Remembering the Third Avenue Elevated

[MidlandMike]

I know that some of the little steamers were scattered to shortlines.  I saw that one of them made it up to the isolated line out of Nome, Alaska.

[Firelock76]

Thanks Wanswheel!  I didn't think they wasted too much time electrifying the El's once the technology was proven.

Too bad a lot of neat little steam locomotives were lost in the process.

[wanswheel]

 

Excerpt from The Tracks of New York https://archive.org/stream/tracksofnewyork03kahn#page/8/mode/1up After successfully testing multiple-unit electric operation on the Second Avenue el in 1900, the company electrified the entire system with 600-volt D.C. overrunning third rail. MU electric service was phased in from December 30, 1901 on the Second Avenue line to February 18, 1903 on the Ninth Avenue line.

[Firelock76]

I took a look of the photo with the square-riggers, and I think it's sometime in the 1890's, the elevated's not electrified and there's no motor vehicles to be seen on the street, and there were still quite a few sailing ships still in service.  David could probably give us the el's electrification timetable but I'm sure it was sometime before the First World War.

[Miningman]

Ok thanks for the information as to dates ... also the sailing ships clarification... upon closer inspection and magnfying the image it is quite apparent it is much earlier than 1948... still nifty though. 

[Overmod]

timz

The remaining El below 149th St, you mean.

I believe he means 149th St. in the Bronx.  You can still clearly see where the columns which held up the interchange with the Lexington Avenue IRT were cut off when riding the expresses to and from the South Bronx.

[timz]

The remaining El below 149th St, you mean. Chatham Square to South Ferry closed in Dec 1950-- Chatham Sq to City Hall closed at the end of 1953.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

After checking at www.newyorksubway.org , the Third Avenue El was abandoned south of 149th Street in 1955, the remainder between 149th Street and Gun Hill Road was abandoned in 1973.

[daveklepper]

I do not want to write any text without the edit button, I must point out the sailing ships are in the HISTORIC photo prior to electrification.

[Miningman]

Yes, the sailing ships... 1948. How much longer were these around? Seems a bit late in the game. 

So, forgive my ignorance but I take it ALL of the elevated is now gone? When did they start taking that all apart and when was the last of it. Just appx dates. 

[BigJim]

What I find interesting are the sailing ships.

[Anonymous]

Fantastic Dave!  Is the Second Expanded Edition of Stelter's excellent book By the El:Third Aveune and it's El at Mid-Century available as a hardback? I can only find softcover editions on Amazon.  The best photograph in the book is the one where Lothar shot a young lady while adjusting her hair in the reflection of a window on one of the stations on the El!

A pity Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) wasn't portrayed as an operator on the El instead of a bus driver for the fictional Gotham Bus Company in The Honeymooners!  

[NorthWest]

Wow, these are amazing. Great work and thank you for sharing.

[daveklepper]

Pictures around 1948.  Was 16 when I took these, with a Leica D

Just north and east of South Ferry.   Most prevelant rolling stock, open-platform equipment converted to closed platform with sliding outside doors and mu door control.

Coentis slip.  My picture compared with historic one from before electrification

Canal Street Junction phtographs, lower level to Citiy Hall, Park Row, upper to South Ferry.  Gate cars run south empty, north as Through Expresses to 241st Street, White Plains "Road."

Gate-car Express on the middle track around 70-77th streets:

At 99th Street and elevated shops: