Vanderbilt Avenue Line
Encyclopedia
The Vanderbilt Avenue Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn
, New York City
, running along 7th Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue
between Kensington
and Dumbo
. Originally a streetcar line
, it is now the B69 bus route, operated by MTA New York City Bus'
Jackie Gleason Depot in Sunset Park
.
in Windsor Terrace and Sands Street and Pearl Street in Dumbo via 7th Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue on weekdays.
The route serves Bartel Pritchard Square, Prospect Park
, the New York Methodist Hospital, Grand Army Plaza, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard
. It also connects with the B25, B26, B38 Limited, B41 Limited
, B45
, B52
, B54, B57, B61, B62, B65
, B67
, B35 Limited bus routes and the following subway stations:
, connecting Williamsburg
to the park. The branch was not profitable, and was bought (south of Park Avenue) by the Park Avenue Railroad, which then turned it into a line to the Fulton Ferry
, which opened on May 3, 1871. The tracks of the Brooklyn City and Newtown Railroad (DeKalb Avenue Line
) were used from the ferry south to Concord Street, heading eastbound on Water Street and Bridge Street and westbound on Front Street and Gold Street. From there, the line turned east along Concord Street to Navy Street, then traveled on the Crosstown Line tracks south along Navy Street for a block then heading east on Park Avenue. The line would then continue on its own trackage along Vanderbilt Avenue to Grand Army Plaza. Later on, the line was extended south on Prospect Park West to Greenwood Cemetery with the tracks between 9th Street and 15th Street belonging to the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad. Andrew R. Culver, {whom the IND Culver Line
south to Coney Island is named for}, was president of the company by 1872.
The Park Avenue Railroad merged with the Greenwood and Coney Island Railroad
on October 9, 1874 to form the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (PP&CI)
. In June 1883, soon after the Brooklyn Bridge
opened, the PP&CI rerouted the line as an effort to make more profit. Tracks were built on Concord Street from Bridge Street west to Washington Street, and the PP&CI used the newer alignment of the DeKalb Avenue Line
on Washington Street past the bridge to Front Street and Water Street and the older alignment via Gold Street and Bridge Street, which had been used primarily by the PP&CI, was abandoned.
Following an agreement made on December 10, 1885, the Atlantic Avenue Railroad
leased the Vanderbilt Avenue Line on January 1, 1886. This lease included the entire horsecar
property of the PP&CI, which kept its steam railroad
from the Ninth Avenue Depot adjacent to the Greenwood Cemetery south to Coney Island. It also included franchises to build and operate the old route via Gold Street and Bridge Street, as well as the proposed 15th Street Line from Hamilton Ferry to the depot, the Hicks Street Line
from South Ferry
to the depot, and the Park Avenue Line from Downtown Brooklyn
east to Bushwick
. Additionally, the Atlantic Avenue Railroad obtained a lease on the Ninth Avenue Depot. Culver had long desired to rid himself of the horse line, preferring to operate only the steam extension.
The Nassau Electric Railroad
began operating the line under lease (of the Atlantic Avenue Railroad) on April 5, 1896, and the Brooklyn Heights Railroad
leased the Nassau Electric in 1899. Vanderbilt Avenue cars were through-routed with the Gravesend Avenue Line
until August 20, 1950 when buses were substituted for streetcars and the line was cut back to 19th Street.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
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...
, running along 7th Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue
Vanderbilt Avenue (Brooklyn)
Vanderbilt Avenue is a short street in Brooklyn, New York. Its south terminus is located at Grand Army Plaza. The avenue carries traffic north and south between Grand Army Plaza and The Brooklyn Navy Yard, its northern terminus....
between Kensington
Kensington, Brooklyn
Kensington is a neighborhood in the center of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is the area south of Prospect Park and the Green-Wood Cemetery. It is bordered by Coney Island Avenue to the east, Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue to the north, McDonald Avenue and 37th Street to the...
and Dumbo
DUMBO, Brooklyn
Dumbo, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It encompasses two sections: one located between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, which connect Brooklyn to Manhattan across the East River, and another that continues...
. Originally a streetcar line
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
, it is now the B69 bus route, operated by MTA New York City Bus'
New York City Transit buses
New York City Transit buses, marked on the buses MTA New York City Bus, is a bus service that operates in all five boroughs of New York City, employing over 4300 buses on 219 routes within the five boroughs of New York City in the United States...
Jackie Gleason Depot in Sunset Park
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Sunset Park is a neighborhood in the western section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Greenwood Heights to the north, Borough Park to the east, Bay Ridge to the south, and Upper New York Bay to the west...
.
