Vanderbilt Cup Races

Wonderful post! I have first-hand memories of it being a fad to walk through that long passage (circa early 70s as I recall). Although I couldn’t find any articles in the several news archives I searched, I believe rising crime and a failure of the underground lighting system made things really scary and unsafe and led to the closing of the underpass.

From Raiders of Lost Underpass

Although photos can be misleading, Eric’s photo does not look like the materials used in bridge construction (but does look a lot like crumbly pavement childhood). I investigated further using the 1951 aerial NYCityMap that can be found at on.nyc.gov/2frfpIU and comparing that image to the 2010 NYC aerial overlay and to Howard’s November 23, 1937, and October 1941 aerials of same area.
I conclude that Eric’s “concrete findings” are associated with an access road seen in the 1941 and 1951 aerials that trends NNW and is connected to the NE end of this truncated LIMP segment. In 1951, there is a long diagram light-colored slash that may be a debris mound or an informal barrier and seems to be associated with Eric’s “finding.” In both aerials, the bridge is further to the SW, so Frank may have drawn the Creedmoor Bridge slightly too far to the NE and the bridge probably would cross through in the triangular junction, at a spot where a dark car is shown in the NYC 2006 aerial.
I’ve discovered that others have referenced the 1951 aerial. You can clearly see many LIMP highlights coexisting/overlaid with modern landmarks including the concrete abutments of the Commonwealth Blvd. bridge, the North Hempstead Tpke. and Hollis Ct. Blvd. Bridges, and the LIMP segment destroyed when the CVE was built.

From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series: #9 The Creedmoor Bridge in Queens Updated: 10/22/16

Those “neatly arranged rocks” in Eric’s first photo seem to be the lining of a drainage ditch and at least two stones appear to be setts and not cobbles (surprising). Those cobbles and setts are probably the bottom bed of the ditch that escaped destruction/leveling/erosion because it was originally so below grade.  (A construction cross-section that includes a ditch is shown for the first segment of LIMP in Good Roads Magazine, Volume 9, page 320.)

From Remnants of Long Island Motor Parkway Discovered in Queens

Where is Old Sixteen these days? Who owns it? Hey Howard you haven’t bought it yet?
__________________________________________________________________a
From Howard Kroplick

Old 16 is owned by the Henry Ford Museum and is currently on display:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/three_legendary_racers_at_the_henry_ford_museum

From Helck Family Collection: Old 16 on Display at the Henry Ford Museum in 1962

Hi Howard:
Growing-up in Locust Valley where my family knew the local Dudgeon family, I was told all about Richard Dudgeon’s very early steam vehicle of 1866. I’m pleased to know that it’s well-preserved at the Smithsonian

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

P. S. - The Dudgeon was running in Glen Cove on 24 Jul 1902:

  http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/?spot=6121369

There is so much else for you on that page!

Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

-Identify the vehicle and the year it was built
1866 Dudgeon Steam Wagon

-What powered the vehicle?
Steam powered

-Describe its link to Long Island
From the Smithsonian website;

The Dudgeon steam wagon is one of the earliest self-propelled road vehicles built in the United States. Richard Dudgeon, a machinist who was known for his commercially produced hydraulic jacks, designed and built a steam-powered wagon because he hoped to end the abuse and mistreatment of horses. The wagon resembles a small locomotive, but it has a steering wheel and seats for the driver and eight passengers. Dudgeon drove the vehicle on New York City streets and at his farm on Long Island. It burned coal and ran at a top speed of 25 to 30 miles per hour.
LOCATION
Currently not on view
OBJECT NAME
steam wagon
DATE MADE
1866
MAKER
Dudgeon, Richard
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 5 5/16 ft x 5 ft x 11 5/16 ft; 1.62458 m x 1.524 m x 3.45338 m
PLACE MADE
United States: New York, New York

-Where is this vehicle today?
The Smithsonian in Washington DC, but not on display.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

Another “Gotcha!”  The 1866 Dudgeon Steam Wagon, built in Manhattan by Richard Dudgeon, which was once housed in Locust Valley and ran on Long Island in my lifetime, and which is currently (or was) on display, in running condition, in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.  It even ran all the way up to Albany with the then-Governor aboard.  It also was up here in New England for many years.  How do I know?  You may be the chief guru on the Parkway but I am on the Dudgeon.  I invite one and all to read all about Dudgeon and his remarkable machines (this was his SECOND!) at <http://sbiii.com/dudgeon.html>, et seq.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

Nice to see these 1962 pictures of Old Sixteen. Is it still on display at the Henry Ford Museum?

