Pneumatic Air
Beach Pneumatic Transit
The Interborough Rapid Transit subway, which broke ground in 1900 after many years of political maneuvering, was not the first attempt at transit tunneling in New York City. Several other groups attempted to build tunnel lines with varying degrees of success. Probably the most well known of these early attempts, at least in terms of subway lore, was an 1870 demonstration line, the Beach Pneumatic Transit.
Alfred Ely Beach, inventor and editor of Scientific American, had designed a pneumatic (air-driven) system which he demonstrated at the American Institute Fair in 1867, and he thought it viable for transit operation in underground tunnels. He applied for a permit from the Tammany Hall city government, and after being denied, decided to build the line in secrecy, in an attempt to show that subterranean transit was practical. (He actually did receive a permit to built a pneumatic package delivery system, originally of two small tunnels from Warren St. to Cedar St., later amended to be one large tunnel, to “simplify construction” of what he really intended to build.)
Sketch of Beach installation at the American Institute Fair.
The Beach tunnel was constructed in only 58 days, starting under Warren Street and Broadway, directly across from City Hall. The station was under the south sidewalk of Warren Street just west of the Broadway corner. The single track tunnel ran east into Broadway, curved south, and ran down the middle of Broadway to Murray Street, a distance of one block, about 300 feet in all. The subway opened to the public on February 26, 1870.
Operated as a demonstration from 1870 to 1873, the short tunnel had only the one station and train car. While frequently mentioned as an important early development in New York City’s transit history, it was merely a curiosity. It is unclear that such a system could have been practical on a large scale. Smaller tube systems are used in buildings for mail delivery, but a rail-car sized system has never been developed. The perfection of electric multiple-unit traction and electric locomotives came about so quickly after this experiment that it wasn’t deemed worthwhile to even try an expanded pneumatic system.
So what remains now? Probably nothing. The tunnel under Broadway was almost definitely destroyed during the BMT subway construction. A report in the New York Times in 1912 describes the tunnel, but the station had probably been destroyed when the building at Broadway & Warren was torn down and rebuilt. During the replacement of the building, the station, which was essentially a basement vault under the sidewalk, may have been incorporated into the new basement. Gratings in the sidewalk on Warren Street indicate some vault or ventilation areas are down there today.
In 1912, construction workers on what is now the BMT Broadway subway (N and R trains) took possession of the tunnel, and found the original shield at the south end of the tunnel, as well as the wooden remains of the car. The successor company to Beach Pneumatic Transit even sued the city for destroying their property! (The outcome of this lawsuit is unknown.)
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Interstate Pneumatics WR1020 1/4 Inch Standard Poly Bowl In-Line Filter $4.99 General purpose filter protects tools and equipment by removing most solid and liquid contaminants. This may include dust, dirt, pipe scale, rust, liquid water and bulk oil. A 25-micron filter element removes the smallest of particles. See-through bowl with metal guard allows easy monitoring of fluid level while protecting unit against impact. Quick-release bowl and quarter-turn drain for easier u… |
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Astro Pneumatic 4505 5-Piece Fastener and Molding Remover Set $6.70 Set includes 5 distinctive tools for easy removal of fastener, molding, wheel hubs, etc. For use on internal and external vehicle molding and trim fasteners. Plastic construction of tools prevents scratching and damage to vehicle paint, leather, chrome, etc…. |
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GoodYear 045 3/8-Inch-by-50-Feet Safety Yellow Rubber Hose 3/8 -Inch by 50-Feet 250 PSI With 1/4-Inch Ends $16.95 Constructed of heavy-duty, reinforced rubber for durability, the Goodyear Safety Yellow Rubber Hose provides industrial-level performance in all temperatures. Ideal for a wide range of home and jobsite applications, this heavy-duty hose is designed to stand up to the demands of your job and comes with male brass ferrules and barbed fittings..caption {font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, se… |
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Circulation Leg Wraps $159.95 These leg wraps inflate and deflate to improve circulation, soothe sore muscles, and reduce swelling in your lower extremities. Similar to hospital compression boots that stimulate circulation in sedentary patients, the leg wraps have six airbags that wrap around the entire leg and inflate and deflate to help blood vessels expand and contract. The compression intervals stimulate circulation in the… |
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Verseo Intelligent Air Pressure Leg Massager $34.27 This portable leg massager is the easy, convenient way to stimulate circulation and massage away tension and pain. Just wrap it around your leg, sit back and relax as gentle inflation and deflation cycles work their magic. Try the relaxing 15 minute massage program, or choose an automatic mode with low, medium or high compression settings. The smart air pressure sensor will not over inflate, ensur… |
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Aircast Tennis Elbow Brace $10.59 Relieves Symptoms Of Tennis Elbow With Air Cushion… |
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