Fulton Street Line (elevated)

The Fulton Street Line or Kings County Line was an elevated rail line mostly in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. It ran above Fulton Street from Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn in Downtown Brooklyn east to East New York, and then south on Van Sinderen Avenue (southbound) and Snediker Avenue (northbound), east on Pitkin Avenue, north on Euclid Avenue, and east on Liberty Avenue to Ozone Park, Queens. The portion in Brooklyn has been torn down, but most of the line in Queens has been connected to the New York City Subway and is now part of the IND Fulton Street Line, an underground line that replaced the elevated line in Brooklyn. The structure was the main line of the Kings County Elevated Railway, first opened in 1888.

History

The Kings County Elevated Railway opened the line, from dual western terminals at Fulton Ferry and Brooklyn Bridge (Sands Street)cite BDE|title=Trains to Run|md=April 21|y=1888|page=6] east to Nostrand Avenue, on April 24, 1888. [cite BDE|title=Heavy Travel|md=April 24|y=1888|page=6] It was extended east to Albany Avenue on May 30, 1888; Albany Avenue was an eastbound-only station, and the westbound station just beyond at Sumner Avenue had yet to be completed, so it temporarily served both directions.cite BDE|title=For Decoration Day Travel|md=May 29|y=1888|page=6] The line was further extended to Ralph Avenue on September 20, 1888cite BDE|md=September 9|y=1888|page=8] and completed to BMT Fulton Street Line at the west end of East New York in early November.Fact|date=February 2007

The Fulton Elevated Railroad was incorporated on July 6, 1888 to build a disconnected line from Greenpoint south through Williamsburg to Kent and Myrtle Avenues, and to extend the Kings County Elevated east beyond Rockaway Avenue to the city line. [cite BDE|title=Fulton Elevated Incorporated|md=July 7|y=1888|page=2] [cite BDE|title=Fulton Elevated Railroad|md=July 9|y=1888|page=2] The former was not built, but construction soon began on the latter. The first piece, over Fulton Street and Williams Place, opened on July 4, 1889, connecting with the Long Island Rail Road's Manhattan Crossing station at the new terminal at Atlantic Avenue.cite BDE|title=The Fulton Street Elevated|md=June 28|y=1889|page=6] It was extended further, over Snediker Avenue and Pitkin Avenue, to Van Siclen Avenue on November 18, 1889; due to a shortage of wood for a storage yard, a temporary shuttle was operated between Pennsylvania Avenue and Van Siclen Avenue until mid-December. [cite BDE|title=Will be Opened Monday|md=November 12|y=1889|page=6] [cite BDE|title=Adding a Mile|md=November 16|y=1889|page=3] cite BDE|title=Hats Tossed Up|md=November 18|y=1889|page=6] [cite BDE|title=Kings County Road's Shuttle Train|md=December 10|y=1889|page=6] Construction above Pitkin Avenue progressed to Linwood Street on February 22, 1892cite BDE|title=Another L Station Opened|md=February 22|y=1892|page=4] and Montauk Avenue on March 21, 1892.cite BDE|title=Another L Station Opened|md=March 21|y=1892|page=6] The line was completed to Grant Avenue at City Line on July 16, 1894, with the opening of a structure above Pitkin Avenue, Euclid Avenue, and Liberty Avenue.cite BDE|title=Extending the Fulton Street Elevated|md=July 13|y=1894|page=10]

The Kings County Elevated leased the Brooklyn and Brighton Beach Railroad on February 5, 1896. [cite BDE|title=Brighton Beach Road Leased|md=February 5|y=1896|page=14] A two-block elevated connection between Franklin Avenue station and the Brighton Beach Line's Bedford station, including a new station at Dean Street, opened on August 15, 1896, and the Kings County Elevated began operating trains between the Brooklyn Bridge (Sands Street) and Brighton Beach. [cite BDE|title=New Route to Coney Island|md=August 14|y=1896|page=12] [cite BDE|title=First Trains to Brighton|md=August 14|y=1896|page=7]

The final extension, from Grant Avenue east to Lefferts Avenue, was built under the Dual Contracts and opened on September 25, 1915.New York Times, [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40B15F73B5812738DDDAF0A94D1405B858DF1D3 New Elevated Line Opened for Queens] , September 26, 1915, page 7] Trains last ran on the line west of Rockaway Avenue on May 31, 1940;New York Times, [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0D11F63A54107A93C3A9178DD85F448485F9 Last Train is Run on Fulton St. 'El'] , June 1, 1940] a free transfer was provided to the IND Fulton Street Line at Rockaway Avenue and a new "Fulton–Lexington Avenue" service via the Lexington Avenue Elevated west of East New York was introduced.Fact|date=February 2007 The line west of Hudson Street was closed on April 26, 1956, and IND Fulton Street Line (NYCS|A) trains began using the line east of Hudson Street on April 29. Fact|date=February 2007

ervice patterns

The primary service pattern was a simple one-end-to-the-other operation.

tation listing

Most Fulton Street trains left the line at Sands Street and ended at Park Row rather than Fulton Ferry.

References