TheNEW YORK DIVISION BULLETIN - JULY, 2005 Bulletin New York Division, Electric Railroaders’ Association Vol. 48, No. 7 July, 2005 The Bulletin 100 YEARS OF SUBWAY SERVICE TO THE BRONX Published by the New Subway trains started running to the Bronx routed via this branch. York Division, Electric 100 years ago, July 10, 1905. During the 1930s, passengers transferring Railroaders’ Association, Incorporated, PO Box Since it was extended in stages between from the New York, Westchester & Boston to rd 3001, New York, New 1886 and 1902, the Third Avenue “L” was the the Third Avenue “L” at 133 Street com- York 10008-3001. only rapid transit line serving the Bronx. Sec- plained about crowded morning rush hour ond and Third Avenue “L” service was ex- trains. The Transit Commission ordered the th For general inquiries, tended to 180 Street-Bronx Park on Novem- IRT to provide additional service. The com- contact us at nydiv@ ber 26, 1904 because the elevated structure pany complied by operating two locals to electricrailroaders.org or north of 149th Street and Third Avenue was 149th Street, after which they ran light via the by phone at (212) 986- completed before the Harlem River Tunnel. Westchester Avenue Branch to the Jackson 4482 (voice mail available). ERA’s Through subway service from Lenox Ave- Avenue middle. These trains then operated website is nue started operating on July 10, 1905. The via the Bergen Avenue Cutoff as a Second www.electricrailroaders. IRT planned an elaborate terminal at E. 182nd Avenue Express and a Third Avenue Local- org. Street and Boston Road, but the Park De- Express. Editorial Staff: partment objected to a station abutting park Before Unification, IRT steel Queens cars th Editor-in-Chief: property. A temporary terminal was built at received their heavy overhaul at 147 Street Bernard Linder 181st Street instead. Pictures of the perma- Shop. Cars were routed via the Second Ave- News Editor: nent 180th Street-Bronx Park station that was nue “L,” Third Avenue “L,” and Westchester Randy Glucksman Contributing Editor: opened on October 28, 1910 are published in Branch, and were turned at the Jackson Ave- Jeffrey Erlitz this issue. nue middle. Because the subway-type con- WESTCHESTER AVENUE BRANCH tact shoes could not clear the board at the Production Manager: This short two-block structure on West- side of the third rail in the elevated position, David Ross chester Avenue between Third Avenue and they were removed and the cars were towed Brook Avenue was the original connection by elevated cars from Queens to Jackson between the Third Avenue “L” and the new Avenue and by subway cars to the shop. This subway. Second and Third Avenue “L” trains move was made at midnight. When the Sec- provided full-time service starting November ond Avenue “L” was abandoned, there was ©2005 New York 26, 1904. When the Bronx subway was no longer a track connection between the Division, Electric opened on July 10, 1905, service was dis- Flushing Line and the rest of the IRT. The Railroaders’ continued on this portion of the line. It is be- Queens cars were subsequently overhauled Association, Incorporated lieved that on October 1, 1907 rush hour in Coney Island Shops. Second Avenue trains started operating to After the Second Avenue “L” north of 59th In This Issue: Freeman Street via this branch. These trains Street was abandoned at Unification, June Astoria Line— were rerouted via the Bergen Avenue Cutoff 12, 1940, Third Avenue Local-Expresses pro- on July 2, 1917, after which infrequent ser- vided Freeman Street rush hour service. Sat- Headway vice was operated on the Westchester Ave- urday noon rush hour trains stopped at 149th Changes and nue Branch. Street and were routed via the Westchester Track Plan If Freeman Street Second Avenue trains Avenue Branch. ...Page 2 operating in the direction of light traffic was This short two-block-long structure has an scheduled to make another trip, they were (Continued on page 6) 1 NEWNEW YORK YORK DIVISION DIVISION BULLETIN BULLETIN OCTOBER, - JULY, 2005 2000 ASTORIA LINE HEADWAY CHANGES AND TRACK PLAN by Bernard Linder The following is an incomplete record of headway changes: WEEKDAYS Date Line Midnight AM Rush Midday PM Rush Evening 1938 IRT to Times Square 20 8 10 8 12 December 18, 1939 IRT Second Avenue “L” — 10 15 8, 10 12, 15, 20 May 19, 1941 IRT Second Avenue “L” — 6 6 6 6 (C) September 6, 1945 BMT to Queens Plaza 20 7 7½ 7 9 July 25, 1949 BMT to Queens