IRT Second Avenue Line

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with the Second Avenue Subway.

IRT Second Avenue Elevated
standard gauge
Route map

Legend
Third Avenue Line
Harlem River
 129th Street
125th Street
121st Street
117th Street
111th Street
105th Street
99th Street
92nd Street
86th Street
80th Street
72nd Street
65th Street
Queensboro Bridge
to Astoria & Flushing Lines
 57th Street
50th Street
42nd Street
(Flushing Line)
Ferry Shuttle
)
23rd Street
19th Street
14th Street
Eighth Street
First Street
Rivington Street
Grand Street
Canal Street
Third Avenue Line
 Chatham Square
City Hall
Franklin Square
Fulton Street
Hanover Square
Brooklyn Branch
Sixth & Ninth Avenue Lines
 South Ferry
This diagram:

The IRT Second Avenue Line, also known as the Second Avenue Elevated or Second Avenue El, was an

57th Street
station ended on June 11, 1940; the rest of the line closed on June 13, 1942.

History

In 1875, the Rapid Transit Commission granted the

Battery Park to the Harlem River along Second Avenue.[1]

The commission also granted the Gilbert Elevated Railway Company the right to operate the Sixth Avenue Elevated and soon afterward the Gilbert Elevated Railway changed its name to the Metropolitan Elevated Railway.

Around 1900, the line was

electrified.[2] Between 1914 and 1916 construction was undertaken to install a third track to provide express service on the line during peak hours.[2] Express service commenced on January 17, 1916.[3] On July 23, 1917, Second Avenue El service over the Queensborough Bridge to Queens began.[4]

The Second Avenue El did not run entirely on Second Avenue. Its southern terminus was above

Division Street. It turned north above Allen Street to Houston Street, where it continued north above First Avenue, then turned left on 23rd Street, then ran north on Second Avenue to 129th Street. At that point it rejoined with the Third Avenue El and crossed the Harlem River into the Bronx.[5]

As of 1934 Second Avenue service operated as follows:

  • Second Avenue Local - day and evenings 129th Street to South Ferry, alternate evening and Sunday trains 129th Street to City Hall. No all-night service was operated.
  • Second Avenue Express - Bronx Park to City Hall weekday and Saturday AM peak southbound, City Hall to Fordham Road or Tremont Avenue weekday PM peak northbound, also Freeman Street to City Hall via West Farms Road Line, making express stops in Manhattan.
  • Second Avenue-Queens - South Ferry to Willets Point Blvd weekday and Saturday AM peak, City Hall to Willets Point Blvd weekday midday and PM peak, 57th Street to Willets Point Blvd evenings and Sundays. In addition City Hall to Astoria Weekday AM peak and midday and Saturday daytime, South Ferry to Astoria weekday PM peak, 57th Street to Astoria evenings and Sundays. Midday and Saturday trains used the express tracks, weekday peak trains made all stops.

On April 23, 1939 express service was inaugurated weekday and Saturday daytime in Queens between Queensboro Plaza and 111th Street, and elevated trains were cut back to 111th Street. On September 8, 1939 Astoria trains were rerouted in the weekday PM peak to City Hall. The Second Avenue Elevated was closed north of 59th Street June 12, 1940.[2][6] Evening and Sunday Queens trains were extended to City Hall or South Ferry. On May 19, 1941 evening and Sunday service was discontinued. Finally, on June 13, 1942 all service was discontinued.[2][7]

The M15 bus, which runs along much of the IRT Second Avenue Elevated Line's route, is one of the busiest bus routes in New York City.[8] However, it does not carry as many passengers as a rapid transit line, and transfers to rapid transit stations can only be made using surface connections.

The

Harlem–125th Street is being planned.[13]

Station listing

Station Tracks Opened Closed Transfers and notes
129th Street
 Express December 30, 1878 June 11, 1940 Transfer to Third Avenue Line
125th Street
 Express June 11, 1940
121st Street
 Local June 11, 1940
117th Street
 Local June 11, 1940
111th Street
 Local June 11, 1940
105th Street
 Local June 11, 1940
99th Street
 Local June 11, 1940
92nd Street
 Local June 11, 1940
86th Street
 Express June 11, 1940
80th Street
 Local June 11, 1940
72nd Street
 Local June 11, 1940
65th Street
 Local March 1, 1880[14] June 11, 1940
57th Street
 Express June 13, 1942
50th Street
 Local June 13, 1942
42nd Street
 Express March 1, 1880[14] June 13, 1942
34th Street
 Local June 13, 1942 Transfer to
34th Street Ferry Shuttle
23rd Street
 Local March 1, 1880[14] June 13, 1942
19th Street
 Local June 13, 1942
14th Street
 Express March 1, 1880[14] June 13, 1942
Eighth Street
 Local March 1, 1880[14] June 13, 1942
First Street
 Local March 1, 1880[14] June 13, 1942
Rivington Street
 Local March 1, 1880[14] June 13, 1942
Grand Street
 Local March 1, 1880[14] June 13, 1942
Canal Street
 Local March 1, 1880[14] June 13, 1942
Chatham Square
 Express March 1, 1880[14] May 12, 1955 Transfer to
City Hall Spur
Franklin Square
 Express August 26, 1878[15] December 22, 1950
Fulton Street
 Express August 26, 1878[15] December 22, 1950
Hanover Square
 Express August 26, 1878[15] December 22, 1950
South Ferry
 Express August 26, 1878[15] December 22, 1950

References

  1. ISBN 9781418187859. Retrieved February 11, 2009.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link
    )
  2. ^ a b c d "Manhattan East Side Transit Alternatives (MESA): Major Investment Study/Draft Environmental Impact Statement, August 1999". Metropolitan Transportation Authority, United States Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration. August 1999. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  3. ^ Senate, New York (State) Legislature (January 1, 1917). Documents of the Senate of the State of New York.
  4. ^ https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/130287292_3464410130303777_195985790774165309_n.jpg?stp=cp0_dst-jpg_e15_fr_q65&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0be424&_nc_ohc=9vCD0N_iYIwAX-9rtqc&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AT8RTOjhnwy2MAQ-tFaZaq427nq2BknvPOiucJ3KuX4qbA&oe=62669405
  5. ^ Red Book Information Guide to New York. Interstate Map Co. 1935.
  6. New York Times, Two 'El' Lines End Transit Service
    , June 12, 1940, page 27
  7. ^ "Discontinuance of service Second Avenue elevated line". nytm.pastperfectonline.com. New York City Board of Transportation. 1942. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  8. ^ "Facts and Figures". mta.info. August 28, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  9. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Paumgarten, Nick (February 6, 2017). "The Second Avenue Subway Is Here!". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  11. ^ "Second Avenue Subway Project - History". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 19, 2002. Archived from the original on October 19, 2002. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  12. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  13. ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (October 29, 2015). "Anger in East Harlem Over New Delays in 2nd Ave. Subway Plans". The New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "More Elevated Facilities, the Second Avenue Line and City Hall Branch Opened" (PDF). The New York Times Company. March 2, 1880. p. 3. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  15. ^ a b c d "Rapid Transit on the Bowery" (PDF). The New York Times Company. August 26, 1878. p. 8. Retrieved February 10, 2009.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IRT Second Avenue Line.
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