NYC Subway Historical Maps
 |
| The 1964 World's Fair edition of the subway system maps
included this illustration on the cover. (Click to enlarge.) |
1880-1920 |
1920-1940 |
1940-1960 |
1960-1970 |
1970-1980 |
1980-present
Single Line Diagrams
1880-1920
- 1888 Brooklyn Survey Map [2.8M]
- 1888 Brooklyn Survey Map, Coney Island Area Detail [182K]
- 1888 Brooklyn Survey Map, Prospect Park to Canarsie Detail, showing Bay Ridge branch LIRR [319K]
- 1888 Brooklyn Survey Map, Jamaica Area Detail [362K]
- 1888 Brooklyn Survey Map, Rockaway and Jamaica Bay Area Detail, New York and Rockaway Beach Railroad [504K]
Our first map is a scan of a USGS survey map of southern Brooklyn,
originally drafted in 1888. Railways and trolley rights-of-way are
noted. Courtesy J. Alan Septimus.
The map is labeled as follows: "United States Department of the
Interior Geological Survey". / "State of New York - Represented by the
Department of Public Works". / "NEW YORK - Brooklyn Quadrangle". /
"H.M. Wilson, Geographer in charge. Triangulation by the U.S. Coast
and Geodetic Survey. Topography by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey,
N.Y.City Government, S.H.Bodfish, Frank Sutton, and
J.W.Thom. Surveyed in 1888-89 and 1897 in cooperation with the State
of New York." / "Edition of Feb.1900, reprinted 1948. Partial revision
of shoreline 1924. Polyconic projection, North American
datum. Brooklyn, N.Y. N4030-W7345/15"
- 1904, Map and Profile of the IRT subway [1.2M]
The 1904 New York Subway Souvenir publication included a Map and Profile of the IRT subway.
- 1904, Map and Profile of the IRT subway [552K]
Another version of the Map and Profile of the IRT subway.
- 1904, Interborough Rapid Transit [1.1M]
The 1904 publication The New York Subway, Its Construction and Equipment featured this map showing the elevated and subway lines of the IRT.
- 1904, Plan and Profile of the Rapid Transit Subway [705K]
Century Magazine's "Building New York's Subway" article included a slightly different version of the same map.
- 1904, Map and Profile of Brooklyn-Manhattan Rapid Transit Subway Railroad [751K]
Route map and profile of the Contract 2 IRT extension to Brooklyn.
- 1904, Underground rapid transit
routes proposed by the Metropolitan interests (PDF) [680K]
"Underground rapid transit routes proposed by the Metropolitan
interests to be operated under a free transfer system in connection
with their three hundred miles of surface lines on Manhattan island."
- 1905, Profile Map of the New York Subway from Brooklyn Bridge to the Bronx. [126K]
Ray Stannard Baker's 1905 article "The Subway Deal", included a profile map of the subway.
- 1906 IRT Map - Manhattan South [301K]
- 1906 IRT Map - Manhattan North & Bronx [253K]
- 1906 IRT Map - Station Locations & Time Table [343K]
Interborough Subway Map and timetable from the Official Guide of the Railways, Nov. 1906. Thanks to Mike Rivest for the scans.
- 1912 BMT Route Map (PDF) [1.6M]
1912 BMT map shows BMT service prior to the Dual Contracts
expansion. (jpg
version)
- 1920, Manhattan and Bronx Els - 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 9th Aves., 1920 [ 47K]
Trackwork of the elevated lines in Manhattan. Drawn by Michael Calcagno.
- The Brooklyn IRT, Contract 2 [ 65K]
- The Brooklyn IRT, Dual Contracts [ 64K]
Joe Brennan has put together two maps detailing the construction of
the joint IRT/BMT subway in Brooklyn, circa 1920. Note, these are
large images. The first map depicts the tunnel sections of the
Contract 2 portion and the Fulton Street and Flatbush Avenue subway.
