IRT Second Avenue Line

The IRT Second Avenue Line, also known as the Second Avenue Elevated or 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 IRT. Service north of the 57th Street station ended on June 11, 1940; the rest of the line closed on June 13, 1942.

Not to be confused with the Second Avenue Subway.

IRT Second Avenue Elevated
The Second Avenue El, looking south on First Avenue from 13th Street during its demolition in September 1942
Overview
OwnerCity of New York
Termini
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemInterborough Rapid Transit Company
Operator(s)New York City Transit Authority
History
Opened1878
Closed1940–1942
Technical
Number of tracks2-3
CharacterElevated
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map
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)
 34th Street
(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

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] 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 Park Row adjacent to City Hall. From there it ran above Park Row to Chatham Square, where it had a junction with the Third Avenue El, then continued east 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, 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][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 Second Avenue Subway, a rapid transit route running under Second Avenue, has been under consideration since 1919.[9][10] The demolition of the IRT Second Avenue Line was in anticipation of the subway's construction.[11][10] The first phase, between 72nd Street and 96th Street, opened in 2017,[10][12] and a second phase to 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 Third Avenue Line and 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. 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. ISBN 9781418187859. Retrieved February 11, 2009.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "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. "CITY'S GROWTH DISCOUNTED IN PLANS FOR ADDING 830 MILES OF TRACK TO RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEMS; Work to Cover Period of Twenty-five Years and Cost $350,000,000--New Lines and Extensions Would Provide for a Population of Nine Millions and Carry Five Billion Passengers" (PDF). The New York Times. October 3, 1920. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  10. 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. Slotnik, Daniel E.; Wolfe, Jonathan; Fitzsimmons, Emma G.; Palmer, Emily; Remnick, Noah (January 1, 2017). "Opening of Second Avenue Subway: Updates". The New York Times. 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. "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. "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.
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