Vintage work crew photos

**jimfols** · Mar 24, 2020, 08:08 PM

"You might have better luck Jim if you take the "W" out of Browadway -----Broadway---- will get you more hits"

Thank you, Google took the 'W' out for me.
Your third link is what I needed, I thought it was all photos and failed to read the column on the left.

This early form of mass transit operated by means of two giant cables (powered by centrally positioned steam engines), which ran just below street level, pulling the cable cars along the track at a steady 30 miles per hour. Unfortunately, the underground cables-and hence the trains themselves-could not be slowed down at all, even when turning corners; the sharp turn at Union Square (at 14th Street) became known as Dead Man's Curve for hurling passengers around as it navigated the bend. Constant accidents and numerous breakdowns ensured the rapid demise of the Broadway Cable Railroad.

It must have been exciting to get on and off at 30 mph

**IntheGroove** · Mar 24, 2020, 08:07 PM

I tried to find some info on the cable road. The only thing I could find was in the Scientific American and I am not a subscriber.

Rufus did start the now oldest magazine in the US...

**Ralphxyz** · Mar 24, 2020, 06:03 PM

Love the hats

**bruce.desertrat** · Mar 24, 2020, 06:36 PM

I looked up the history of the Bowler hat many of them wore (it was quite popular among the working classes in the late 18000's and early 1900's...it wasn't until later that it became part of the bankers uniform in London's financial district) ; it was originally made for gamekeepers who needed a sturdy hat to protect against branches and such: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowler_hat so it could well be described as the original "hard hat"

**gatz** · Mar 24, 2020, 08:35 PM

https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/...ons#/?scroll=0

is a great site for viewing those old construction pictures and NYC in general
There's alot more stuff on there.