The second map shows the Dual Contracts joint BMT/IRT line under
Flatbush Avenue and the Eastern Parkway Subway.
1920-1940
- 1924 BMT Subway-Elevated Map (Color) [1.2M]
- 1924 BMT Subway-Elevated Map (B/W) (PDF) [2.3M]
Note that the Canarsie line is incomplete from Montrose to East
New York, but the extension to Canarsie (past Rockaway Parkway) is in
service. The 4th Avenue (Brooklyn) and Nassau St. (Manhattan) subways
are not yet complete. BMT sharing Flushing line service to its
terminal at Alburtis Avenue.
(jpg b&w version)
- 1931 BMT Subway-Elevated Map (B/W) (PDF) [2.1M]
Canarsie, Flushing, Nassau, and 4th Avenue lines complete. All
of the Els still operating.
(jpg version)
- 1933 BMT Subway-Elevated Map (B/W) (PDF) [2.4M]
Not too many changes. Map dated by presence of Radio City Music
Hall, which opened in December 1932.
(jpg version)
- 1930s B&QT Trolley Map [435K]
A 1930s-era map showing BMT Brooklyn and Queens Surface trolley lines. Thanks to Joe Korman for the scan.
- 1937 IND Map (PDF) [1.2M]
Here's an IND map from 1937 showing the IND World's Fair line, the
completion of the "GG" crosstown, and the "HH" Court Street
shuttle. The Fulton line was complete to Rockaway Ave.; no sign yet of
the 6th Avenue trunk line.
(jpg version)
- 1939 IRT Route Map (Small) [256K]
- 1939 IRT Route Map (Large) [1.0M]
This 1939 IRT map shows the extensive network of IRT subway and elevated
lines: East Side and West Side subways, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 9th Avenue
Elevated lines, and the Flushing Line. Scan thanks to Richard Ondrovic.
- 1939 IND Route Map (Small) [237K]
- 1939 IND Route Map (Large) [663K]
The 1939 IND map shows the 8th Avenue and Houston Street subways (the
6th Avenue yet to be completed), Fulton Street to Rockaway Avenue, the 9th
St. subway in Brooklyn to Church Avenue, Queens Blvd. to Roosevelt
Avenue, and Crosstown between Queens Plaza and Nassau Ave. Scan thanks to Richard Ondrovic.
- 1939 BMT Route Map (Small) [230K]
- 1939 BMT Route Map (Large) [578K]
The 1939 BMT map shows the joint IRT/BMT Queens service, the Myrtle El,
the Lexington El, Fulton El, 3rd and 5th Avenue El (all in Brooklyn),
Brooklyn Bridge service to Park Row, and the longer Canarsie line. Scan thanks to Richard Ondrovic.
- 1939 BMT Route Map (Cover) [129K]
- 1939 BMT Route Map (Map and Places of Interest) [903K]
- 1939 BMT Route Map (Service Guide, page 1) [566K]
- 1939 BMT Route Map (Service Guide, page 2) [912K]
Here is a 1939 BMT World's Fair special map which has photographs
of other points of interest in NYC surrounding a map of the BMT
elevated and subway lines. Courtesy Joe Korman.
- 1939 System Route Map [1.2M]
This 1939 system map (George J Nostrand/Seaman's Bank for Savings
publisher, in the Hagstrom map style) shows the New York rapid transit
system at nearly its most extensive configuration. Only the 6th Avenue
el has been removed from service; the Brooklyn els are all still
present, the IND lines completed (except for the Fulton past Rockaway
Ave), and depicts Brooklyn Bridge train service and the 1939 World's
Fair subway line. Note the errors depicting South Ferry and on the
northern end of the Myrtle Ave el (it depicts the Myrtle tying into
the Canarsie line not the Broadway line). This map also shows the
BMT/IND connections at Church-Ditmas, and Queens Plaza, which,
although proposed in 1940 didn't open until 1954. Thanks to Henry Kuck
for the scan.
