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BMT Myrtle Avenue Line

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BMT Myrtle Avenue Line at Central Avenue, R-160A-1 no. 8632 on "M". Photo by Richard Panse, September 2008.

Overview

Today's Myrtle Ave. line is a shadow of a former line which ran from downtown Brooklyn (Jay Street) to Broadway/Myrtle upper level where it continued along this right of way. Original service patterns had the line continuing past Jay St. to Park Row in lower Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge. Through 1959, the line south of Broadway was operated with old Brooklyn Union/BRT open gate cars, then until 1968 using the BMT-modified "Q" cars. This line was the last in the city still using wooden-body el cars. The northern portion of the line (north of Broadway) was rebuilt to heavier standards and some service ran from the Broadway line north to Metropolitan Ave. Today's M train runs from Metropolitan to Broadway/Myrtle lower level at all times. During rush hours and middays it continues along the Jamaica line and Williamsburg Bridge, then via the Chrystie St. Connection to the IND 6th Avenue Line. It then crosses into Queens via the 53rd Street Tunnel and runs local along Queens Boulevard to Forest Hills. Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn M service was discontinued for the new Midtown and Queens M service in June, 2010.

Description of Route

Broadway-Myrtle Avenue Connection. Incline from Myrtle Avenue toward Broadway. PSC report 1914.
Broadway-Myrtle Avenue Connection. Forms and reinforcing rods, reinforced concrete construction for track deck between Broadway and Myrtle Avenue. PSC report 1914.

Opening/Closing Dates

StationOpenedClosed
Abandoned/Demolished Portion
Adams Street2/13/18883/5/1944
Bridge-Jay Street2/13/188810/4/1969
Navy Street2/13/188810/4/1969
Vanderbilt Avenue2/13/188810/4/1969
Washington Avenue2/13/188810/4/1969
Grand Avenue2/13/18881/21/1953
Franklin Avenue12/19/188910/4/1969
Nostrand Avenue12/19/188910/4/1969
Tompkins Avenue12/19/188910/4/1969
Sumner Avenue12/19/188910/4/1969
Broadway (Upper Level)12/19/188910/4/1969
Present Myrtle Line
Central Avenue12/19/1889--
Knickerbocker Avenue12/19/1889--
Wyckoff Avenue12/19/1889--
Seneca Avenue8/9/1915--
Forest Avenue8/9/1915--
Fresh Pond Road8/9/1915--
Metropolitan Avenue8/9/1915--


Route Map

Adams Street
</svg>
Bridge-Jay Street
</svg>
Navy Street
</svg>
Vanderbilt Avenue
</svg>
Washington Avenue
</svg>
Grand Avenue
</svg>
Franklin Avenue
</svg>
Nostrand Avenue
</svg>
Tompkins Avenue
</svg>
Sumner Avenue
</svg>
Broadway (Upper Level)
</svg>
Central Avenue
</svg>
Knickerbocker Avenue
</svg>
Wyckoff AvenueL
</svg>
Seneca Avenue
</svg>
Forest Avenue
</svg>
Fresh Pond Road
</svg>
Metropolitan Avenue

Track Map

calcagno-1969-myrtle.gif

Station by Station

Central Avenue

M


Photo by: Doug Grotjahn

Collection of: George Conrad Collection
More Images: 1-50 51-91

Two tracks, two side platforms. The platforms are very narrow on the north end, and a small wooden mezzanine. There is a crossunder. The northbound platform's southern half has vertical windscreen with a small gap near the top and no windscreen on the northern half. The southbound platform features vertical windscreen on the northern half. Evidence present at this station leads me to a theory that the southern mezzanine was removed. Evidence includes a patch in the windscreen, suddenly narrowed platforms, and a patch in the concrete where the stairs would have been.

Artwork Generation Dynamica (George Bates, 2013)

Knickerbocker Avenue

M


Photo by: Joe Testagrose

Collection of: David Pirmann
More Images: 1-50 51-82

Two tracks, two side platforms. This station features a possible removed southern mezzanine. There is a crossunder. Fully renovated in 2013.

Artwork Sorry, no artwork here.

Wyckoff Avenue

M


Photo by: Philip D'Allesandro

Photo by: Roberto C. Tobar
More Images: 1-50 51-100 101-133

This interesting station has two island platforms with two side tracks and a gap in the middle which once was a third trackway, now railed off. In the center of the station the two island platforms are joined into one wide platform with two stairways down to the mezzanine. After the stairs the center of the platform turns to wood for a brief section before ending and we once again have two island platforms. A look over the rail revealed a section of concrete cross ties for a third trackway. A passageway leads to a long escalator to descend to the BMT Canarsie line. A close observation reveals evidence where street stairs from this level were removed and this mezzanine reduced in size. After leaving this station the line narrows to two tracks.

