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IRT Third Avenue Line

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.

"Suburban Rapid Transit Company" redirects here. For the company in Winnipeg, see Winnipeg Transit.

IRT Third Avenue Elevated

1878–1891
1901–1920 (North of 177th Street)

1950–1955 (South of 149th street)
1973 (North of 149th Street)

2-3

Elevated

4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

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.

3rd Avenue Local - South Ferry to 129th Street weekdays and Saturdays day and evenings, South Ferry to Bronx Park Sundays day and evenings, also between City Hall and Bronx Park weekdays AM and PM peak, also Saturdays AM peak. During late nights, a shuttle was operated between South Ferry and Canal Street connecting with trains from City Hall to Bronx Park.

3rd Avenue Thru-Express - City Hall to 241st St via White Plains Road Line weekday and Saturday AM peak northbound and weekday PM peak southbound, using the center express track south of Tremont Avenue. All other hours a shuttle operated between 241st Street and Fordham Road.

3rd Avenue Local-Express - City Hall to Bronx Park - weekdays and Saturdays day and evening, using the center express track south of 129th Street southbound until noon and northbound afternoon thru evening. Trains running in the opposite direction made all local stops.

The New York Times, March 14, 1879, page 8.

"Crossings on Elevated Roads"

An ARDEE FILMS Release (ca. 1950s Public Domain) Associate Producer HELENA SAND ; Produced and Directed by CARSON DAVIDSON - filmed prior to Closure of the South Ferry spur December 22, 1950.

3rd AVE. EL

Stelter, Lawrence, and Lother Stelter (1995). By the El: Third Avenue and Its El at Mid-Century. Flushing, NY: H&M Productions.  1-882608-12-7.

ISBN

Archived July 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine

Remembering the Third Avenue El, MTA.info

nycsubway.org –

nycsubway.org The Third Avenue El:

archive.org - The Third Avenue El (ca.1950s)

- Bronx 3rd Avenue El (1900-1973)

Gotham Center - The Rise and Decline of New York City's Third Avenue Elevated Train Line

(HAER) No. NY-68, "Interborough Rapid Transit Company, Third Avenue Elevated Line, New York, New York County, NY", 85 photos, 1 color transparency, 3 data pages, 6 photo caption pages

Historic American Engineering Record

1953 Vivian Maier photo by 59th St station, view southwards towards Chrysler Building

Warner Pathé Newsreel: "The End of the El"