- 1940 BMT Subway-Elevated Map (B/W) (PDF) [2.4M]
Fulton El closed between Sands St. and Rockaway Avenue, replaced
by free transfer to the IND Subway (which is not shown on the
map). 3rd and 5th Avenue els also removed.
(jpg version)
- Brooklyn Trackless Trolley Map [260K]
Undated Brooklyn trackless trolley wire map. Courtesy Sanford Gardner.
1940-1960
- 1948 System Map (Large) [1.2M]
- 1948 System Map (Small) [330K]
- 1948 Route Information [247K]
A 1948 system map, including route information for the three
divisions. Joint IRT/BMT service to Astoria and Flushing is shown; 3rd
Avenue El service in Manhattan still extends to South Ferry; the
Fulton (showing thru service via Broadway and Lexington), Myrtle and
Lexington Ave. Els in Brooklyn; Worth, 18th, 91st St. stations are
still open on the Contract I IRT; Canarsie Trolley transfer.
Thanks to Joe Korman for the scan.
- 1949
Staten Island Rapid Transit Track Map [ 12K]
A 1940s-era track map of the SIRT system, showing the now-abandoned
North Shore line. Drawn and contributed by Michael Calcagno.
- 1951 Route Map (Top Half - Bronx, Queens, upper Manhattan) [256K]
- 1951 Route Map (Bottom Half - Brooklyn, lower Manhattan) [270K]
- 1951 Route Map (Back Side - New York Telephone) [151K]
This 1951 map printed by New York Telephone shows the three
competing systems (IND, IRT, BMT) in different colors, plus the
unimproved elevated lines. Depicted are the 3rd Avenue El as far south
as City Hall in Manhattan and the Bronx; Myrtle El and Fulton Avenue
El (from Rockaway Ave. to Lefferts via Atlantic Ave.) (Lexington
Ave. El is gone) in Brooklyn, Culver Shuttle line, Nassau loop
service, and the Polo Grounds shuttle in the Bronx. Worth and 18th
Sts. have closed. Thanks to Richard Ondrovic for the scan.
- 1955
Third Avenue Elevated, Manhattan [9.7K]
A track map of the Manhattan Third Avenue Elevated just prior to its demolition in 1955. Drawn and contributed by Michael Calcagno.
- 1955
Third Avenue Elevated, Manhattan [651K]
BMT route map from around 1956 (dated by the Rockaway Ave. cutback of the Fulton El.)
- 1959 System Map (Large) [2.0M]
- 1959 System Map (Small) [559K]
- 1959 System Map (Route Information) [539K]
A 1959 system map, including route information for the three
divisions. One of the first in the "new" schematic style. This map
shows the 3rd Ave. El cut back to Bronx service only; the abandonment
of the Bronx Park spurs of the 3rd Ave. and White Plains Road lines;
the abandonment of the Polo Grounds shuttle; Culver Shuttle service is
shown has having thru service from the 4th Ave. Subway to Ditmas; and
service to the Rockaways (which started in 1956) is present with a
"15c extra fare" notation. Thanks to Joe Korman for the scan.
1960-1970
- 1964 System Map (Large) [1.5M]
- 1964 System Map (Small) [140K]
- 1964 System Map (Front Cover) [137K]
- 1964 System Map (Back Cover) [ 89K]
The 1964 World's Fair map, with the "Blue Arrow" motif, shows
the Third Avenue elevated in the Bronx, the Myrtle Avenue elevated to
Jay Street, Brooklyn, the Culver Shuttle, and Nassau Street loop
service. This is a scan of the actual map, very high resolution
24-bit color.
- 1966 System Map (Large) [1.8M]
- 1966 System Map (Small) [498K]
- 1966 System Map (Route Information) [180K]
A 1966 system map, including route information for the three
divisions. Similar to the schematic style of the 1959 map but with a
lot more color. Very similar routes to the 1964 map. The Rockaway fare
has gone up to 20 cents. Thanks to Joe Korman for the scan.
