The Subway's Leftovers | NYC Subway Remnants and Provisions Part 1: Manhattan

Summary

In this video, the creator takes viewers on a fascinating tour through New York City's subway system, exploring both abandoned infrastructure and provisions for future expansion. Covering iconic remnants like the South Ferry Loops, the City Hall Loop, and forgotten stations such as Worth Street and 18th Street, the video delves into the city's hidden transit history. The creator also highlights lesser-known features, such as provisions for unbuilt subway lines and former trolley terminals. This is part one of a three-part miniseries, offering a detailed look at Manhattan's rich subway legacy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The New York City subway system contains many remnants of past infrastructure and provisions for future expansion.
• 😀 Manhattan’s South Ferry Loops, serving the 7th Avenue and Lexington Avenue lines, were discontinued due to new infrastructure and floods, but still have occasional use.
• 😀 The abandoned City Hall station is a famous remnant, originally the terminus of the 1904 subway line and still visible to some riders.
• 😀 At Bowling Green, an old platform and track remain from the former Bowling Green shuttle service, now walled off but still in use for train turnarounds.
• 😀 The Chambers Street station on the BMT Nassau Street line has many disused platforms and provisions for additional capacity that were never realized.
• 😀 The IND 6th Avenue line's City Hall station has an unfinished lower level that was supposed to serve express trains but was abandoned during construction.
• 😀 The Second Avenue subway project saw portions of tunnels constructed in the 1970s, which are now part of future phases for the subway extension.
• 😀 Abandoned trolley terminals, like the Williamsburg Bridge trolley terminal, still exist, with remnants of balloon loops used for streetcars.
• 😀 There are multiple bellmouths (tunnel provisions) across Manhattan, suggesting plans for subway extensions or alternative routes that were never completed.
• 😀 Several subway stations, like 18th Street and 91st Street, were closed or reconfigured to accommodate longer trains or due to proximity to other stations.

Q & A

What is the significance of the South Ferry Loops in Manhattan?

The South Ferry Loops were former terminuses for both the Lexington Avenue and Broadway 7th Avenue lines in Manhattan. The outer loop served the 7th Avenue trains, and the inner loop served the Lexington Avenue trains. The inner loop was discontinued in 1977, while the outer loop ceased operation in 2017, although it is still occasionally used by New York Transit Museum excursion trains.

Why was the City Hall loop on the Lexington Avenue line closed?

The City Hall loop was closed in 1945 because the platform could not be lengthened to accommodate 10-car trains. Additionally, its proximity to Brooklyn Bridge City Hall made it impractical for future expansion. The track remains in use for turning six trains at the Brooklyn Bridge City Hall terminus.

What can be seen when riding the 6 train past Brooklyn Bridge City Hall?

Riders can see into the abandoned City Hall station when traveling on the 6 train past Brooklyn Bridge City Hall, as the track runs into the loop which is no longer in service.

What were the provisions at Chamber Street station intended for?

At Chamber Street station, provisions were made for additional tracks and platforms that could have increased the station's capacity. There were also plans for a Center Street Loop, which would have connected the Williamsburg Bridge tracks to the Brooklyn Bridge tracks.

What is the historical importance of the Worth Street station?

Worth Street was one of the original 28 stations of the first underground subway line in New York City. It closed in 1962 due to the platform lengthening at Brooklyn Bridge City Hall, which made the two stations too close to each other.

What is the significance of the Second Avenue subway tunnel segments?

The Second Avenue subway has been plagued with construction delays, but in the 1970s, four tunnel segments were constructed. These segments, which are located near Canal Street, 2nd and 9th Streets, and between 99th and 120th Streets, were meant for future expansion and are part of the ongoing phase-by-phase development of the line.

What was the purpose of the Williamsburg Bridge trolley terminal at Essex Street?

The Williamsburg Bridge trolley terminal, located at Essex Street, was used to turn streetcars around before they returned to Brooklyn. The terminal had eight balloon loops and served several streetcar routes until it closed in 1948 when streetcar service ended.

What are 'bell mouths' in the context of New York City subway infrastructure?

Bell mouths are tunnel provisions that were designed to connect lines that were never built. These provisions are often visible as open spaces or trackways, such as those at 72nd Street on the 8th Avenue line, where they were intended to connect future extensions of the subway.

What are the 'stacking tracks' at 14th Street Union Square and why were they removed?

The stacking tracks at 14th Street Union Square were originally used to hold trains until the platform became available. They were removed in 1991 after a derailment, and the tracks were no longer needed when trains were lengthened to 10 cars, which exceeded the capacity of the original stacking track layout.

What are the remaining provisions for future subway expansion in Manhattan?

Some remaining provisions for future subway expansion include bell mouths and unused trackways such as those near 174th Street Yard, which once had provisions for extending the subway over the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey. Other notable provisions exist at various points, such as 96th Street, 59th Street, and Grand Central, indicating future potential extensions if demand arises.