When New York's Most Dangerous Waterway was Bridged (The History of Hell Gate Bridge)

[@map3384]

When I was a kid in the 70s we’d take the Tri-Borough bridge to Queens to see my grandfather. On the way we’d see GG1s electric trains crossing the Hells Gate Bridge. What a sight it was. Probably one of the most foreboding bridges I’d ever seen.

[@Zoomer3989]

I did the same thing was I was a kid! to see my grandparents in Long Island, By then it was the 1990s and it was entirely AEM7s and eventually the Acela, but it was quite a good several memories

[@sald7917]

Growing up in Astoria in the ‘70’s and spending much time in Astoria park I witnessed the surging tides around the Hell Gate. Brings back fond memories, Thank You so much for these entertaining & educating videos! ❤

[@lyfandeth]

You forget to mention that the US Army Corp of Engingeers literally undermined 9 acres under the Hell Gate passage. In what was the largest explosion of its time, they dropped the river bottom some twenty feet, destroyed two islands, and made the waters of the Hell Gate easy to navigate. The explosion shook lower Manhattan and was extensively written up.

[@DeanStephen]

I thought the same thing. It was a huge explosion.

[@cloneNK1124]

I watched trains on it in the 1960's with my grandfather. He would sit by his bedroom window with a cup of coffee, biscuits, and 1010 WINS on the radio. That would be my dream.

[@magicman9321]

1010 wins. Wow. You give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@nycurbanist3616]

I live right by Astoria park, I love walking my dog under the two bridges and along the water, it never gets old. Hell Gate is just this beautiful old towering structure that you feel like time has left behind (until the Acela train zips by over it) and then you go under mighty Triboro. Very underrated park.

[@georgebrill6549]

I never went over the Hell Gate bridge, but I've been under it a couple of hundred times at least. Worked on a tug in NY for 38 yrs.. When I first started, I was told to never stand out on deck going under that bridge. The kids would get up there and throw anything they could find down on the boat. That included a track spike the deckhand found out on the deck.

[@joefin5900]

I was a construction manager for a pilot project on the Triborough bridge and prepared the ship clearance drawings and rescue procedures foor any worker falling to the water. I also was a rowing coach at Manhattan College and brought the crews down to the swirling waters of Hell Gate. 1984-85.

[@ITSHISTORY]

Very cool!

[@jstoney6471]

Worked as a Structural Steel Inspector in NYC for 25 years and one of my Best jobs was the Annual Inspection of the Hell Gate Bridge...remember tapping every rivet to ensure they were good and overseeing the replacement of any that failed with 120K 3/4" HS Bolts. Also did complete refirb of AT& T Radio Towers at 6th Ave& Canal Street after 9-11!

[@8avexp]

I read that Hell Gate Bridge has the largest rivets ever used, and that the engineering was so precise that when the final section of the main span was hoisted into place, the total adjustment to line everything up was half an inch.

[@jstoney6471]

@@8avexp we used 3/4 to 1 3/4" bolts to replace broken rivets.

[@Supervillainmc]

Awesome Job. That Bridge always fascinated me. Growing up 1/4-1/2 mile away from it. In the seventies,under some sort of city construction procedure, I got into one of the entrances up the spiral staircase to the to facade on the Astoria Queens side. I never forget how damp it was and the East River Smell. Thank You For Posting this..

[@mohammed.mustabi5817]

i went up on the acre as a kid. when time was relax

[@chestophercolumbo4561]

As I kid I lived about same distance... I always stared and marveled at that bridge. I went to PS 122 and could see the bridge from my our apartment window

[@mohammed.mustabi5817]

@@chestophercolumbo4561 ever time i looked at it remind of a castle.

[@MichaelCusanelli]

@@chestophercolumbo4561 fellow PS 122 Q alumni 🙏

[@chestophercolumbo4561]

@@MichaelCusanelli That's right...fond memories - I lived in fear of Dr. Jerenburg with the speaker horn ...hahahaha

[@folness]

Excellent video, many thanks. The miles-long approach to the bridge (to minimize the slope) is equally impressive.

