The I.R.T. In 1939

[Q Broadway Express]

The I.R.T. In 1939

Courtesy of New York City Guide by The W.P.A. © 1939 Revised edition Page 10.

Back in 1939, when there were three systems and fare was a nickel, The I.R.T. offered eleven routes:

West Side:

• Broadway-Seventh Avenue Express from New Lots Avenue to 242nd Street-Van Cortlandt Park

• Broadway-Seventh Avenue Local from South Ferry to 137th Street

• Seventh Avenue Express from Flatbush Avenue to East 180th Street•-Bronx Park

• Seventh Avenue Local from South Ferry to 145th Street-Lenox Avenue

East Side:

• Bronx Park Express from Atlantic Avenue to East 180th Street-Bronx Park

• Jerome Avenue Express from Atlantic Avenue to Woodlawn

• White Plains Road Express from Atlantic Avenue to East 241st Street

• Pelham Bay Park Local from City Hall le. Pelham Bay Park

• Astoria Line from Times Square to Ditmars Boulevard Astoria

• Flushing Line from Times Square to Main Street Flushing

• 42nd Street Shuttle

A couple of interesting notes

• Lexington Avenue services were named for the Bronx street or park served

• Atlantic Avenue was the Brooklyn terminal

• Broadway never had express service north of 96th Street despite the name Broadway-Seventh Avenue Express.

The Guide lists one elevated line:

• Third Avenue from South Ferry to East 241st Street.

A reference is made to the Second Avenue El and the World's Fair map depicts it, but there is no listing for it.

 

 

 

[Q Broadway Express]

The B.M.T. In 1939:

In 1939, the B.M.T. offered twelve subway routes and five elevated lines:

Sea Beach Express - Coney Island to Times Square

West End Express - Coney Island to Times Square

Brighton Beach Express - Coney Island to Times Square

Brighton Beach Local - Coney Island to 57th Street

4th Avenue (Brooklyn) Local - 95th Street to Queensboro Plaza

Astoria Line - Queensboro Plaza to Astoria

Flushing Line - Queensboro Plaza to Main Street Flushing

14th Street-Canarsie Line - Rockaway Parkway to 14th Street-8th Avenue

Broadway (Brooklyn) Line - Rockaway Parkway to Canal Street

Jamaica Line - 168th Street to Broad Street

Myrtle Avenue-Chambers Street Line - Metropolitan Avenue to Chambers Street

Culver Line - Coney Island to Chambers Street

Elevated Lines:

Fulton Street Line - Park Row to Lefferts Avenue

Lexington Avenue (Brooklyn) Line - Park Row to Eastern Parkway

Culver Line - Sands Street to Coney Island

5th Avenue-Bay Ridge Line - Sands Street to 65th Street

Myrtle Avenue Line - Sands Street to Metropolitan Avenue

[BrooklynBus]

So I guess there were no expresses between Utica Avenue and Atlantic although the tracks were there?

[bobtehpanda]

Are these maps or just guides?

[Q Broadway Express]

10 hours ago, BrooklynBus said:

So I guess there were no expresses between Utica Avenue and Atlantic although the tracks were there?

Apparently, in those days when Seventh Avenue expresses served the line, there was no express service beyond Franklin Avenue.

The Broadway-Seventh Avenue Express served the line to New Lots Avenue while the Seventh Avenue Express served the line to Franklin Avenue. One of these likely used the express tracks to Franklin Avenue.

I do not know what year the Lexington Avenue Expresses were extended beyond Atlantic Avenue but it was after 1939.

It may have been post World War II when things changed and service was extended to Utica Avenue.

[Trainmaster5]

14 hours ago, BrooklynBus said:

So I guess there were no expresses between Utica Avenue and Atlantic although the tracks were there?

 

14 hours ago, BrooklynBus said:

So I guess there were no expresses between Utica Avenue and Atlantic although the tracks were there?

Actually Atlantic Ave IRT was a midday terminal for the Lexington line  Express service according to my school car instructor and a trainmaster who taught my conductor class when he had free time.  The Seventh Avenue lines came to Brooklyn after the Lexington.  There used to be switches between Borough Hall-Lex and Hoyt Street in both directions so the Lexington could serve Hoyt.  I don't remember where I saw some of the information online but my conductor class had old IRT work programs as study guides so I can still see the distinction between White Plains Express,  Bronx Thru- Express , Third Avenue Express and Third Avenue Thru- Express,  lol.😁 Utica was the main Lexington line terminal in Brooklyn when the Eastern Parkway line was completed and the Livonia and Nostrand lines opened. That's what we were taught anyway.  BTW one of my instructors,  as well as the Trainmaster and myself, were the only Brooklynites  who had ever been to Fortunoffs stores  under the Livonia el.  Ancient history. Carry on. 

[Q Broadway Express]

6 hours ago, bobtehpanda said:

Are these maps or just guides?

These are just guides. The line names and the terminals come from the New York City Guide by Federal Writers Project. © 1939 revised edition pages 11 through 15.

My copy of the guide did not come with the map in the back pocket. 

[Q Broadway Express]

The IND in 1939:

The IND was the newest system in 1939.

It featured five subway lines and zero elevated lines.

Washington Heights Express (Rockaway Avenue-Fulton Street to 207th Street)

Grand Concourse Express (Hoyt Street to 205th Street)

Grand Concourse Local (City Hall to 205th Street)

Queens-Manhattan Express (Church Avenue to 169th Street-Jamaica

Queens-Brooklyn Cross-Town Local (Smith-Ninth Streets to 71st Avenue-Forest Hills)

While the New York City Guide says City Hall for a terminal, I think they meant Hudson Terminal as a terminal.

Interesting to note that there was no Washington Heights Local in 1939 but there was a Concourse Express and Local and they both terminated at 205th Street..

The IND consisted of only the Eighth Avenue portion of the system. Sixth Avenue was under construction in 1939.

In 1939, the IRT used blue lamps

The BMT used green and white lamps

and The IND used green lamps.

[Q Broadway Express]

Addendum:

The I.R.T. In 1939

I.R.T. Elevated Lines:

The Manhattan els are operated by the IRT; they extend into the Bronx, with branches of the Second Avenue line serving Astoria and Corona, Queens. The Brooklyn els are operated by the BMT. The els run 24 hours a day, except the Second Avenue line which stops between midnight and 4 a.m.

Manhattan

Second Avenue Line (South Ferry - Bronx Park)

Queens Lines (57th Street - Second Avenue - Astoria and Corona)

Third Avenue Line (South Ferry - East 241st Street - White Plains Road)

Ninth Avenue Line (South Ferry - Jerome Avenue - Woodlawn)