B69 bus route
The B69 bus route runs between 19th Street and Prospect Park West in front of main entrance of the Bishop Ford Central Catholic High SchoolBishop Ford Central Catholic High School
Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, New York. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.-Background:...
in Windsor Terrace and Sands Street and Pearl Street in Dumbo via 7th Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue on weekdays.
The route serves Bartel Pritchard Square, Prospect Park
Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Prospect Park is a 585-acre public park in the New York City borough of Brooklyn located between Park Slope, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Kensington, Windsor Terrace and Flatbush Avenue, Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden...
, the New York Methodist Hospital, Grand Army Plaza, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
. It also connects with the B25, B26, B38 Limited, B41 Limited
Flatbush Avenue Line (surface)
The Flatbush Avenue Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running along Flatbush Avenue between Downtown Brooklyn and Marine Park...
, B45
St. Johns Place Line
The St. Johns Place Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York, mainly along Atlantic Avenue, Washington Avenue, Sterling Place, and St. Johns Place between Downtown Brooklyn and Crown Heights...
, B52
Greene and Gates Avenues Line
The Greene and Gates Avenues Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running mostly along Fulton Street, Greene Avenue, and Gates Avenue between Downtown Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens...
, B54, B57, B61, B62, B65
Bergen Street Line
The Bergen Street Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running westbound mostly along Bergen Street, as well as eastbound on Dean Street , between downtown Brooklyn and Ocean Hill...
, B67
Seventh Avenue Line (Brooklyn)
The Seventh Avenue Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Originally a streetcar line, it is now the B67 bus route....
, B35 Limited bus routes and the following subway stations:
- Church AvenueChurch Avenue (IND Culver Line)Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....
on the IND Culver LineIND Culver LineThe IND Culver Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, extending from Downtown Brooklyn south to Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, United States...
- Seventh AvenueSeventh Avenue (BMT Brighton Line)Seventh Avenue is a station on the BMT Brighton Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Flatbush Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn. It is served by the Q train at all times and the B train on weekdays...
on the BMT Brighton LineBMT Brighton LineThe BMT Brighton Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Local service is provided at all times by the Q train. The Q is joined by the B express train on weekdays...
- Grand Army PlazaGrand Army Plaza (IRT Eastern Parkway Line)Grand Army Plaza is a local station on the IRT Eastern Parkway Line of the New York City Subway. It is located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, underneath Flatbush Avenue at its northwest intersection with Grand Army Plaza. The station is close to Prospect Park, and is thus identified as Grand Army Plaza –...
on the IRT Eastern Parkway LineIRT Eastern Parkway LineIRT Eastern Parkway Line and New Lots Line can refer to:* IRT Eastern Parkway Line* IRT New Lots Line...
- Clinton-Washington AvenuesClinton-Washington Avenues (IND Fulton Street Line)Clinton–Washington Avenues is a local station on the IND Fulton Street Line of the New York City Subway. Located on Fulton Street between Clinton Avenue and Washington Avenues, it is served by the C train at all times except late nights, when it is replaced by the A train.This station has four...
on the IND Fulton Street LineIND Fulton Street LineThe IND Fulton Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway, extending from the Cranberry Street Tunnel under the East River through all of central Brooklyn to a terminus in Ozone Park, Queens. The IND Rockaway Line branches from it. It forms part of the A...
- Clinton-Washington AvenuesClinton-Washington Avenues (IND Crosstown Line)Clinton–Washington Avenues is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Lafayette Avenue between Clinton and Washington Avenues in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, it is served by the G train at all times....
on the IND Crosstown LineIND Crosstown Line-External links:*...
- York StreetYork Street (IND Sixth Avenue Line)York Street is a station on the IND Sixth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Served by the F train at all times, it is located at York Street and Jay Street in DUMBO and is the only Sixth Avenue Line station in Brooklyn.- History :...
on the IND Sixth Avenue LineIND Sixth Avenue LineThe Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn...
- High Street on the IND Eighth Avenue LineIND Eighth Avenue LineThe 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...
History
The line along Vanderbilt Avenue from Myrtle Avenue south to Prospect Park was built in 1869 by the Brooklyn, Hunter's Point and Prospect Park Railroad as a branch of the Crosstown LineCrosstown Line (Brooklyn surface)
The Crosstown Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running along Van Brunt Street and Manhattan Avenue between Red Hook and Long Island City, Queens. Originally a streetcar line, it is now the B61 and the B62 bus routes...
, connecting Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
to the park. The branch was not profitable, and was bought (south of Park Avenue) by the Park Avenue Railroad, which then turned it into a line to the Fulton Ferry
Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn
Fulton Ferry is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is named for a prominent ferry line crossing the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and is also the name of the ferry slip on the Brooklyn side...
