IRT Third Avenue Line

IRT Third Avenue Elevated
Third Avenue elevated trains at 59th Street
Overview
OwnerCity of New York
Termini
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemInterborough Rapid Transit Company
Operator(s)New York City Transit Authority
History
Opened1878–1891
1901–1920 (North of 177th Street)
Closed1950–1955 (South of 149th street)
1973 (North of 149th Street)
Technical
Number of tracks2-3
CharacterElevated
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map

Gun Hill Road
Williamsbridge–210th Street
204th Street
200th Street
Bronx Park Terminal
Fordham Road–190th Street
183rd Street
180th Street
179th Street Yard
Tremont Avenue–177th Street
174th Street
Claremont Parkway
169th Street
166th Street
161st Street
156th Street
149th Street
Third Avenue–149th Street
143rd Street
138th Street
133rd Street
Willis Avenue
129th Street
125th Street
116th Street
106th Street
99th Street
98th Street Yard
89th Street
84th Street
76th Street
67th Street
59th Street
53rd Street
47th Street
Grand Central
42nd Street
34th Street Ferry
Second Avenue
34th Street
28th Street
23rd Street
18th Street
14th Street
Ninth Street
Houston Street
Grand Street
Canal Street
Chatham Square
City Hall
Franklin Square
Fulton Street
Hanover Square
South Ferry
The Bowery under the El, from Division Street, 1936, Berenice Abbott

The IRT Third Avenue Line, commonly known as the Third Avenue Elevated, Third Avenue El, or Bronx El, was an elevated railway in Manhattan and the Bronx, New York City. Originally operated by the New York Elevated Railway, an independent railway company, it was acquired by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and eventually became part of the New York City Subway system.

The first segment of the line, with service at most stations, opened from South Ferry to Grand Central Depot on August 26, 1878.[1] Service was extended to Harlem in Manhattan on December 30.[2][3] In 1881 this line already began the 24/7 service.[4][5] Service in Manhattan was phased out in the early 1950s and closed completely on May 12, 1955. The remaining service in the Bronx was designated as part of the 8 route until it was discontinued on April 29, 1973.

The Third Avenue El was the last elevated line to operate in Manhattan, other than the 1 train on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line (which has elevated sections between 122nd and 135th Streets and north of Dyckman Street), and was a frequent backdrop for movies. Service on the Second, Sixth, and Ninth Avenue elevated lines were terminated in 1942, 1938, and 1940, respectively.

  1. ^ "Rapid Transit on the Bowery" (PDF). New York Times. August 26, 1878. p. 8. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference rtth was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Manhattan East Side Transit Alternatives (MESA): Major Investment Study/Draft Environmental Impact Statement, August 1999". Metropolitan Transportation Authority, United States Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration. August 1999. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  4. ^ "Map and guide of the elevated railroads of New York City". Library of Congress.
  5. ^ "Daily News Features Hood on Overnight Subway Shutdown". May 27, 2020.