B&O Special Train to Staten Island, March 1930

In 1930, business interests in Staten Island had an idea--encourage ocean liners to dock at the underutilized Stapleton piers, where they could be met on the pier by Baltimore & Ohio passenger trains. The B&O, which controlled the Staten Island Rapid Transit (SIRT) system, would have a monopoly on this traffic. In March, they ran a special train to demonstrate its feasibility. 0:48 At the head of the special train is B&O class B-18ca 4-6-0 Ten-Wheeler No. 2024. The 2024 had appeared in the 1927 Fair of the Iron Horse and was the locomotive of choice for special assignments like this. 2:46 Richmond Borough President John A. Lynch (1884-1954) speaks on behalf of Mayor Jimmy Walker. 4:38 B&O VP of Operations Charles W. Galloway (d. 1940) speaks next on behalf of the railroad. 5:19 An unidentified man (possibly A. C. Fack, according to the notes with the film) speaks. The camera crew cuts off early. 6:02 After the speeches, the party boards the ferry DONGAN HILLS, one of the new