[@luiszuluaga6575]

I have lived in New York City my entire life and this bridge never fails to capture my fascination. It is awesome to consider, it never tires the eyes and most importantly, it is functional and necessary.

[@kevinkern2149]

Love the Hell Gate Bridge! If you take any Amtrak train north/east of New York City, be sure to sit on the left side of the train for spectacular views of the skyline as you climb the approach. There's a reason Amtrak loves taking publicity photos of its Northeast Corridor trains on the bridge. I'm not sure you could call its accommodation of rail traffic exclusively a "flaw" of the bridge. Sure, it sees less traffic now than when it was built, but it still sees plenty of trains. In fact, it could be getting busier in the near future when the completion of the East Side Access project at Grand Central would allow Metro North to reroute some New Haven Line trains to Penn Station via the bridge. I'd be interested to see how they would have incorporated road traffic into the bridge. The two approaches are extremely long to keep the incline slight enough for main line heavy rail. This and the fact it cuts through Queens without regard to the street grid would make building access ramps a challenge. The bridge's structure would also seem to preclude adding a second deck. It's a moot point now as the Triborough Bridges parallel the Hell Gate closely.

[@charlescrawford7039]

Henry Hornbostel was the architect for the Hell Gate bridge. His initial tower design for the bridge was a more refined Beaux Arts composition. The project’s budget couldn’t accommodate this plan, so Hornbostel then devised the simpler yet more powerful design of two Roman towers we see today. The curve of the bridge approach was more to align and connect with the New Haven’s Harlem River Branch at Oak Point in the Bronx and to provide the necessary grades (5%) for efficient rail operation. The piers for the bridge approaches where originally to be steel lattice work construction but were revised to be smooth concrete structures to address the Asylum’s concern that steel lattice piers could be used by inmates as a means of escape. The bridge remains one of the strongest steel arch bridges in the world. Thanks for another super video!

[@8avexp]

Hell Gate Bridge is so strong it can support the weight of 67 locomotives stacked on top of it.

[@pacificostudios]

12:50 - The Government never forced the Pennsylvania and New York Central to merge; they simply approved the merger. However, the Government did effectively force Penn Central to take over New Haven, and the New Haven owned the tracks that the trains running out of New York use to get to New Haven, Boston, and Hartford. Just to clarify.

[@thespy5845]

MetroNorth will also begin to use the Hell Gate for trains running from NY and Ct on the New Haven line to Moynihan Station, with new stops in the Bronx. Hopefully this upgrade to NYC's amazing public transit system will be on line in the next 3 years.

[@Melbournelost66]

In 2011 I toured the US and caught a train from Boston to New York. Much to my surprise on the approach to New York I saw to my amazement a bridge that looked like a smaller version of the Sydney Harbour bridge. Anyway, it’s something in common with our beautiful countries. 😊👍🏻 🇦🇺🇺🇸

[@kirkmattoon2594]

Yes, I've often thought the Sydney Harbour bridge looks like a copy of the Hell Gate, only without the graceful end pieces that were criticised for lacking structural function.

[@martinsulat697]

I first became aware of this magnificent bridge when at thirteen, back in 73' I git into antique toy train collecting. Lionel had made and marketed a Standard Gauge model of it back in the 1920's...

[@yvescote9893]

I love this stuff that you make about New York city. I don't know what it is about New York but I am completely and enamoured with it. Love your videos Ryan

[@Right-Is-Right]

It is a shithole with many white elephants, that the federal government (taxpayers) keep having to bailout. Even then they hardly ever fix anything, due to the unions and other scams going on.

[@jaygatz4335]

I was taking a taxi from Laguardia to Manhattan via the Triborough Bridge back in the '80's and noticed another bridge right beside me. It was elegant and graceful, and had many supporting arches under a very long approach with a gentle incline. I wanted to be on that bridge instead of the Triborough, but didn't realize until much later that it was only used for trains. I haven't taken a commuter train over it, but intend to some day.