From Helck Family Collection: Old 16 on Display at the Henry Ford Museum in 1962

This article was rewritten from the one I did in 2012 on the now-defunct “Car Lust” blog. On or about 11/15/16, I will post a slightly updated version of my original post on our new blog, “It Rolls.”

Thanks,

—Chuck Lynch

From The 1956 Chrysler Norseman Concept Car Lost at Sea Updated 1/13/16

Steam-powered wagon built by Richard Dudgeon in 1866; now in the Smithsonian.  Probably the first self-propelled vehicle on Long Island.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

It appears that willie k. did not see the accident - according to papers i have found so far he testified that he came upon the accident shortly after it happened.  Maybe the following will help…

Ny times - june 16, 1915 - page 8 - about his testimony in the lawsuit mrs. Pell had against the rail road - he was in his “runabout”

Ny herald - aug 6, 1913 - page 1 - the reason he was so far behind pell was partly due to lighting his lamps and to his getting a linen duster out

Brooklyn daily eagle - aug 5, 1913 - page 1- delay / why he was so far behind pell was due to lighting his pipe and to waiting for a mechanic to unlock a locked compartment so he could get out a linen duster

From Willie K's 1909 55-HP Mercedes that Toured From Tunisia to France

I wish I could have been there as well but was out in Chicago at a National Board of Directors meeting of the Classic Car Club of America. I hope you are able to visit this site again and get possible favorable approval from Albany. Is there any way readers of this can contact anyone in Albany to urge them to allow the LIMP Society to see some restoration of this site? Let us know. Thanks, especially to George who rediscovered this.

From Raiders of Lost Underpass

Nice coverage of Old Sixteen!

Keep up the good work,

=rdsieber

From Helck Family Collection: Old 16 on Display at the Henry Ford Museum in 1962

Thanks for sharing this post and for attending today’s event!
______________________________________

From Howard Kroplick:
Scott, congrats on your outstanding book and wonderful presentation!

From Images of America Book: East Meadow by Scott Ackers

Lots of documentation about this one!

Identify the vehicle and the year it was built: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon, 1866

What powered the vehicle? Steam

Describe its link to Long Island: Builder and inventor Richard Dudgeon moved from NYC to LI (Peacock Point, Locust Valley) to escape complaints from residents. Ultimately was found in a barn and bought by auto enthusiasts who in turn sold it to the Smithsonian.

Where is this vehicle today? Smithsonian, Washington DC.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

It’s great to see the then and now comparisons, too bad the early photo isn’t clearer.

From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Frederick G. Bourne at the South Side Sportsman's Club in a 1901 Winton

That’s an 1866 Dudgeon Steam Wagon built by Richard Dudgeon in Manhattan, NYC. and was powered by steam similar to a railroad locomotive. It was actually his second model, the first having been built in 1855, was destroyed while being exhibited at New York’s Crystal Palace, which burned to the ground in 1858. Due to the noise and vibrations it caused on the streets of NYC, dudgeon was forced by the authorities to move it to his farm on Long Island. It had been on display in the Road Transportation Hall of the Smithsonian Institution but now they have it in storage.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island

Dave - No tunnel access yet, waiting for further approval from Albany. The rusty chain was still in place at the door. Luckily Steve had a ladder and were able to see across to the south side using flashlights through the top opening. Daylight from the south grate at the other end helped to determine distance. The echo in the tunnel was drawn-out and annoying. Also inoperative recessed lighting in the tunnel’s concrete walls. I was surprised to see those.

From Raiders of Lost Underpass

Mystery Friday Foto #46…..The vehicle is a Dudgeon Steam Wagon built in 1866.
As the name implies it was steam powered and could achieve a speed of 25-30 mph. Thanks but I will just watch from the side of the road, thank you.
The Long Island link is that designer/builder Richard Dudgeon constructed the wagon in NYC and used it, as well, on his farm on Long Island.
Today the Wagon resides in the Smithsonian Institute.

From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: The Dudgeon Steam Wagon- The Earliest Road Vehicle Ever Seen on Long Island