Back in the 1930s, New York separated trains from the streets along its west side by building thirteen miles of elevated tracks to reduce the accident count and improve delivery efficiency. The tracks opened in 1934, and especially moved foodstuffs.
By the 1950s, long-distance trucking was reducing the flow carried by the elevated trains. In 1980, the last train rolled; it carried frozen turkeys.
Today, the remaining elevated route is a park called High Line; the first section opened last summer.
Gotta mention the water tanks. Survey the New York skyline and you will see them, and many will look like ancient wooden technology made like huge barrels. Are they still commonly made? Installed?