[@RC-gf8cs]

Grew up near h gate.. .walked on tracks frm jackson hghts to astoria h.gate.n walked on most upper cat walk .dozens of times ..great views .in the 70's .

[@cristinalisette6247]

My cousins lived in Astoria right near this bridge and it always brings back fond memories to see it.

[@jamesorlando8178]

As a New Hampshire native in NYC who visits my family frequently, I use the Hell Gate Bridge all the time to go visit my family! In fact I rode across it yesterday

[@brianjoy3407]

Definitely one of the cooler bridges in NYC

[@Mk99987]

2:51-the Hudson does not empty into Hell Gate. Also, very few people would travel from Wards Island. Perhaps escapees from the mental hospital.

[@uhlijohn]

Correction: The merger of the PRR and NYC was NOT ordered by the federal government. It was an idea hatched by the NYC and PRR. It has been dubbed "the wreck of the Penn Central" which up until that time was THE largest bankruptcy in American history.

[@daviddauphin838]

the feds added New Haven to the merger along with many nj rr companies. i went through the bankruptcy - it was hell because no banks wanted to cash your paycheck.

[@DeanStephen]

It was, we might say, a train wreck. And yes, the largest bankruptcy. As such, it is impossible to conclude the Feds had nothing to do with trying to prevent it.

[@paulanthony1689]

I live in NYC and run/ bike by the bridge all the time. A lot of people call it "Hell's Gate" for some reason.. maybe confusing it with "Hell's Kitchen".. or "Randalls/ Wards Island"..was hoping the video would explain that lol

[@englishmanlv]

Thanks!

[@carmineriganti2333]

I am in awe of the old NY bridges each with their own design. I could tell which one they are. not like todays that all look the same.

[@josephj6521]

When I first went to NYC from Sydney 30 years ago and went up the Empire State Building I noticed the bridge “hey, that looks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge!” Nice to learn about its history.

[@marcellocolona4980]

Actually, the Sydney Harbour Bridge looks like the Hell Gate Bridge.

[@guyfaux3978]

The HGB was first by about 15 years.

[@charlesclager6808]

Excellent video. I've learned a lot about New York infrastructure from you and your great presentations than anywhere else. Thank you.

[@jetsons101]

Randall's Island had really changed, that could be a video on its own.... Thanks for posting......

[@sionapink1560]

I live in Washington Heights I’m not far from Queens. This bridge have always fascinated me as a child.

[@jonathanng2390]

The bridge had four electrified tracks. 2 for NH intercity trains (now Amtrak). 2 for NH electric freight trains to Bay Ridge (now CSX/NY&A).

[@nyrmetros]

Unfortunately there are currently 3 tracks on the bridge. Hopefully a future project to bring Metro North commuter trains into Pennsylvania Station will bring the 4th track back to the bridge.

[@daviddauphin838]

@@nyrmetros THAT 4th track was a freight only to fresh pond in queens. it is now partially blocked by a transformer station in Queens for amtrak.

[@nyrmetros]

@@daviddauphin838 maybe they can reconfigure the transformer, move freight to the 4th track and use the 3rd track for additional commuter capacity?

[@280StJohnsPl]

Grew up not far from the bridge.....always loved it

[@MikeP2055]

2:44 Those are the Harlem and East Rivers --- technically tidal estuary and strait --- but definitely not the Hudson.

[@denniswhite166]

Correct.

[@g.p.b.]

I really like your videos. They are well researched and well spoken. Please keep up the good work

[@samanthab1923]

As a kid I loved my dad’s Lionel train model of Hells Gate. Got a chance to ride over it a while back. My mom lives in CT now. We went into the city for the day 👋

[@martinsulat697]

When was this. As a kid of 13 back in the 70's I collected Antique Lionel Trains along with my dad. Their model of Hell's Gate ALWAYS intrigued me...

[@philpots48]

The view while crossing the bridge on an Amtrak train is a wonder!

[@mistermena8204]

The bridges crossing the Hudson River would be a great video. They have seen updates and are still beautiful bridges.

