IRT Lenox Avenue Line
Encyclopedia
The Lenox Avenue Line is one of the IRT
lines in the New York City Subway
, mostly built as part of the first subway system. It is a rather short line, only serving upper Manhattan
.
The Lenox Avenue Line begins at the Harlem – 148th Street (formerly known as 148th Street–Lenox Terminal). After the terminal, a track merges from the Lenox Yard, and the line heads south under Lenox Avenue
. At 142nd Street Junction
, the IRT White Plains Road Line
merges (with an at-grade crossing between the northbound Lenox track and the southbound White Plains track), carrying through service from the Bronx
.
At the north border of Central Park is the final stop on the line, Central Park North – 110th Street. From there the line curves southwest and west under Central Park (one of three lines to do so, the other two being the IND 63rd Street Line
and the BMT 63rd Street Line
), and heads west under 104th Street. The line turns southwest and south to run underneath the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line, passing under part of the northbound platform at 103rd Street. After the center express track on the Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line ends by connecting to the two local tracks, the Lenox Avenue Line rises to become two express tracks, with double crossovers to each local direction. The four-track Broadway – Seventh Avenue line then continues south through 96th Street, an express station and transfer point.
just after midnight on November 23, 1904, as part of the IRT
's original system. It was known as the East Side Subway or East Side Branch at the time, as it was the spur of the main line to the east side. The first train ran from the line onto the IRT White Plains Road Line
(known as the West Farms Branch or the West Farms Extension) just after midnight on July 10, 1905.
The Harlem – 148th Street station was opened on May 13, 1968 on land that had been part of the Lenox Yard; the station was originally called Lenox Terminal–148th Street.
The line has always carried trains of two service patterns, currently designated and ; see those articles for details. Prior to the 1950s, locals used this line switching to the local at 96th Street. From May to October 1998, the tunnel that carried the and services was repaired, causing several delays. trains were rerouted to 137th Street on the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line.
From 1995–2008, the line's two northernmost stations, Harlem – 148th Street and 145th Street
, were served by shuttle buses during the late-night hours. Full-time service was restored on July 27, 2008.
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company was the private operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904, as well as earlier elevated railways and additional rapid transit lines in New York City. The IRT was purchased by the City in June 1940...
lines in the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
, mostly built as part of the first subway system. It is a rather short line, only serving upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan denotes the more northerly region of the New York City Borough of Manhattan. Its southern boundary may be defined anywhere between 59th Street and 155th Street. Between these two extremes lies the most common definitions of Upper Manhattan as Manhattan above 96th Street...
.
Extent and service
The following services use part or all of the Lenox Avenue Line:| Current service | Section of line | |
|---|---|---|
| Always | South of 145th Street | |
| Always | Full line |
The Lenox Avenue Line begins at the Harlem – 148th Street (formerly known as 148th Street–Lenox Terminal). After the terminal, a track merges from the Lenox Yard, and the line heads south under Lenox Avenue
Lenox Avenue (Manhattan)
Lenox Avenue / Malcolm X Boulevard is the primary north-south route through Harlem in the upper portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan. This two-way street runs from Farmers' Gate at Central Park North to 147th Street. It is also considered the heartbeat of Harlem by Langston Hughes in...
. At 142nd Street Junction
142nd Street Junction
The 142nd Street Junction is an intersection on the New York City Subway where the IRT White Plains Road Line and IRT Lenox Avenue Line join at grade . South of the junction, there is a double crossover. Then, two tracks turnoff , and that is where the 2 train connects to the White Plains Road...
, the IRT White Plains Road Line
IRT White Plains Road Line
The White Plains Road Line is a rapid transit line of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, serving the central Bronx. It is mostly elevated, and served both subway and elevated trains until 1952...
merges (with an at-grade crossing between the northbound Lenox track and the southbound White Plains track), carrying through service from 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...
.
At the north border of Central Park is the final stop on the line, Central Park North – 110th Street. From there the line curves southwest and west under Central Park (one of three lines to do so, the other two being the IND 63rd Street Line
IND 63rd Street Line
The IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens...
and the BMT 63rd Street Line
BMT 63rd Street Line
The BMT 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway system. This short line connects the express tracks of the BMT Broadway Line from 57th Street – Seventh Avenue to Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street, where it stub-ends...
), and heads west under 104th Street. The line turns southwest and south to run underneath the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line, passing under part of the northbound platform at 103rd Street. After the center express track on the Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line ends by connecting to the two local tracks, the Lenox Avenue Line rises to become two express tracks, with double crossovers to each local direction. The four-track Broadway – Seventh Avenue line then continues south through 96th Street, an express station and transfer point.
History
The line opened south of 145th Street145th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)
145th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 145th Street and Lenox Avenue in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, it is served by the 3 train at all times....
just after midnight on November 23, 1904, as part of the IRT
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company was the private operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904, as well as earlier elevated railways and additional rapid transit lines in New York City. The IRT was purchased by the City in June 1940...
's original system. It was known as the East Side Subway or East Side Branch at the time, as it was the spur of the main line to the east side. The first train ran from the line onto the IRT White Plains Road Line
IRT White Plains Road Line
The White Plains Road Line is a rapid transit line of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, serving the central Bronx. It is mostly elevated, and served both subway and elevated trains until 1952...
(known as the West Farms Branch or the West Farms Extension) just after midnight on July 10, 1905.
The Harlem – 148th Street station was opened on May 13, 1968 on land that had been part of the Lenox Yard; the station was originally called Lenox Terminal–148th Street.
The line has always carried trains of two service patterns, currently designated and ; see those articles for details. Prior to the 1950s, locals used this line switching to the local at 96th Street. From May to October 1998, the tunnel that carried the and services was repaired, causing several delays. trains were rerouted to 137th Street on the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line.
From 1995–2008, the line's two northernmost stations, Harlem – 148th Street and 145th Street
145th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)
145th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 145th Street and Lenox Avenue in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, it is served by the 3 train at all times....
, were served by shuttle buses during the late-night hours. Full-time service was restored on July 27, 2008.
Station listing
| Station | Services | Opened | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlem – 148th Street | May 13, 1968 | Formerly 148th Street–Lenox Terminal | ||
| connecting track to Lenox Yard | ||||
| 145th Street 145th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line) 145th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 145th Street and Lenox Avenue in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, it is served by the 3 train at all times.... |
November 23, 1904 | Only first 5 cars platform No northbound entrance |
||
| Merge from IRT White Plains Road Line IRT White Plains Road Line The White Plains Road Line is a rapid transit line of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, serving the central Bronx. It is mostly elevated, and served both subway and elevated trains until 1952... |
||||
| 135th Street 135th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line) 135th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 135th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem, it is served by the 2 and 3 trains at all times.... |
November 23, 1904 | |||
| 125th Street 125th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line) 125th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 125th Street 125th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 125th Street 125th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox... |
November 23, 1904 | |||
| 116th Street 116th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line) 116th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 116th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem, it is served by the 2 and 3 trains at all times. It has two tracks and two side platforms.... |
November 23, 1904 | |||
| Central Park North – 110th Street | November 23, 1904 | |||
| Tracks continue as the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line express tracks | ||||
External links
- nycsubway.org — nycsubway.org - IRT Lenox/White Plains Line