155th Street (IRT Ninth Avenue Line)
Encyclopedia
155th Street was an elevated railway station in New York City
which was in use from 1870 until 1958, serving as the north terminal of the Ninth Avenue Line
from its opening until 1918 and then as a southern terminal of a surviving stub portion from 1940 until its closure.
originally terminated at 155th Street
at its inception as a matter of geographic necessity (the hills of Washington Heights
would have made expansion northward troublesome) and political boundaries (at its opening, The Bronx
was part of Westchester County
. Development came to the area in both the expansion of the New York City and Northern Railroad building its terminal at 155th Street in 1880 and by the relocation of the Polo Grounds
to the area in 1889. The line expanded into The Bronx on June 1, 1918 when a bridge was built across the Harlem River
which allowed the Ninth Avenue El to bridge into the Bronx
and join with the IRT Jerome Avenue Line
while adding intermediate stops at Sedgwick Avenue and Anderson Avenue.
With the building of the Eighth Avenue Line
and Concourse Line
of the city-owned Independent Subway System
in the 1930s, the Ninth Avenue El was rendered redundant. On June 12, 1940, the Ninth Avenue El in its full form was closed with the portion from 155th Street northward retained to provide a connection from the Jerome Avenue Line to the Polo Grounds. The retained service, known as the Polo Grounds Shuttle, ran from 155th Street to the 167th Street station
on the Jerome Avenue Line.
Though still moderately successful at its outset, the Polo Grounds Shuttle eventually suffered at the hands of the Concourse line as well as declining ridership on the New York Central's Putnam Division, the successor to the New York and Northern. The need for the shuttle decreased when the Polo Grounds went vacant in 1957 when the baseball Giants
moved to San Francisco and the football Giants
moved across the river to Yankee Stadium
. On May 29, 1958, the New York Central ceased operations on the Putnam Division which rendered the shuttle as unnecessary. Three months later, at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 31, 1958, the shuttle was shut down and the elevated portion of the line demolished. The two underground station were abandoned and left to decay. Until 2008, there was a stub near 161 Street – Yankee Stadium that was the tracks that were part of the Ninth Avenue El. Due to the recent completion of the new Yankee Stadium in the area, the track stub was torn down. The next northbound stop was Sedgwick Avenue
. The next southbound stop was 145th Street
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
which was in use from 1870 until 1958, serving as the north terminal of the Ninth Avenue Line
IRT Ninth Avenue Line
The IRT Ninth Avenue Line, often called the Ninth Avenue El, was the first elevated railway in New York City. It opened in 1868 as the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway, a cable-hauled line. It ceased operation in 1940....
from its opening until 1918 and then as a southern terminal of a surviving stub portion from 1940 until its closure.
History
The Ninth Avenue ElIRT Ninth Avenue Line
The IRT Ninth Avenue Line, often called the Ninth Avenue El, was the first elevated railway in New York City. It opened in 1868 as the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway, a cable-hauled line. It ceased operation in 1940....
originally terminated at 155th Street
155th Street (Manhattan)
155th Street is a major crosstown street in the Harlem neighborhood, in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is the northernmost of the 155 crosstown streets mapped out in the Commissioner's Plan of 1811 that established the numbered street grid in Manhattan.155th Street starts on the West...
at its inception as a matter of geographic necessity (the hills of Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
would have made expansion northward troublesome) and political boundaries (at its opening, The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
was part of Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. Development came to the area in both the expansion of the New York City and Northern Railroad building its terminal at 155th Street in 1880 and by the relocation of the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
to the area in 1889. The line expanded into The Bronx on June 1, 1918 when a bridge was built across the Harlem River
Harlem River
The Harlem River is a navigable tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the Hudson River and the East River, separating the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx...
which allowed the Ninth Avenue El to bridge into the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
and join with the IRT Jerome Avenue Line
IRT Jerome Avenue Line
The IRT Jerome Avenue Line, also unofficially known as IRT Woodlawn Line, is a New York City Subway Line along Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. It was opened on June 2, 1917 as a shuttle service between Kingsbridge Road and 149th Street. This was in advance of through service to the IRT Lexington Avenue...
while adding intermediate stops at Sedgwick Avenue and Anderson Avenue.
With the building of the Eighth Avenue Line
IND Eighth Avenue Line
The Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway...
and Concourse Line
IND Concourse Line
The Concourse Line is an IND subway branch line of the New York City Subway system. It runs from Norwood – 205th Street in Norwood, Bronx to 145th Street in Harlem, Manhattan. It is the only "B" Division and only fully underground line in the Bronx....
of the city-owned Independent Subway System
Independent Subway System
The Independent Subway System , formerly known as the Independent City-Owned Subway System or the Independent City-Owned Rapid Transit Railroad, was a rapid transit rail system in New York City that is now part of the New York City Subway...
in the 1930s, the Ninth Avenue El was rendered redundant. On June 12, 1940, the Ninth Avenue El in its full form was closed with the portion from 155th Street northward retained to provide a connection from the Jerome Avenue Line to the Polo Grounds. The retained service, known as the Polo Grounds Shuttle, ran from 155th Street to the 167th Street station
167th Street (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)
167th Street is a local station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 167th Street and River Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times...
on the Jerome Avenue Line.
Though still moderately successful at its outset, the Polo Grounds Shuttle eventually suffered at the hands of the Concourse line as well as declining ridership on the New York Central's Putnam Division, the successor to the New York and Northern. The need for the shuttle decreased when the Polo Grounds went vacant in 1957 when the baseball Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
moved to San Francisco and the football Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
moved across the river to Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
. On May 29, 1958, the New York Central ceased operations on the Putnam Division which rendered the shuttle as unnecessary. Three months later, at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 31, 1958, the shuttle was shut down and the elevated portion of the line demolished. The two underground station were abandoned and left to decay. Until 2008, there was a stub near 161 Street – Yankee Stadium that was the tracks that were part of the Ninth Avenue El. Due to the recent completion of the new Yankee Stadium in the area, the track stub was torn down. The next northbound stop was Sedgwick Avenue
Sedgwick Avenue (IRT Ninth Avenue Line)
Sedgwick Avenue was an elevated, ground level and underground station on the Bronx extension of the IRT Ninth Avenue Line. This station was built to connect to the New York & Putnam Railroad passenger trains that terminated there instead of the former 155th Street terminal and New York Central...
. The next southbound stop was 145th Street
145th Street (IRT Ninth Avenue Line)
145th Street was a station on the demolished IRT Ninth Avenue Line. It had 2 levels. The lower level was built first and had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms and served local trains. The upper level was built as part of the Dual Contracts and had 1 track and 2 side platforms over the local tracks that...
.