[@judykaymacgreagor4422]

Refuse to watch commercials when I pa for premium. You are now off my list. Really going to miss you, cause I live history. Bon voyage

[@denniswhite166]

I've been through Hell Gate many times on my 28' cabin cruiser and later on my 16' fishing boat. You just have to hit the slack tide. Once my calculations were off and I hit it on my 16' during the tide changing. I won't forget that time... ever.

[@denniswhite166]

I've circumnavigated Manhattan at least a dozen times with both of my boats. I even stopped and swam under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side.

[@wolfmobile3693]

About time you were able to making a video about the Hell Gate bridge. Great job!

[@officialmcdeath]

Fascinating, thank you! Have you done anything on the Pulaski Skyway? It's always been a striking landmark on my road transfers to/from EWR \m/

[@freetolook3727]

@2:28 Now that is an impressive piece of engineering, supporting two large heavy pieces of equipment while the bridge framing is not yet finished!

[@ronniecarter9688]

Being born & raised In the south bronx took many a walks and bike rides to Randall's Island. Gotta wonder if & how many of them sunken ships may still be submerged

[@bofty]

I believe this bridge is one foot longer than the Sydney harbour bridge which I saw for the first time recently in real life. Pictures in this video don’t do justice to how big it is in real life, it’s huge!

[@ThirdRail7]

I believe you're thinking of the Bayonne Bridge. It is two feet longer than the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

[@oldschooldrumcorps]

Spent a lot of time on Randall’s island in the 70’s, rehearsing with my drum corps, the bridge was always interesting to me, but never crossed it

[@ITSHISTORY]

That's probably the best way to experience the history - just live near by!:)

[@RichardStasiak-v6t]

Love those derricks! They sure get the work done and give everyone a lift.

[@joepreterotti7963]

Thank you for sharing this awesome It’s History video about the impressive Hell Gate Bridge. I have seen it many times driving by it. I also once took an Amtrak Train from CT over the Hell Gate Bridge, and going on through to Penn Station for my trip to my final destination, Iselin, New Jersey. It was amazing to take this train ride over this majestic historic railroad Bridge. I also know that Lionel Electric Toy Train Company manufactured and sold their toy version of it too. When I was a child, our family took a Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan Island, and when we got to the Hell Gate area where the rivers met together, I remembered how very turbulent the water currents were in that vicinity too. I could understand why boats had accidents or were sunk there.

[@jerrycomo2736]

"Prepare to shoot the Gate" was a term we used as part of "Sea and Anchor Detail" aboard a Navy Destroyer once based at the old Brooklyn Navy Yard. It meant be ready for anything while navigating that waterway.

[@denniswhite166]

I was in the USN and our ship USS Myles C. Fox DD-829 traversed the east river to the Brooklyn Navy Yard all the time. After the unmistakable Verrazano-Narrows Bridge I remembered the sequence of the bridges of the East River by the acronym "BMW" or Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburgh Bridges. This was heading north towards our berth.

[@richpayton7162]

I believe that the name Hell Gate had its origins in a man named Mr. Hale, who hailed from that vicinity in the early years of the occupying of NYC by European settlers, i.e. "Hale's Gate". I read that in a book named "The Hussar's Millions" about the loss of that ship. Apparently despite great efforts to locate and recover the extremely valuable cargo of the Hussar, the endeavor did not bear fruit.

[@ocsrc]

Conrail became CSX and is now the largest Railroad in the country. The new wireless over the air ATCS and PTC and CSX's Ku band Satellite Radio network allows for control of all the switches and signals without wires. The only wire needed is A/C or D/C power to run the motors and signals and the communication equipment

[@Mk99987]

4:41-There has never been rail service to Randall’s Island. Also, The ferry between The Bronx and Queens ran farther east of Hell Gate.

[@jmad627]

You can tell, even from the still photos, how treacherous the current flows thru Hell Gate. It’s the Atlantic Ocean.

[@Phylonyous]

I’m already a subscriber! I want vids on those two other bridges!

[@ttraderjim]

There's a movie called "Queens Logic" in 1991 that features the Hellgate Bridge. It stars Joe Mantegna.

[@MLCrisis1790]

I've been watching so many engineering disaster videos that I kept waiting for the thing to fall apart and kill us all, lol.

[@kcobley]

We've got one of those in Sydney nearly identical construction photos and drawings.

[@NostalgicNell]

I would cross the original Sellwood bridge many times a week before they replaced it. Scary narrow thing.

[@ginog5037]

Good video Ryan, here's an idea the building of the Blue Ridge Parkway?

[@jhonwask]

That was very interesting. I've never even been near that bridge.

[@ITSHISTORY]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mikenixon2401]

Interesting story. An idea for you may be the Eads Bridge in St. Louis. The first bridge across the Mississippi River, and much more up to date.

[@dennisud]

I'd like to see those Bridges plus any other projects that brought people and traffic into and out of NYC!

[@honorladone8682]

Brilliant!

[@ITSHISTORY]

Thank you!

[@moceri55]

I transit “The Gate” almost daily on a tugboat.

[@MyPhobo]

"Actually you have to call me LORD Steve now." "shut the hell up, steve."

[@leonardodalongisland]

Great Job!!!

[@hypercomms2001]

The Bridge that inspired the Sydney Harbour Bridge..

[@rdbjrseattle]

At 3:20 What is the tall structure just to the left of the listing steamer on the right?

[@lesa.4903]

It is likely the High Bridge Water Tower at the Manhattan end of the High Bridge. It's still there. I think the artist took some artistic license with the perspective. If you drag Pegman (the yellow figure on Google maps) to the middle of the Harlem River at 145th Street and look north you can just make it out to the right of the four identical apartment buildings that are built over I-95. Farther south, near the sinking site, the view is blocked by tall modern buildings. I spent many summer days at the public pool near the tower.

[@tweetingsparks]

Hell Gate Bridge is a nice looking bridge.

[@dave.p153]

We have exactly the same bridge in Sydney Australia but of course ours is 3 times longer lol

[@frankgrima]

Hell's Gate, would make a good name for a 🍺🍻 bar🥂🍾🍷

[@Bob-hm7cf]

i'd love to see an episode on the GWB (george wasshington bridge)

[@kirtchy13]

Great Video

[@ShawnCaldwell11]

That Established Title thing is a scam.

[@Trag-zj2yo]

Sounds like a good candidate for a rails to trails project

[@nyrmetros]

Not exactly. The bridge is still heavily used today with all Amtrak trains between Boston and NYC, and there are plans to have Metro North commuter trains travel over the bridge into Pennsylvania Station. Hopefully there will be an uptick in freight trains as well.

[@daviddauphin838]

@@nyrmetros actually there was an uptick in freight bfrom the 70's till now.

[@dock_yard1149]

LOL ... where did you ever get that brainstorm ...

[@Zoomer3989]

I have to give you credit for this video, the Hellgate is a rarely covered part of NY history. However, I think you were unfairly critical of the bridge's maintenance post Amtrak takeover - the reduction in tracks was done system-wide in many places post merger, such as Horseshoe Curve. While the bridge objectively looks like shit due to the shoddy paintwork, the bridge's structural and mechanical status is solid, and has never really wavered nor has a major or even moderate accident occurred on or due to it. Again, appreciate the video, but I think the latter half of the video was pretty biased against it.

[@luisrauda3788]

Is this Lindenthal?

[@fireballrobbie1744]

They should let visitors go up on the bridge. Each tower has a staircase inside that goes to the top of the tower. They could make a lot of money.

[@midknightranger71]

Established Titles is a scam

[@marcneef795]

Not at all! I just have to remind everybody everyday, that according to some traditions some people would consider calling me a lord. Works perfectly! (That whole "planting a tree" thing is just a metaphor, since the real trees are the friends we make along the way.😊)

[@mariekatherine5238]

The currents in that area are still treacherous.

[@davidzitzman6511]

Well done m lord.I'm a sucker for bridges.

