3rd Ave El quits 5/12/55

Well I didn't ride on the last day of service in Manhattan. But I do recall riding the third ave El on spurs South which were removed from service earlier. The Line to South Ferry was interesting , Heading South from Chatham, the trackways were at a higher level to cross what had once been the connection to the 2nd ave el. The El here was a two track line that went down East Broadway I think . It crossed under the Brooklyn Bridge and it seemed like there was just enough clearance for that el to get under the bridge ramps at this location. Stations were center platform, not long and not modernized. They had pot bellied stoves and were adorned with Victorian gingerbread detail. Nearing South Ferry, the el came out into an open area with agreat water view into an S curve known as Coenties slip . The cars really squealed  through this segment, disappearing into one of those narrow downtown Manhattan streets ,  before emerging onto Broadway and State street and arriving at the South Ferry Terminal. The station had direct walkways to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. It was once 4 tracks as the 2nd, 6th and 9th ave els came here as well.The South Ferry Spur was closed in 1950.

Back up by Chatham square, there was also a City Hall spur which turned off of third ave and continued South west towards City hall. City Hall station was an enclosed station with two track Levels . Third ave trains used the lower level while second ave trains used the upper level when that line was still in service. Over in the Chatham square area, the second ave tracks descended to the same level as the third ave line so the trackways were 4 tracks wide at this juncture. The Second ave line trackways continued under the Third Ave South Ferry Spur while the third ave tracks turned North and ascended to meet the third ave tracks from the South Ferry Spur. Third City Hall Spur was closed in 1953. 

In those days Trains from South Ferry and City Hall could be locals and expresses and ran north to 129th street, Bronx Park Botanical Gardens and Gun Hill Road. The tracks and platforms at 129th street were extensive and were on two levels. There were layup tracks and a loop to connect to the second ave el. Both second ave and third ave el trains crossed the Harlem River on a two level 4 track swing bridge. It was fascinating to see that in action from the front car if you were lucky to be on a train that stopped for the bridge opening. The composites and MUDC cars ran on this line. I dont remember seeing the Q cars running on the third ave line . These were used in Express service . Seeing the Empire state and Chrysler Buildings from the El was a great site on the trip . During the summer , you could smell the beer being brewed at the Rupert Brewery up arounfd 99th street. It was a fun ride.

Two weeks before the closing of the 3rd Ave. El in Manhattan I rode it from 42nd St.

South to Chatham Square. I was 10 years old and I took my mother with me. We first

went to Grand Central Terminal and walked down on of the train platforms where a train was waiting to leave soon. When we got to the end of that platform the engineer was sitting in the cab with the window open and his arm resting on the window sill.  All of a sudden my mother says to the engineer "when he grows up he wants to be like you". He then answers back "mother, better he should be a doctor". I then said "mom I never said that I wanted to be a engineer".

In 1961 I took a friend to ride the 3rd Ave. El in Bronx from Gunhill Rd. South to 149th St. and back. In 1973 the el was taken out of service and torn down. One of my current friends worked for the company that hauled away the steel sections.

Ed G. (Along The New Haven Line Of Metro-North and Amtrak, the busiest railroad in the U.S.A.)

Thanks. I have enjoyed reading your posts!

Not a pretty side of the past...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40045986@N00/3674053194/

An interesting video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFWdw4CH8CE 

Important Dates in the History of the Third Ave El:

http://timetraveler3.weebly.com/history.html

"On Oct 26, 1886, two elevated cars that were electrified by Frank J. Sprague (ERA member #1), including heating and lighting. Starting and stopping were tested on the 34th Street Branch.  It was the first time a station platform was electrically lighted as well as the first application of dynamic braking.  The car picked up 600-volt power from a center third rail.  The power plant for this operation was located in a storage warehouse at East 34th Street and the East River. 

September 1887 - Stephen D. Field conducted another test of an electric motor locomotive on the 34th St Branch by, pulling an electrified passenger car. This motor unit was built at Yonkers, brought over Hudson RR to High Bridge, thence over the New York & Northern Railroad, to 155th Street.  It then was hauled over the 6th Avenue to South Ferry and then up the 3rd Ave line to the 34th St Branch".

Bowery and Doyer:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40045986@N00/3143514970/

http://forgottenbronxtransit.m...e.com/ndb_photo.html

http://gothamist.com/2010/10/13/guess_the_year_14.php

Prairie