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| Tuscarora Almanac for May 12 (1512606) | |||
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Tuscarora Almanac for May 12 |
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Posted by IRTRedbirdR33 on Mon May 13 04:16:53 2019 Tuscarora Almanac - May 12, 1955 - The Book of Last RunsA Dark Day in Transit History Manhattan, New York New York City Transit Authority IRT Division This is May 12, 1955, a Thursday and one of the very dark days in the history of the New York City Transit System. It is the last day of service on the 3rd Avenue El between the 149th Street Station in The Bronx and the Chatham Square Terminal in Manhattan. The last train left from the Chatham Square Terminal at 6:00 PM. It consisted of six MUDC motor cars; 1662, 1778, 1753, 1780, 1668 and 1671. A Look Back May 12, 1955 was a sad, sad day for New Yorkers with the closure of the last of the Manhattan Els. The last train left Chatham Square a little after 6:00 PM and arrived at 149 Street about 7:15 PM, about 45 minutes late. The train consisted of six MUDC cars and was marshaled as follows; (n) 1662-1778-1753-1780-1668-1671 (s). It was crowded with railfans and other last riders. The 3 Avenue El originally extended from South Ferry north to 129 Street with a branch on 42 Street to Grand Central Depot and another branch on 34 Street to the East River. There was also a branch to City Hall. Service began between South Ferry and Grand Central on August 26, 1878 and was extended to 129 Street by December 30, 1878. The line north of 129 Street was built by the Suburban Railway Company and was actually the fifth el. It ran as far north as Bronx Park and its also had a branch that ran to the Willis Avenue Station of the NY,NH and Hartford Railroad. Due to the fact that this el ran along 3 Avenue between 149 Street and Fordham Road it quickly became identified with the Manhattan El of the same name even though it was also used by 2 Avenue El trains. Service from 129 Street north began on May 17, 1886 and reached 149 Street by June 16, 1887. At its peak 3 Avenue El trains ran all the way between East 241 Street-White Plains Road and South Ferry. With the closure of the southern portion of the 2 Avenue El on June 13, 1942 the 3 Avenue El became the last el line in Manhattan. It was the sad fate of the 3 Avenue El to suffer the death of 1,000 cuts. The branch lines went first. The 42 Street Spur closed on December 6, 1923, the Harlem River Branch on or about April 14, 1924 and the 34 Street Branch on July 14, 1930. The mainline itself was closed between Chatham Square and South Ferry on December 22, 1950 although the very last train may have run in the early am hours of December 23. On this date also all el trains where cut back to Gun Hill Road from East 241 Street. The spur between Fordham Road and Bronx Park closed on November 14, 1951 and the line between Chatham Square and City Hall closed on December 31, 1953. The surviving portion of the el in The Bronx between 149 Street and Gun Hill Road lasted until April 28, 1973. (The last regular train actually ran in the early hours of April 29.) Sources: ERA Headlights , July 1955 NYD Bulletins (various issues) ERA All-Time Map of IRT Routes My own records. Tuscarora Almanac May 12, 2015 The Book of Wrecks Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Amtrak Northeast Corridor Line Northeast Regional Train No. 188 derails at Frankford Junction. The engine and seven cars leave the tracks. Eight people are killed and two hundred injured. The engine, a brand new Cites Sprinter ACS-64 No. 601 was heavily damaged. The seven Amfleet coaches were 81528, 82776, 82644, 43346, 82761, 82797 and 82981. Source: ERA Bulletin /June 2015 Thanks to Bzuck for the consist information. |
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