Service to 1939-1940 Worlds Fair and after

[daveklepper]

Comments sent to ERA Bulletin.  Appreciate reader feedback here:

1939-1940 WORLDS FAIR SERVICE AND AFTER

 

I can be certain the Editor’s memory is correct, that an extra nickle was charged uring the 1939 use of the IND GG-line and S-Special Worlds Fair Station.   But I am equally certain the extra fare was not used duirng the 1940 season, and the reason was, of course, Unification, in June.  Two of the four newly established free-transfer points would have been usful for extra-fare avoiders, 161^st and River Street, possibly giving some Bronx Concourse riders a time-saving as well, and Franklin Avenue and Fulton Street for Brooklyn IND riders.  Charging the extra nickle at Willets Point for BMT and IRT riders was not possible, since that station was also heavily used by regular commuters.  IN 1939, I was severn-and-a-half, and trips to the fair were with adults, but 1940 trips were mostly on my own, with the winter earlier having had me commute reuglar on the M10 bus to and from school and the use of the 8^th Avenue subway (or the 9^th Avenu elevated while it lasted) to and from Dad’s downtown office to meet my parents for dinner and/or shopping.  I had to be sure I had the correct fare to return home and not be caught short.

 

The last several southbound departures of 2^nd Avenue Elevated trains from Willets Point for 57th during the summer of 1939, three-car-gate-car trains in my memory, had the conductor shouting “Connections for the North Only,” since their arrival at 57^th Street was after the last southbound train from 129^th Street had past though that station, and they conncected only with northbound trains.  In 1940, what evening trains there were ran through to either City Hall or South Frerry, and the 2^nd Ave. service ended about two hours earlier, possbily as early as 10PM for departures.

 

The S Specials from the IND World Fare Station that I rode always had Hudson Terminal as the destination sign, although possibly a few did run through to the E train temrinal of the time at Church Avenue.  Like the E, they ran express Continental Avenue – Queens Plaza and local in Manhattan.

 During WWII., if my memory is correct, 10-car trains were run again on the Flushing Line, and possibly Astoria as well.  This was done by never using Words Fair cars as the lead or tail pair on a train, mixing them with Steinways as the lead and tail pair, so that operatinig doors did not overhang the platforms.  This practice was continued until the R-12’s, R-14’s and R-16’s arrived, and by that time platforms were lengthened.  You can correct me I my memory is at fault.

[wanswheel]

10 cents to ride to the fair from Penn Station, the ad says.

[henry6]

First, I get a kick out of the PRR ad's picture intimating four tracks west out of Penn station when in reality it blends into a two single track tunnels. Second, anybody interested in NY WF 39-40 railroad things...including Playbill and both years' 15x8 booklets about the train exhibit...and a few other things...contact me and I'll tell you what I've got, condition, and we can talk.

[Firelock76]

Henry, you wouldn't happen to have the S1 hiding in the back yard by any chance, would you?

[daveklepper]

Maybe it is Broadway Lion's back yard.

[henry6]

Perhaps...but where has he been lately? Haven't seen his pictures nor this comments.

[Firelock76]

Maybe Brother Lion hasn't had much to talk about lately?  He also posts on the "Model Railroader" Forum but as "MR" is HO and N gauge oriented I don't go there all that often so can't comment on his recent activities.

I model in that grandest and most traditional of gauges, O gauge. 

OK boys, I just took a deep breath and dove into the "MR" site and Forum.  Yep, the "Lions" over there, last posting on June 25th.  Anyone remember Sir Madog?  You know, "People in Hamburg don't tan, they RUST!" ?  He's over there too.

I was going to tell them to get their butts back over here where they belong, but I'm too polite.

[NorthWest]

http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/IND_1939_Worlds_Fair_Line

[daveklepper]

Thanks for the link, interesting.

[wanswheel]

The great Subway website also has a comprehensive history of IND.

http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/History_of_the_Independent_Subway

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?keyword=world%27s+fair+subway

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?keyword=world%27s+fair+railroad

[daveklepper]

Interesting that the first photo shows 2nd Avenue elevated train cars!