Old BMT Lines

[lilbluefoxie]

What were the original terminals of the BMT numbered lines? The older maps dont make it really clear where they end

[Maserati7200]

Well it depends what you mean by original. Before 1920, the section between Prospect park and Dekalb on the Brighton wasn't completed, and Brighton trains would merge onto the Fulton street el and go over the Brooklyn Bridge to Park Row. Before 1931 there was no connection between Court street and Chambers street. Chambers Street was a major terminal before that connection was made. The BRT/BMT existed as a private company for about 50 years. Routes did change drastically throughout it's history. Heck, even after unification the BMT numbers stayed but were changed. Be specific.

So you have to consider 3 major mile stones that changed service: 1) The connection to the Manhattan bridge 2) The connection of the Brighton line to Dekalb Avenue 3) The Nassau street loop.

[lilbluefoxie]

In the 60s before Christie Street, when most lines were still using numbers, like 5, 7, 14, etc

[Maserati7200]

In the 60s before Christie Street, when most lines were still using numbers, like 5, 7, 14, etc

 

Here is what know about that era:

 

1 - Brighton Express, via Bridge, Broadway Express to 57th Street

2 - 4th Avenue local, via tunnel, Broadway Local, to Astoria

3 - West End Local or express, 4th Avenue express, via Bridge to 57th street

4 - Sea Beach Local, 4th Avenue Express, via Bridge to 57th street

5 - By the time the 60's happened, it was the Culver shuttle.

6 - It was torn down by the 1960's

7 - Brighton Local to Franklin Avenue

8 - Defunct by the 60's

9 - Defunct by the 60's

10 - Today's train

11 - Myrtle Avenue el, Metropolitan Avenue to Sands street

12 - Torn down by the 1960's

13 - Defunct by the 1960's

14 - Today's (J)/(Z) with skip stop

15 - Today's (J)/(Z) with skip stop

16 - Canarsie line

[Eric B]

1 was also Brighton locals, which went to Astoria. (This in 1961. Before that, the express went to Astoria, and the local went either to Forest Hills or 57th)

2 After 1961, went to Forest Hills, weekdays, and 57th other times. there was also the Nassau loop Special, to Chambers vi bridge one way and tunnel the other.

3 Locals went to Chambers, via tunnel both ways.

10 went only to Chambers. 3 (local) covered rest of way to Bay Pkwy.

14 was Short Line to Canal. At different times, it made the skip stop to Jamaica, or went to Crescent, Canarsie or Atlantic.

[Maserati7200]

1 was also Brighton locals, which went to Astoria. (This in 1961. Before that, the express went to Astoria, and the local went either to Forest Hills or 57th)

2 After 1961, went to Forest Hills, weekdays, and 57th other times. there was also the Nassau loop Special, to Chambers vi bridge one way and tunnel the other.

3 Locals went to Chambers, via tunnel both ways.

10 went only to Chambers. 3 (local) covered rest of way to Bay Pkwy.

14 was Short Line to Canal. At different times, it made the skip stop to Jamaica, or went to Crescent, Canarsie or Atlantic.

 

Oh, I didn't know the 3 went via nassau

[EE Broadway Local]

From my W.P.A. Guide To New York City 1939:

 

Sea Beach Express (Coney Island - Times Square)

West End Express (Coney Island - Times Square)

Brighton Beach Express (Coney Island - Times Square)

Brighton Beach Local (Coney Island - 57th Street)

Fourth Avenue (Brooklyn) Local (95th Street - Queensborough Plaza)

Fourteenth Street-Canarsie Line (Rockaway Parkway - Eighth Avenue)

Broadway (Brooklyn) Line (Rockaway Parkway - Canal Street)

Jamaica Line (168th Street-Jamaica Terminal - Broad Street)

Myrtle Avenue-Chambers Street Line (Metropolitan Avenue-Chambers Street)

Culver Line (Subway) (Coney Island - Chambers Street)

Franklin Avenue-Brighton Line (Franklin Avenue - Brighton Beach)

Astoria Line (Queensborough Plaza - Ditmars Boulevard-Astoria)

Corona (Flushing) Line (Queensborough Plaza - Main Street-Flushing)

 

Fulton Street Line (Lefferts Avenue - Park Row)

Myrtle Avenue Line (Metropolitan Avenue - Sands Street)

Lexington Avenue (Brooklyn) Line (Eastern Parway - Sands Street)

Fifth Avenue-Bay Ridge Line (65th Street - Sands Street)

Culver Line (Coney Island - Sands Street)