[@markterribile6948]

One reason the Hell Gate Bridge gets little freight because there is no good freight crossing on the Hudson south of Selkirk, NY. Look up "Selkirk Hurdle" and "NYC Harbor Rail Tunnel."

[@DAVIDDAUPHIN-n5n]

I worked on that bridge in the 70's.

[@angeladelia7472]

Hell gate, Astoria park, bridge is featured in the movie Queens logic

[@deanchapman1824]

Soon, the Metro North New Haven line will use the bridge into Penn Station.

[@Bob.W.]

And there is the spuyten divil over on the west side of Manhattan. Hell gate and spite the devil. Also, the designer went on to design the massive C&O bridge over the Ohio at Sciotoville. That thing's a monster.

[@markterribile6948]

I learned Spuyten Duyvil as "spitting devil". We don't see that waterway today because Manhattan's North Channel has been moved to make the waterway more navigable.

[@D.WittYard]

Close… in order for the FCC to give the go ahead to the NY Central / Pennsylvania RR merger, they were forced to also take on the New Haven. This was early 1968; Amtrak formed in 1971 and the line wasn’t absorbed into Amtrak until 1976. Same year that ConRail was formed.

[@michaelzernie7092]

There was an old bridge in Clendenin West Virginia. All i remember is that it was really old and the town had it demolished. Was designed by some famous guy. Idk

[@WilkinsonX]

Do I still need to abide by the laws of Scotland while within the 1 square foot of land that I am lord of? What about international law?

[@Fevebblefester]

You amateur , I have a star named after me!

[@MrRancid1986]

Well you don't own a country lol...

[@WilkinsonX]

@@Fevebblefester Is it called Jeff Starwood?

[@richpayton7162]

You would have to wear a kilt, and present a convincing feint that you have an interest in learning to play the bagpipes. Then you would be fine during your visit.

[@djjoshuahall]

If you actually look it up it doesn’t really make you a lord you can just legally call yourself a lord even if you aren’t one

[@Shawn666Hellion]

Reminds me of the bridge in Sydney Australia

[@ITSHISTORY]

That's actually interesting that despite the lack of such a instant communication tools, you can feel the architectural styles of the times all over the globe.

[@rayshowsay1749]

If I may: The PRR and NYC were not forced into a merger by the federal government(or anyone); the voluntary merger was a desperate(and misjudged) attempt by the two roads to avoid individual bankruptcy. What the federal government did 'force' upon them was the inclusion of already bankrupt NYNH&H(the New Haven) RR as a condition when approval of the merger was sought.

[@ndogg20]

Maybe it can be converted to a pedestrian walkway as was done with Manhattans High Line.

[@anthonyc1883]

The bridge is still quite busy, nothing like the High Line which had zero or almost zero traffic in its final years as a railroad route.

[@Mk99987]

And it will get busier when Metro North starts operating into Penn Station.

[@dock_yard1149]

Earth to Nate ...

[@bbigaouette]

would liked to have seen more about the construction rather than the German plan to blow it up

[@ottergreen8190]

One of the sketchiest waterways I’ve ever navigated

[@A.R.77]

Might want to put a clause in the advertisement... "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."

[@notthatdonald1385]

I have a video request: the Gallitzin PA railroad tunnels. They were targeted for sabotage too, by confederate soldiers, and Germany too.

[@geardo3635]

The government did not force New York Central (NYC) and Pennsylvania (PRR) railroads to merge, that was actually manipulated by the PRR working with other railroads to dictate mergers. That led to Penn Central then Conrail that was government freight that is now back in private companies CSX and Norfolk Southern. Passenger side became Amtrak that should also have gone back to private sector but no one will touch it so the government is stuck with it.

[@novembermember]

Crossing streams and a Hell Gate, huh? Sounds like Manhatten to me.

[@moosecat]

It's the Harlem River, not the Hudson River.

[@LennyisFast]

Hey Ryan

[@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide]

6:55 Arkham, he made Gotham, u said it

[@LlyleHunter]

Can I buy the title HRH?