Plaza (A) 7½ 8 7 8 (A) 12-minute headway to IRT platform midnights; 20-minute headway to BMT platform midnights Trains ran alternating to IRT and BMT platforms at other times WEEKENDS Saturday Sunday Date Line AM Rush Morning Afternoon Evening Morning Afternoon Evening 1938 IRT to Times Square 8 10 12 (B) 12 12 12 12 May, 1941 IRT Second Avenue “L” 6 6 6 6 (C) No Service September, 1945 BMT to Queens Plaza 7 7½ 7½ 8½ 10, 7½ 7½ 7½, 10 July, 1949 BMT to Queens Plaza (D) 8 8 8 8 10, 8 8 8½ (B) 8-minute headway noon (C) No service evenings after 9 PM (D) Alternating to IRT and BMT platforms The following is a complete record of headway changes: WEEKDAYS Date Line Midnight AM Rush Midday PM Rush Evening November 17, 1949 Fourth Avenue Local 20 6 8 6 8 Brighton Local — 8 — 6½ — April 27, 1950 Fourth Avenue Local 20 6 8 6 8 Brighton Local — 7 8 6½ — November 29, 1951 Fourth Avenue Local 20 6 10 6 12 Brighton Local — 7 10 6½ — December 10, 1953 Fourth Avenue Local 30 6 12 6 12 Brighton Local — 7 12 6½ — December 1, 1955 Fourth Avenue Local 30 6, 8 12 8 12 Brighton Express — 8 12 7 — May 28, 1959 Fourth Avenue Local 30 6, 8 12 8 12 Brighton Express — 8 — 7 — January 1, 1961 Brighton Local 20 6 12, 10 6 12 West End Express — 6 — 6 — November 27, 1967 RR/Fourth Avenue Local 20 4 10 4 12 August 30, 1976 RR/Fourth Avenue Local 20 4, 5 10 5 12 (Continued on page 3) 2 NEW YORK DIVISION BULLETIN - JULY, 2005 Astoria Line Headway Changes and Track Plan (Continued from page 2) WEEKDAYS Date Line Midnight AM Rush Midday PM Rush Evening April 28, 1986 RR/Fourth Avenue Local 20 8½ 10 8½ 12 B/West End Express — 8, 10 — 9, 10 — May 26, 1987 N/Sea Beach Express 20 9 10 10 12 B/West End Express — 8 — 9 — December 12, 1988 N/Sea Beach Express 20 5½ 10 5½ 12 November 13, 1995 N/Sea Beach Express 20 5 10 7, 8 12 July 23, 2001 N/Sea Beach Express 20 8 10 8 10 W/West End Express — 8 10 6 10 September 9, 2002 W/West End Express 20 8, 10 10 10 10 N/Sea Beach Express — 8, 10 10 8, 10 10 February 24, 2004 N/Sea Beach Express 20 8, 10 10 8, 10 10, 12 W/Broadway Local — 10 10 10 10 SATURDAY Date Line Morning Afternoon Evening October 23, 1949 Fourth Avenue Local 8 8 8 April 29, 1950 Brighton Local 8 8 — December 1, 1951 Fourth Avenue Local 10 10 10 Brighton Local 10 10 — December 12, 1953 Fourth Avenue Local 12 12 12 Brighton Local 12 12 — May 4, 1957 Fourth Avenue Local 12 12 12 Brighton Express 12 12 — January 7, 1961 Brighton Local — — 12 Brighton Express 12 12 — West End Express 12 12 — April 21, 1962 Brighton Local 12 12 12 February 23, 1963 Brighton Local 10 10 12 September 21, 1963 Brighton Local 8 8 8 December 2, 1967 RR/Fourth Avenue Local 8 8 8, 10 November 6, 1971 RR/Fourth Avenue Local 10 10 12 May 30, 1987 N/Sea Beach Express 10 10 12 June 1, 1991 N/Sea Beach Express 12 12 12 August 1, 1992 N/Sea Beach Express 10 10 12, 15, 20 November 18, 1995 N/Sea Beach Express 8 8 12, 15, 20 September 14, 2002 W/West End Express 8 8 10, 12 May 3, 2003 W/West End Express 8 8 8, 12 February 28, 2004 N/Sea Beach Express 8 8 10, 12 (Continued on page 4) 3 NEWNEW YORK YORK DIVISION DIVISION BULLETIN BULLETIN OCTOBER, - JULY, 2005 2000 Astoria Line Headway Changes and Track Plan (Continued from page 3) Astoria Line 1936 - Present Ditmars Blvd Ditmars Blvd Astoria Blvd 30th Ave Broadway 36th Ave 39th Ave Queensboro Plaza Previous layouts Upper Level in IRT to Flushing Jan, 1992 Bulletin Data: B. Linder Drawing: J. Erlitz Lower Level (Continued on page 7) 4 NEW YORK DIVISION BULLETIN - JULY, 2005 NOSTALGIA CORNER This month, we look at the Bronx Park Branch of the White Plains Road Line, which is featured in our cover story. 177th Street station, White Plains Road Line, looking north. Looking south from 180th Street-Bronx Park station, July 20, 1951. Bernard Linder photograph Bernard Linder photograph E. 181st Street and Boston Road, July 30, 1952. E. 180th Street and Boston Road, July 30, 1952. Bernard Linder photograph Bernard Linder photograph 180th Street-Bronx Park station, west pocket, looking north, July 180th Street-Bronx Park station, looking south, July 30, 1952. The 30, 1952. station was closed on August 4 of that year. Bernard Linder photograph Bernard Linder photograph (Continued on page 6) 5 NEWNEW YORK YORK DIVISION DIVISION BULLETIN BULLETIN OCTOBER, - JULY, 2005 2000 Nostalgia Corner (Continued from page 5) th 177th Street station, White Plains Road Line, looking A different view of the 177 Street station, White Plains north.