In 1875, the Rapid Transit Commission granted the
Gilbert Elevated Railway Company the right to construct the railway from
Battery Park to the
Harlem River along
Second Avenue. The commission also granted the Gilbert Elevated Railway Company the right to operate the
Sixth Avenue Elevated and soon afterward the Gilbert Elevated Railway changed its name to the Metropolitan Elevated Railway. Around 1900, the line was
electrified. Between 1914 and 1916 construction was undertaken to install a third track to provide express service on the line during peak hours. On July 23, 1917, Second Avenue El service over the
Queensboro Bridge to Queens began. The Second Avenue El did not run entirely on Second Avenue. Its southern terminus was above
Park Row adjacent to
City Hall. From there it ran above Park Row to
Chatham Square, where it had a junction with the
Third Avenue El, then continued east above
Division Street. It turned north above
Allen Street to
Houston Street, where it continued north above
First Avenue, then turned left on
23rd Street, then ran north on
Second Avenue to 129th Street. At that point it rejoined with the Third Avenue El and crossed the
Harlem River into the Bronx. As of 1934 Second Avenue service operated as follows: • Second Avenue Local - day and evenings 129th Street to South Ferry, alternate evening and Sunday trains 129th Street to City Hall. No all-night service was operated. • Second Avenue Express - Bronx Park to City Hall weekday and Saturday AM peak southbound, City Hall to Fordham Road or Tremont Avenue weekday PM peak northbound, also Freeman Street to City Hall via West Farms Road Line, making express stops in Manhattan. • Second Avenue-Queens - South Ferry to Willets Point Blvd weekday and Saturday AM peak, City Hall to Willets Point Blvd weekday midday and PM peak, 57th Street to Willets Point Blvd evenings and Sundays. In addition City Hall to Astoria Weekday AM peak and midday and Saturday daytime, South Ferry to Astoria weekday PM peak, 57th Street to Astoria evenings and Sundays. Midday and Saturday trains used the express tracks, weekday peak trains made all stops. On April 23, 1939 express service was inaugurated weekday and Saturday daytime in Queens between Queensboro Plaza and 111th Street, and elevated trains were cut back to 111th Street. On September 8, 1939 Astoria trains were rerouted in the weekday PM peak to City Hall. The Second Avenue Elevated was closed north of 59th Street June 12, 1940. Evening and Sunday Queens trains were extended to City Hall or South Ferry. On May 19, 1941 evening and Sunday service was discontinued. Finally, on June 13, 1942 all service was discontinued. The
M15 bus, which runs along much of the IRT Second Avenue Elevated Line's route, is one of the busiest bus routes in New York City. However, it does not carry as many passengers as a rapid transit line, and transfers to rapid transit stations can only be made using surface connections. The
Second Avenue Subway, a rapid transit route running under Second Avenue, has been under consideration since 1919. The demolition of the IRT Second Avenue Line was in anticipation of the subway's construction. and a second phase to
Harlem–125th Street is being planned. == Station listing ==