- 1967 System Map [164K]
The first in a new style, the 1967 map shows each line in its own
color, and the Third Avenue (8), Myrtle Avenue (MJ), and Culver
Shuttle (SS) lines are still running. The Chrystie Street Connection
has just opened changing Manhattan Bridge service patterns, notably
disconnection of the old Nassau Loop service. This map image is hand-redrawn by Michael
Calcagno, patterned after the original map.
- 1967 Chrystie Street "New Subway Routes" [492K]
- 1967 Chrystie Street Strip Maps [794K]
A scan of the November, 1967 "New Subway Routes" map showing the
combined IND and BMT Chrystie Street services.
- 1968 System Map [3.6M]
This "pop up"-style foldout map was produced for the Irving Trust Bank
(Nestor's Map and guide Corp) and dated July 1968, showing: Double letter
locals (RR, RJ, JJ, QJ, TT, QB, MJ, etc.), Chrystie Street service; express
"F" service in Brooklyn, etc. The Bronx was depicted in three
sections: north of Tremont Avenue was on the back side of the map in
two halves, the three sections were pieced back together for this
scan.
- 1968 System Map [154K]
- 1968 Map - Photo (Top) [164K]
- 1968 Map - Photo (Bottom) [134K]
The 1968 map shows shows the new KK service from 57th/6th to
Broadway-East New York via the Chrystie Street
Connection. Hand-redrawn by Michael Calcagno, patterned after the
original map. Compare to the photo of the real map contributed by
Chris Slaight.
- 1969 System Map [153K]
The 1969 map shows the discontinuance of the Myrtle Avenue (MJ)
service between Jay and Broadway. Hand-redrawn by Michael Calcagno,
patterned after the original map.
- 1969 Myrtle Avenue El Track Map [7.3K]
This 1969 map of the Myrtle Avenue (MJ) depicts the line just prior
to its abandonment and demolition between Jay Street and
Broadway. Hand-redrawn by Michael Calcagno, patterned after the
original map.
1970-1980
- 1972 System Map [913K]
Scan of a map from 1972, courtesy Henry Szablicki and Brian Hilley.
- 1973 Third Avenue El - Bronx [5.6K]
This map from 1973 depicts the track work of the IRT #8 line - the
Third Avenue Elevated in the Bronx - just before its abandonment and
demolition. Hand drawn by Michael Calcagno.
- 1974 System Map [ 77K]
This map from 1974 shows each line in its own color. The Third
Avenue, Myrtle Avenue, and Culver Shuttle lines are no longer in
service. Hand drawn by Michael Calcagno.
- 1974 NYC Commuter Rail Overview [ 61K]
Hand-drawn map depicting MTA commuter rail service in 1974.
- 1975 Culver Shuttle [4.4K]
The Culver Shuttle tracks prior to its abandonment in 1975. Map by Michael Calcagno.
- 1978 System Map [ 76K]
The 1978 map also shows each line in its own color. Major changes:
elimination of the K train and the elimination of the 5, 6 and SS
service from South Ferry; C and E terminal switch. Hand drawn by
Michael Calcagno.
-
BMT Track Map - Eastern Division
[892K]
BMT Track Map - Southern Division
[811K]
Exact date uncertain but after 10/1977 and before 4/1985 based on the
cutback of the Jamaica El to Queens Blvd in October 1977; Queens
Blvd. itself closed in 4/1985. The Culver shuttle line is shown but
service on it terminated 1975.
1980-present
Single Line Diagrams
Various "single line diagrams". How to read a single line
diagram. These are in JPG format typically scanned from
photocopied reductions of the large diagrams and are thus, not the
best quality. Dates vary.
http://www.nycsubway.org/maps/historical.html
Copyright © 1995-2005 www.nycsubway.org.
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