It is obvious the military replaced the narrow gauge trackage with standard gauge, but no documentation located to date reveals when this took place. Fort Hancock by comparison as seen in the map on that page ; operated both standard gauge trackage for passenger, troop train and railway gun movements which allowed for interchange with Class 1 railroads Central Railroad of New Jersey , but used a narrow gauge railnet for supplying the smaller artillery batteries with ammunition, projectiles, etc.
As Fort Tilden was not connected to any other railroad, it is not understood why the changeover to standard gauge was made. The low clearances in the casemate corridors obviously prevented standard height freight cars from entering and exiting the casemates. As most if not all of the well recognized industrial locomotive firms, i. Even to this day narrow gauge equipment is available for mining and excavation, so obsolescence of a narrow gauge railroad would not be a factor. So the reason for Fort Tilden's conversion to standard gauge eludes us.
The Fort Tilden Railroad was a rather small affair, comprised of just over a mile of track, with the majority of the right of way in a straight line except for the 90 degree curve coming off the wharf located in Jamaica Bay and some very minor curves going through the batteries. Around , the right of way would be rerouted to facilitate the construction and installation of the "modern" 16 inch guns of Battery Harris East and Battery Harris West, as well as the smaller guns of Battery Kessler and Battery Fergusson.
No documentation exists, but it was most likely at this time, the railway was converted to standard gauge. Then, these projectiles would be loaded and fired at approaching enemy vessels. These tracks ran from the wharf area in Jamaica Bay, headed southeast about feet, and began to turn west.
At this point there was a turnout for the northern spur, which would take you to the 6" gun emplacements overlooking Jamaica Bay. Continuing straight however, the railroad extended through to three magazines and two gun positions of Battery Harris. Since the projectiles weighed 2, pounds each, this rail system was vital in providing an rapid system of supply of powder bags and projectiles to the guns to defend the coast from enemy invasion. A locomotive would couple to one or two 4 wheel railcars about 6 feet long, basically a very heavy duty rack on wheels as well as a flat car; and would go to a shell house to pick up a quantity of shells.
The shell magazine was not located very near the batteries, in case of accidental detonation by incoming enemy action or by sabotage. The "train" would then transverse the trackage, where it would stop, and the shell carrier diverted to a circular track surrounding the gun.
This way, no matter which way the gun may be aimed, a projectile carrier could be placed directly behind the breech. Artillerymen would, with the aid of a hoist pick up the projectile; and place it on the loading rack for the artillery piece and "ram" or shove it in inside the barrel. Then bags of gunpowder would be placed behind the shell, and the breach of the artillery piece closed.
At such time, the artillery would be fired at enemy vessels approaching the coast. As we all know, no foreign naval armada ever was to attempt this, and the Battery Harris artillery pieces were never fired in anger.
If one references the two photographs below, surrounding each gun carriage is a set of tracks completely encircling the the gun for loading and maintenance. Of particular note in the left photo; is the track "wye" structure which can be seen a t left center for turning railcars.
In the right photo, a projectile carrier railcar can be seen in right foreground, with a nice close up of the concrete embedded trackage resembling streetcar tracks. By using the gentleman's foot as a gauge, it is clear the trackage is standard gauge at the time the images were taken.
In the bottom photo, a projectile carrier railcar can be seen on the left as well as the circular track. Around , with propeller driven bombers of intercontinental capability starting to come off the production line; the concrete casemates were built to protect the guns from aerial bombardment. The circular tracks could no longer supply the gun, as the front vertical casemate wall was in the way.
So, the casemate was designed so that the supply train would enter the casemate and unload behind the breech of the gun, in relative protection. A chain fall attached to the ceiling in the casemates assisted with the loading of the projectiles. As one can see in the current aerial photo below, these circular tracks seen in the above photos are no longer in place, and a circular apron of poured concrete slabs is in place in front of the gun.
This prevents muzzle blast from "kicking up" sand and dust. Battery Harris East and West each have four 20 by 20 foot rooms with heavy steel doors for the "in house" storage of powder and projectiles.
When it was time for resupply, the resupply procedure was a "run through" affair. The "train" would then transverse the trackage, enter the battery through a portal in the side of casemates and proceed inside stopping directly behind the artillery piece at the lateral corridor.
Artillerymen would, with the aid of a hoist or chain fall would pick up the projectile; and place it on the loading rack for the artillery piece and "ram" or shove it in inside the barrel. For example: the railroad would begin its westward journey at the east projectile magazine, and into the east end of the building where projectiles would be loaded onto the railcar.
The train would proceed through and out the westside of the building, and approximately feet into the east portal of Battery Harris East. Proceeding out the west portal of the Battery and about feet further west it would enter into the east end of the powder magazine where it would pick up powder bags.
It would then progress out the west end of the central powder magazine "Magazine 2" which was located between both Battery Harris East and Battery Harris West , and again travel about feet into the east portal of Battery Harris West, where it would unload the powder and the projectiles. The population density for is 1, people per sq mi. What is the median household income for zip code? How many housing units are there in zip code? There are a total of 2, housing units in zip code.
What is the male population in zip code ? What is the female population in zip code ? What is the White population in zip code ? The white population as of the latest census data is 4, The Black or African American population is 5 0. Please note that during off season both the Q22 and Q35 both stop at Beach th Street. Explore This Park. Info Alerts Maps Calendar Reserve. Alerts In Effect Dismiss. Dismiss View all alerts.
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