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NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old

Posted by Michael549 on Fri Jan 11 12:39:47 2019

There is a very good article in Gothamist magazine, an online magazine.

http://gothamist.com/2019/01/09/joralemon_street_tunnel_subway.php

Here's a partial quote:

Today, New York City’s oldest underwater subway tunnel celebrates its 111th anniversary of carrying commuters between the boroughs.

The Joralemon Street Tube was first put to the test during the early morning rush on January 9th, 1908. The new subway route connected Bowling Green in lower Manhattan to Brooklyn Borough Hall — a 5-minute trip that cost 5 cents. But most crucially, it helped relieve a major commuting sore spot. Up until the tunnel opened, inter-borough commuters had to rely on a short shuttle train that ran across the Brooklyn Bridge. The back-and-forth shuttle was so crowded during rush hours, it earned the nickname “the Bridge crush.”

One day into the new era of commuting options, the New York Times declared the subway tunnel the quicker of the two routes after sending two reporters on a race from its Times Square office to Brooklyn and back. Another Times writer predicted: “[The new tunnel] means that dinner can be served on time, which is a condition not existing in Brooklyn now—if the wage earner is compelled to use the bridges during the rush hours.”

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Re: NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old

Posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Fri Jan 11 14:27:11 2019, in response to NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old, posted by Michael549 on Fri Jan 11 12:39:47 2019.

Interesting. I always thought the Steinway tunnel was first.

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Re: NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old

Posted by LA Scott on Fri Jan 11 15:13:43 2019, in response to Re: NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old, posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Fri Jan 11 14:27:11 2019.

The Steinway tunnel was opened earlier, but did not see regular passenger service until Dual Contracts.

The IRT tunnel under the Harlem River was earlier than either, but it is a much shorter distance then the East River.

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Re: NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old

Posted by Elkeeper on Fri Jan 11 15:33:18 2019, in response to NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old, posted by Michael549 on Fri Jan 11 12:39:47 2019.

A short shuttle train over the Brooklyn Bridge? The BRT streetcars or the el trains?

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Re: NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old

Posted by Michael549 on Fri Jan 11 16:15:08 2019, in response to Re: NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old, posted by LA Scott on Fri Jan 11 15:13:43 2019.

From a previous message:

"The IRT tunnel under the Harlem River was earlier than either, but it is a much shorter distance then the East River."

I knew that but did not realize it until you mentioned it, thanks.

Mike

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Re: NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old

Posted by andy on Sat Jan 12 09:06:02 2019, in response to NYC's First Underwater Subway Tunnel Turns 111 Years Old, posted by Michael549 on Fri Jan 11 12:39:47 2019.

This article is incorrect because of two factors:

(1) As other posters noted, the IRT Harlem River Tunnel (#2 train today) was the first underwater subway tunnel in NYC. It opened July 10, 1905. The fact that it is shorter than the Joralemon Street Tunnel is irrelevant.

(2) The Brooklyn Bridge transit service was not simply a shuttle. By 1900, there was through service on numerous BRT trolley and el routes between Park Row (Manhattan) and many Brooklyn destinations, without change of cars or trains. The cross-bridge shuttles continued until about 1908, but were hardly the only service on the bridge at that time.

The person who wrote this article needs a serious history lesson.

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