TheNEW YORK DIVISION BULLETIN - NOVEMBER, 2003 Bulletin New York Division, Electric Railroaders’ Association Vol. 46, No. 11 November, 2003 The Bulletin IND REACHED CHURCH AVENUE 70 YEARS AGO Published by the New Note: Publication of this article was delayed (Modified) track in the IND subway. Wood York Division, Electric Railroaders’ from October due to space considerations. ties are set in a concrete invert. A fourth or Association, The IND was extended 3.79 miles from Ber- fifth tie, 9’6” long, holds both running rails Incorporated, PO Box gen Street to Church Avenue 70 years ago, and the third rail. Other ties are short and do 3001, New York, New October 7, 1933. Unlike the other original not cross the invert. Type IIM track has the York 10008-3001. IND lines that are entirely in the subway, the longest life expectancy. Because it is difficult Smith Street-Prospect Park Line crosses the to remove the snow from a concrete deck, Gowanus Canal on a high elevated structure the BMT preferred Type III, basic open deck For general inquiries, contact us at to avoid digging a deep tunnel under the elevated track fastened to a structural steel
[email protected]. steep hill east of the Gowanus Canal. member. With Type III track, the snow does Instead, the engineers planned an align- not accumulate, but falls between the ties to Editorial Staff: ment that includes a high bridge across the the pavement below. Gowanus Canal, the highest station on the The designers were able to avoid placing Editor-in-Chief: transit system, Smith-9th Street — 87.5 feet columns in the middle of Fourth Avenue, a Bernard Linder from the street to the base of rail — and a wide street, by supporting the structure with News Editor: Randy Glucksman tunnel that follows the contour of the street an arch.