon musk's boringcompany
Whats with the hands
Humans have 2 hands. She is a human, and thus…. She has 2 hands.
Corporation's can't make money from city's with this tech lol
THE TRAINS WERE FOUND NOT MADE DONT LET THEM MAKE YOU BELIVE THEY HAD THAT SKILL OR INFACTRUCTURE
They would appeal to child traffickers I wonder if they are still in operation.