In case you've never seen this… EVG regular Pinhead shared this video… here's the YouTube description:
Hosted by the late transit historian Roger Arcara , we take a nostalgic ride up the eastside 3rd Ave. EL in the early to mid 1950's in color, which by that time was MANHATTAN's last surviving elevated line. Please note this film covers the line north of CHATHAM SQ. which is at the tail end of THE BOWERY, on up to the north Bronx. The section south of CHATHAM SQ was abandon in 1950. and this film covers the years 1953- 1955.
The video is 57 minutes long… you will find a few familiar scenes starting with Cooper Union at the 9-minute mark… up to 10:15… The 3rd Avenue EL closed in May 1955.
4 comments:
That was fun. Think I can see a glimpse of my apartment (at the time, not apartments). Station stops on 9th, 14th, 18th & 23rd streets? Walking would have been faster.
those were the best cars, the ones you see at the 9 minute mark. comfy seats, the windows open, real straps to hang on to...
I-)
I wonder who the moron was who dismantled this system? So shortsighted. Something so sophisticated, and old world, that worked so efficiently for so long, eliminated, without anything to replace it. I bet it is the same moron who got rid of the original Penn Station, a masterpiece, in all senses of the word. I bet that it was Robert Moses behind it. Everything fabulous lost in the mid 20th century in Manhattan always has his fingerprints all over it...
I am sure the Bloomberg and Giuliani eras will be lamented in the same sad way... different reasons but same sad lament over treasures lost to short sighted real estate interests...
Anon 8:46 PM - we have buses now. El's are not fun for people under them, dirty, no light, noisy.
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