On December 31, 2023 I ventured into DUMBO, north of downtown Brooklyn, a formerly chiefly industrial region now a hotbed of expensive residences, retail and even a branch of the Brooklyn Historical Society. Because of various factors, it was my first foray into Brooklyn since the late summer of 2022. I haven’t yet posted the majority of the photos, but some will dribble out in advance of a more lengthy post.
Many visitors to the DUMBO, Brooklyn area mistake the numerous tracks found in the Belgian-blocked streets for old trolley tracks. However, since until a few years ago DUMBO was almost entirely given over to warehousing and manufacturing (except for the small Vinegar Hill neighborhood on the eastern end) trolley lines never troubled it north of Sands Street.
One clue that these were never trolley lines is that several pairs run on sidewalks and into buildings. These tracks belonged to the Jay Street Connecting Railroad, one of the shortest rail lines in Brooklyn. It was originally constructed (beginning in 1904) by the Arbuckle Brothers, who imported coffee from far-flung regions; it was unloaded from carfloats in the East River (not for nothing are there two streets in DUMBO called Dock and New Dock). Goods were shuttled into warehouses a lofts in the streets of DUMBO via the tracks. The JSCR ran its last load in 1959.
In this view on Plymouth Street, the tracks duck into one of the industrial buildings, either serving Brillo soap steel wool pads or Kirkman soap products. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your POV, many DUMBO’s Belgian blocks have been pulled up and replaced with smoother versions, and may of the JSCR tracks have also been sacrificed in the name of making the streets easier to navigate by autos and bicycles. However, the Department of Transportation hasn’t yet reached the east end of Plymouth Street. I hope the tracks stay here forever.
1944 Jay Street Connecting RR track map
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4/30/24