George Chiasson Maps on the Harlem River Terminal

Source:  Chiasson, George, "From Recognition to Dominance:   The New York Connecting Railroad (Bridging the Bay and Connecting the Pieces)", In "The Bulletin", Electric Railway Association, Inc,  Vol. 60, No. 6, June, 2017, p. 6.

Mr.  Chiasson has been running a series of articles and maps dealing with the railroads in the New York City region.  Many of his past maps and history deals with subjects that we dealt with here, particular  19th Century beginnings to rapid transit in Brooklyn.  Years ago, we posted information about the Harlem River (Willis Avenue) terminal that for a period of time was used by commuter railroads and the Third Avenue Elevated line.  The aerial shot was obtained from the City of NY DOITT dashboard that presently can present 1924 and 1951 shots of New York City.

Mr. Chiasson is a great railroad historian.  In his series in The Bulletin, history of commuter railroads, the steam engine driven pre rapid transit lines in Brooklyn and the elevated systems in both Brooklyn and Manhattan and the Bronx are covered.  Everything down to grade elimination projects on the Bay Ridge Division over the years is told.  Of course, trolley line history is part of this.
Thank you Mr. Chiasson.

Note, if you look at the aerial picture attached, you may be able to see the covered walkway from the East 133 Street station on the 3rd Avenue El to the Willis Avenue Terminal.
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The Brooklyn Bridge Once Carried Elevated Trains and Street Cars

This photo, taken about one year ago, faces Brooklyn.  Since 1950, no electric transit has crossed the bridge when streetcar service from Brooklyn was stopped.  Rich in transit history, the Brooklyn Bridge carried Brooklyn Elevated trains on two tracks and streetcar service on two roadway tracks.  After elevated service accross the Brooklyn Bridge stopped around 1940-1944?, streetcars eventially used the PRW of the former elevated railroad to reach the Park Row Loop.  The former Park Row station, which was the terminus of many Brooklyn elevated lines provided a paying transfer to IRT Elevated trains such as the Third Avenue Line at the City Hall terminal, or a transfer to the Lexington Avenue Subway at the Brooklyn Bridge station.

Harlem River Branch Souce Document

Source: B. Linder, New York Division ERA Bulletin, March 1993, Page 6. Vol. 36, No. 3.

3rd Avenue Elevated Line Harlem River Branch

By May 17, 1886, the 3rd Avenue Elevated line, then steam operated, was extended to 129th Street in Manhattan to 133rd Street in the Bronx by crossing the Harlem River.  In November of the same year, the Harlem River Branch from 129th Street  to Willis Avenue in the Bronx opened for service.  This branch ran to a new station near 132nd Street and Willis Avenue and was off the main line and may have been extended for a short distance by the NYNH&H railway to their station on the surface.  It seems that the NYNH&H trains operated to the redesigned 129th Street station in Manhattan.  This service was discontinued by May 11, 1905 according to the New York Division Bulletin article by Bernard Linder.
A few years before on October, 1891, the new Morris Park Race track was open.  This race track was located near Pelham Parkway in the northern Bronx a few miles away from the Willis Avenue Station.  Second Avenue Elevated trains, not shown on my map, may have operated from downtown Manhattan to the Willis Avenue station where passengers transferred to the NYNH&H railroad for special race track trains.  By 1905, race tracks in New York State were put out of business by a change of legislation and this race track, along with the Sheepshead Bay Race Track and the Gravesend Race Track had their business seriously cut.  According to Bernard Linder, even though business fell off in 1905, the IRT elevated trains ran to Willis Avenue until April 15, 1924.  This would mean that this branch was electrified since the last steam train operated to August 16, 1902.
    On the following map, you can see the branch of the 3rd Avenue Elevated branching east to the railroad yard area shown in the 1924 Aerial Photograph overlay.  You can also see the 129th Street Yard and station taking up an entire block between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in Manhattan.  In a very interesting hand written message on the line drawn map, in the insert, it was stated that steam engines were stored in the 132nd Street Yard awaiting sale from 1902 to 1943.  Does the writer refer to the yard at Willis Avenue or the 132nd Street Yard?  From the 1924 aerial photograph, I cannot see the Willis Avenue branchoff from the 3rd Avenue El after the line leaves the bridge and enters the Bronx land area.

More to follow.

Upper Portion of 3rd Avenue Railway 1893-1903 Harlem River and Bronx Sections

Source: B.Linder: NewYork Division ERA Bulletin, February 1993, Vol. 36, No. 2. Drawing by H.T. Raudenbush, P. 6.  We will hopefully talk about this later.  Sorry for the poor quality picture.

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