, which opened on May 3, 1871. The tracks of the Brooklyn City and Newtown Railroad (DeKalb Avenue Line
DeKalb Avenue Line
The DeKalb Avenue Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, United States, running mostly along DeKalb Avenue, as well as eastbound on Lafayette Avenue , between downtown Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens...
) were used from the ferry south to Concord Street, heading eastbound on Water Street and Bridge Street and westbound on Front Street and Gold Street. From there, the line turned east along Concord Street to Navy Street, then traveled on the Crosstown Line tracks south along Navy Street for a block then heading east on Park Avenue. The line would then continue on its own trackage along Vanderbilt Avenue to Grand Army Plaza. Later on, the line was extended south on Prospect Park West to Greenwood Cemetery with the tracks between 9th Street and 15th Street belonging to the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad. Andrew R. Culver, {whom the IND Culver Line
IND Culver Line
The IND Culver Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, extending from Downtown Brooklyn south to Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, United States...
south to Coney Island is named for}, was president of the company by 1872.
The Park Avenue Railroad merged with the Greenwood and Coney Island Railroad
Culver Line (surface)
The Culver Line, Gravesend Avenue Line, or McDonald Avenue Line was a surface public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running along McDonald Avenue and built by the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad...
on October 9, 1874 to form the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (PP&CI)
Culver Line (surface)
The Culver Line, Gravesend Avenue Line, or McDonald Avenue Line was a surface public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running along McDonald Avenue and built by the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad...
. In June 1883, soon after the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
opened, the PP&CI rerouted the line as an effort to make more profit. Tracks were built on Concord Street from Bridge Street west to Washington Street, and the PP&CI used the newer alignment of the DeKalb Avenue Line
DeKalb Avenue Line
The DeKalb Avenue Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, United States, running mostly along DeKalb Avenue, as well as eastbound on Lafayette Avenue , between downtown Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens...
on Washington Street past the bridge to Front Street and Water Street and the older alignment via Gold Street and Bridge Street, which had been used primarily by the PP&CI, was abandoned.
Following an agreement made on December 10, 1885, the Atlantic Avenue Railroad
Atlantic Avenue Railroad
The Atlantic Avenue Railroad was a railroad company in the U.S. state of New York, with a main line connecting downtown Brooklyn with Jamaica along Atlantic Avenue. It was largely a streetcar company that operated its own trains, but the Long Island Rail Road operated both streetcars and steam...
leased the Vanderbilt Avenue Line on January 1, 1886. This lease included the entire horsecar
Horsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
property of the PP&CI, which kept its steam railroad
Steam railroad
Steam railroad is a term used in the United States to distinguish conventional heavy railroads from street railways, interurban streetcar lines, and other light railways usually dedicated primarily to passenger transport....
from the Ninth Avenue Depot adjacent to the Greenwood Cemetery south to Coney Island. It also included franchises to build and operate the old route via Gold Street and Bridge Street, as well as the proposed 15th Street Line from Hamilton Ferry to the depot, the Hicks Street Line
Hicks Street Line
The Hicks Street Line was a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running from the Ninth Avenue Depot at Greenwood Cemetery to the Brooklyn Bridge.-History:...
from South Ferry
South Ferry, Brooklyn
South Ferry was a ferry landing on the Brooklyn side of the East River, at the foot of Atlantic Avenue at the border of the neighborhoods of Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights. The ferry known as South Ferry traveled to South Ferry, Manhattan...
to the depot, and the Park Avenue Line from Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest central business district in New York City , and is located in the northwestern section of the borough of Brooklyn...
east to Bushwick
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick is a neighborhood in the northern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood, formerly Brooklyn's 18th Ward, is now part of Brooklyn Community Board 4...
. Additionally, the Atlantic Avenue Railroad obtained a lease on the Ninth Avenue Depot. Culver had long desired to rid himself of the horse line, preferring to operate only the steam extension.
The Nassau Electric Railroad
Nassau Electric Railroad
The Nassau Electric Railroad was an electric street railway company in the U.S. state of New York. The company operated throughout the borough of Brooklyn, as well as over the Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan....
began operating the line under lease (of the Atlantic Avenue Railroad) on April 5, 1896, and the Brooklyn Heights Railroad
Brooklyn Heights Railroad
The Brooklyn Heights Railroad was a street railway company in the U.S. state of New York. It leased and operated the streetcar lines of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, but started out with the Montague Street Line, a short cable car line connecting the Wall Street Ferry with downtown Brooklyn...
leased the Nassau Electric in 1899. Vanderbilt Avenue cars were through-routed with the Gravesend Avenue Line
Culver Line (surface)
The Culver Line, Gravesend Avenue Line, or McDonald Avenue Line was a surface public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running along McDonald Avenue and built by the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad...
until August 20, 1950 when buses were substituted for streetcars and the line was cut back to 19th Street.