May

16

May 16/17 Weekend Edition – May 17th is the Tram’s 44th Birthday

By admin

This is the 53rd Issue of


FROM THE ARCHIVES


MAY 16-17, 2020  WEEKEND EDITION

MAY 17, 1976
WAS THE OPENING DAY OF THE TRAM
HAPPY 44TH BIRTHDAY!

Remember the long staircase?

At 6 a.m. on a Sunday twice a year the tram staff would gather for the mandatory evacuation drill.  You could leave the cabin in a bucket thru a hatch in the floor. With a pulley and manual power everyone was lowered to the lawn.

The other way was more challenging was to hitch a rescue cage up  on the cable and hoist it to the cabin. The window and window guards were removed and the passengers climbed into the cage.  This was only used once in 2006 when the tram was stuck over the river for 11 hours.  The second cabin was over First Avenue and the rescue was easier.

THE ORIGINAL TRAM FROM DOPPELMEYER,
VON ROLL, SWITZERLAND 1976-2010

The rescue cage held only 4 persons.
Greg started at the Tram a year before it opened!

Minnie who has handled the staff and finances for the Tram for decades.  For year she had to account for tokens and the MTA  daily and handled all special requests.

In 2009 RIOC decided to replace the 35 year old system with a new French one from Leitner Poma of Grenoble, France.  The tram was closed for 9 months.  At the same time the RIHS visitor center was being restored and we spent a hot summer watching these two construction projects.  The kiosk and the tram both reopened on the same date November 30th.

The old cabins have been dumped and abandoned unceremoniously by the Motorgate.

Down with the old tram and up with the new tram in less than one year.

Like a giant jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces fit and come together
Armando Cordova has been the Tram Master for decades!!!

To celebrate the Tram’s anniversary the RIHS held a tram model contest. The submissions were on display in the Rivercross storefront

You are invited to come to see the cherry blossoms next year!!! 
All will be welcome.  Save the dates April 20 to May 1!

At the same time the tram was being rebuilt, the Visitor Center Kiosk got a complete historical restoration.

MYSTERY PHOTO OF THE DAY

Can you identify this?|
Send e-mail to jbird134@aol.com
Winner will get gift from RIHS Visitor Center

Yesterday’s Photo of the Day
OCTAGON VIEW FROM THE LOBBY TO THE DOME

EDITORIAL

So many fond memories came back while writing today’s tram and kiosk stories.  It seems like only yesterday when a new cabin was installed bringing us better service and much less swinging in the breeze rides.

Most of the tram staff is still here, though on furlough due to the pandemic, Will be glad to have every back soon.

The Tram is Roosevelt Island. I took my first ride the evening it opened on May 17,1976.  I lived a few blocks away and took the 35 cent ride to the island and back.   It has been a love affair ever since.

Judith Berdy
212 688 4836
917 744 3721
jbird134@aol.com

Funding Provided by:
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Purpose Funds
Council Member Ben Kallos City Council Discretionary Funds thru DYCD

Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff

Leave a comment