Brooklyn Trackless Trolleys

(click to enlarge)

Brooklyn trackless trolley 3074 on the B65 route at Hamilton Ferry. Joe Testagrose collection.

Trolley Coach Roster

Coaches 1000-1007 were retired and scrapped in 1948, after being replaced by coaches of the 3000-3199 series.

Operations

The depots used by the coaches were Crosstown Depot (located at Commercial and Box Streets), and Bergen Street Depot (located at Bergen Street near Kingston Avenue). Both of these facilities are still being used by New York City Transit.

Route 23 - Cortelyou Road

• July 23, 1930: Avenue C trolley service replaced by combined trackless trolley and gas bus operation on an experimental basis. The route ran along Cortelyou Road between Flatbush and Coney Island Avenues. It was decided to continue trackless trolley service and six additional coaches were purchased in 1931.
• May 27, 1932: 16th Avenue trolley service operating along Church, Gravesend, and 16th Avenues to 62nd Street was terminated at 16th and Gravesend Avenue and the line was renamed Gravesend-Church. Cortelyou Road trackless trolley service was extended from Coney Island Avenue through Cortelyou Road to Dahill Road and along 16th Avenue and 62nd Street to New Utrecht Avenue.
• October 31, 1956: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 45 - St. John's Place

• August 24, 1947: Buses replace trolley cars.
• September 14, 1948: Trolley coaches replace buses between Boro Hall and Pennsylvania Avenue.
• May 1, 1954: Trolley coach service discontinued between Pennsylvania Avenue and Ralph Avenue.
• March 25, 1959: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 47 - Tompkins Avenue

• August 24, 1947: Buses replace trolley cars.
• November 19, 1948: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 48 - Lorimer Street

• December 14, 1947: Buses replace trolley cars.
• March 23, 1949: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 57 - Flushing Avenue

• November 21, 1949: Buses replace trolley cars.
• November 14, 1949: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• September 1, 1954: Terminus changed from Browne Place & Grand Avenue, Maspeth, to Flushing Avenue and 61st Street.
• September 21, 1955: Western terminus changed from Pearl and High Streets to Kent and Flushing Avenues.
• February 13, 1957: Western terminus changed from Kent and Flushing Avenues to Flushing Avenue and Navy Street.
• January 27, 1960: Western terminus changed from Flushing Avenue and Navy Street back to Pearl and High Streets.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 62 - Graham Avenue

• December 21, 1948: Buses replace trolley cars.
• December 11, 1949: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• September 22, 1954: Section between Box Street and Long Island City discontinued.
• September 21, 1955: Western terminus changed to Kent and Flushing Avenues.
• February 13, 1957: Western terminus changed to Flushing Avenue and Navy Street.
• January 27, 1960: Western terminus changed to Pearl and High Streets.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 65 - Bergen Street

• July 20, 1947: Buses replace trolley cars.
• October 17, 1948: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Wire Map

Brooklyn Trackless Trolley Map

Documents

Thanks to Joe Korman for these.

Brooklyn Trackless Trolley Diagram and Specs

B&QT The Electric Bus (Brochure) (PDF)

Photo Gallery

Five Random Images
Image 153287 (229k, 1024x676) Collection of: Joe Testagrose	Image 153294 (189k, 1024x670) Photo by: Harry Pinsker	Image 156106 (203k, 1024x683) Collection of: David Pirmann Location: Williamsburg Bridge Plaza	Image 157011 (249k, 1044x703) Photo by: Brian J. Cudahy	Image 157015 (125k, 720x509) Photo by: Brian J. Cudahy

Page Credits

Operations/timeline information from press release prepared by the Public Information and Community Relations Department, New York City Transit Authority, May 1965.