IRT Second Avenue Line

IRT Second Avenue Line
The Second Avenue El, looking south on First Avenue from 13th Street during its demolition in September 1942
Overview
Type Rapid transit
System Interborough Rapid Transit Company
Termini 125th Street
City Hall
South Ferry
Operation
Opened 1878
Closed 1940–1942
Owner City of New York
Operator(s) New York City Transit Authority
Character Elevated
Technical
Number of tracks 2-3
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The IRT Second Avenue Line, also known as the Second Avenue El, was an elevated railway in Manhattan, New York City, United States, from 1878 to 1942. It was operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company until 1940, when the city took over the bankrupt IRT. Service north of the 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 Gilbert Elevated Railway Company the right to construct the railway from 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]

The Second Avenue El did not run entirely on Second Avenue. Its southern terminus was City Hall, and it continued to Chatham Square, where it had a junction with the Third Avenue El and ran east along Division Street and then north to Allen Street. At Houston Street it ran north on First Avenue, where it turned left on 23rd Street ran north on Second Avenue to 129th Street. At that point it joined with the Third Avenue El and crossed the Harlem River into the Bronx.[4]

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, where elevated trains were cut back to. 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][5] 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][6]

The M15 bus, which runs along much of the IRT Second Avenue Elevated Line's route, carries more passengers than any other route in New York City. However, it does not carry as many passengers as a rapid transit line; additionally, transfers to rapid transit stations can only be made using surface connections.

The Second Avenue Subway, a rapid transit route following much of the same route, has been under consideration since 1919, 23 years before the 1942 demolition of the IRT Second Avenue Line. After nearly a century, the first phase opened at the start of 2017.

Station listing

Station Tracks Opened Closed Notes
129th Street Express December 30, 1878 June 11, 1940
Merges with IRT Third Avenue Line
125th Street Express After the line opened June 11, 1940
121st Street local June 11, 1940
117th Street local June 11, 1940
111th Street local June 11, 1940
105th Street local After the line opened June 11, 1940
99th Street local June 13, 1942
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[7] June 11, 1940
Branch over Queensboro Bridge to Queensboro Plaza leaves at 57th Street
57th Street Express June 13, 1942
50th Street local June 13, 1942
42nd Street Express March 1, 1880[7] June 13, 1942
34th Street local June 13, 1942 Transfer to branch to 34th Street Ferry
23rd Street local March 1, 1880[7] June 13, 1942
19th Street local June 13, 1942
14th Street Express March 1, 1880[7] June 13, 1942
Eighth Street local March 1, 1880[7] June 13, 1942
First Street local March 1, 1880[7] June 13, 1942
Rivington Street local March 1, 1880[7] June 13, 1942
Grand Street local March 1, 1880[7] June 13, 1942
Canal Street local March 1, 1880[7] June 13, 1942
Chatham Square Express March 1, 1880[7] May 12, 1955 Transfer to Third Avenue Line and branch to City Hall
Merges with IRT Third Avenue Line
Franklin Square Express August 26, 1878[8] December 22, 1950
Fulton Street Express August 26, 1878[8] December 22, 1950
Hanover Square Express August 26, 1878[8] December 22, 1950
Merges with IRT Ninth Avenue Line
South Ferry Express August 26, 1878[8] December 22, 1950

References

  1. ↑ Rapid Transit in New York City and in Other Great Cities. prepared by the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. 1905. p. 52. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "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. ↑ Red Book Information Guide to New York. Interstate Map Co. 1935.
  5. ↑ New York Times, Two 'El' Lines End Transit Service, June 12, 1940, page 27
  6. ↑ "Discontinuance of service Second Avenue elevated line". nytm.pastperfectonline.com. New York City Board of Transportation. 1942. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "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.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Rapid Transit on the Bowery" (PDF). The New York Times Company. August 26, 1878. p. 8. Retrieved February 10, 2009.

Further reading

  • "Second Avenue El in Manhattan". By NJI Publishing with text provided by Joe Cunningham. 1995. ISBN 0-934088-33-0
  • "100 Years Ago on Second Avenue". The Launch Box. January 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016.
  • "The 2nd Avenue Elevated". nycsubway.org. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  • Cohen, Alexander Nobler (July 2001). "Fallen Transit. The Loss of Rapid Transit on New York's Second Avenue". Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  • "A trip back in time on the New York City Second Avenue El". Time Traveling on the Second Avenue El. Archived from the original on August 4, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
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