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September 19, 2004
Canal and the River
Canal and the River
A Von Dullen car is making the turn from the Riverfront trackage running along the Mississippi River to Canal Street, continuing on the outbound leg of its run. The streetcar began this run at the French Market terminal, and will go up to the Cemeteries terminal at Canal Street and City Park Avenue.
This photo, shot from the elevated pedestrian walkway that leads to the Algiers Ferry landing, shows just how much activity exists at the foot of Canal. The large building in the background is Harrah’s Casino. On the left, is an Entergy power sub-station. This location was the site of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad’s passenger station for decades, prior to 1952 when it was torn down.
In the foreground there are three sets of tracks. The first two sets of track are for the Riverfront line. The 400-series streetcars run from Julia Street to French Market here. The third track is the narrower “standard” gague, for trains servicing the riverfront’s wharves on the New Orleans Public Belt line.
In the wake of Hurricane Ivan, it’s important to point out the big concrete walls in the right foreground. These are part of the city’s floodwall system along the river. When flood waters from the river or storm surge from a hurricane threaten downtown, the gates in this floodwall system are closed tight, providing an added layer of protection to the city’s historic treasures.
Posted by Edward J. Branley at September 19, 2004 08:11 PM
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