This month’s Zoom presentation by David Wilson is “Manhattan Transfer.” David’s show will trace the purposes, construction, expansion, decline and revival of transportation systems at the Hudson River waterfront from the first railroads to the introduction of present-day light rail and ferry service.
Manhattan Transfer was more than a fictional name for Penn Station immortalized in the titular novel by John Dos Passos. For nearly two centuries, eight railroads, streetcar operations and a subway line surmounted obstacles in northern New Jersey to reach the Hudson River waterfront where passengers could transfer to ferry boats or H&M subway trains to gain access to Manhattan.
David has been riding, observing, documenting, and loving railroads and public transit for nearly 60 years. He began touring transit systems in his teens, including his first visit to New York, Hoboken, and Newark when he was 17. He has since made 14 visits to Hoboken and surrounding communities. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kent State University (along the mainline of the Erie-Lackawanna railroad) and a Master of Urban Planning and Policy from University of Illinois at Chicago.
In 2015 David retired from his 48-year career in transportation management, having worked in marketing for four railroads, and finished his career as a bus route planner for Chicago Transit Authority. He has since authored a book and various articles on transportation history in Chicago and gave numerous presentations on various aspects of transportation history and operations.
December Meeting Notice