More on the third track mystery, from a Transit Museum tour of the area hosted by Joe Cunningham: This stretch of the line was originally built as two tracks and the third track was added later, but the center track was never used in service. It ran from Broadway/Myrtle to Myrtle/Wyckoff where the line became two tracks. Myrtle/Wyckoff was originally two isalnd platforms. When the center track was finally removed in 1946, pipe railings were put to prevent falls where the center track used to be. Eventually, wooden planking was placed in the space to make one extra wide island platform. The wood is rotting and is being replaced again by pipe railings.

Artwork From Earth To Sky (Cadence Giersbach, 2007)

Transfer to BMT Canarsie Line

Seneca Avenue

M


Photo by: Richard Panse

Collection of: George Conrad Collection
More Images: 1-50 51-95

This station has an island platform, with a mezzanine to the fare control and the street. In a note of comfort, there is a heater in the mezzanine which looks like it runs on steam or kerosene. This station also has a removed south mezzanine. A glance over the edge of the platform reveals hanger brackets where the mezzanine would have been. This station was fully renovated in 2013.

Artwork Dom (Variations) (Laura F. Gibellini, 2014)

Forest Avenue

M


Collection of: George Conrad Collection

Photo by: John Dooley
More Images: 1-50 51-57

Island platform, two tracks, with a mezzanine to the fare control and the street. A south mezzanine at this station has been removed. This station was fully renovated in 2013.

Artwork Dom (Variations) (Laura F. Gibellini, 2014)

Fresh Pond Road

M


Photo by: Robbie Rosenfeld

Photo by: William J. Madden
More Images: 1-50 51-100 101-150 151-187

This station features an extremely wide island platform, originally built to handle transfer crowds to the BRT trolley depot (now a bus depot). This station is on an embankment. There is a full mezzanine, with the south stairs descending to the street part way with ramps to the bottom. The north exit is at grade level. The Fresh Pond Yard is to the northwest of the station. This station was fully renovated in 2013.

Artwork Dom (Variations) (Laura F. Gibellini, 2014)

Metropolitan Avenue

M


Collection of: George Conrad Collection

Photo by: Robert Mencher
More Images: 1-50 51-100 101-150 151-190

Two tracks with one island platform. Bumper blocks at the north end. A station house is at the north end of the platform. The station house is red brick with tile floor. The exit to street is at grade level. A tower is at the south end of the station. This station was rebuilt in 1974 after a fire destroyed the original wooden platform and station house.

Station by Station, Abandoned/Demolished Portion

Adams Street


Collection of: Joe Testagrose

Collection of: George Conrad Collection
More Images: 1-7

Bridge-Jay Street


Collection of: David Pirmann

Collection of: George Conrad Collection
More Images: 1-12

Navy Street


Collection of: George Conrad Collection

Collection of: George Conrad Collection
More Images: 1-15

Vanderbilt Avenue


Photo by: Steve Zabel

Collection of: Joe Testagrose
More Images: 1-8

Washington Avenue


Photo by: Ed Davis, Sr.

Collection of: David Pirmann
More Images: 1-10

Grand Avenue


Collection of: Joe Testagrose

Collection of: Frank Pfuhler
More Images: 1-16

Franklin Avenue


Photo by: Joe Testagrose

Collection of: Brooklyn Public Library (via Herbert Maruska)
More Images: 1-6

Nostrand Avenue


Photo by: Harry Pinsker

Photo by: Brian J. Cudahy
More Images: 1-3

Tompkins Avenue


Collection of: Joe Testagrose

Photo by: Joe Testagrose
More Images: 1-3

Sumner Avenue


Collection of: Joe Testagrose

Collection of: David Pirmann
More Images: 1-6

Broadway


Photo by: Yoon Jae Lee

Collection of: George Conrad Collection
More Images: 1-50 51-56

This station, also known as Myrtle/Broadway, has an in-service lower level described on the BMT Nassau Street-Jamaica Line page. The upper level, crossing the lower level at an angle, consists of an island platform in between two trackways, formerly served by the Myrtle Avenue elevated line, which ran south of here to Myrtle Ave. and Jay St. The section south of Broadway was closed in 1969 and the upper level station was abandoned. Stairways from the upper level platform led down to both of the lower level platforms. The upper level platform was used as a crossover for passengers on the Jamaica Line, even after abandonment of the Myrtle El service, but this has long been discontinued. A tower for the Myrtle El and junction was on the upper level but this too has been closed. The trackways and steel structure continue some ways south of Broadway.

For detail of the track configuration in this area see the Myrtle Avenue Area Track Map.









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