Subway Tour: Franklin Shuttle

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Filmed and edited by Mark Perelmuter
Taken on June 4th, 2015.

[@bluer68]

I remember back in the mid-90s when the Franklin Shuttle used R32 cars and when Dean Street station use to be open

[@DJHammersTrains]

+bluer68 Cool! I never got a chance to do that.

[@TheLordAI]

bluer68 remember also around then Park Place still had that wooden platform?

[@aaronsamuel2823]

I have a question what is Dean street

[@bluer68]

Aaron Samuel here’s the link en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Street_station

[@aaronsamuel2823]

@@bluer68 why did it close in 1899?

[@mce5420]

Btw, Park Pl station is the only station in the system that is served by only a shuttle and no other services.

[@SOSOwner]

Park Place In Brooklyn Is Only Served By A Shuttle, Park Place In Manhattan Is Served By The 2, 3

[@luisl2838]

Park place in Brooklyn is only served by a shuttle Park place in Manhattan is served by 2 3 trains

[@jaydottt_transitfanner]

@@luisl2838 that's literally what the other guy said what's wrong with you

[@RocketShipSquid]

Park Place In Brooklyn Is Only Served By A Shuttle, Park Place In Manhattan Is Served By The 2, 3

[@Liyte]

Park Place In Brooklyn Is Only Served By A Shuttle, Park Place In Manhattan Is Served By The 2,3

[@usatran]

Nicely done. Appreciate the history. I lived in the area until the early 1970s so I remember when the Franklin Ave Shuttle used to run 6-car trains to Stillwell Ave during the summers to ease the passenger loads to Brighton Beach and Coney Island.

[@blainecountysherrif4542]

When I saw that RTS child memories came back

[@TheOldNeighborhood]

Enjoyed the video. The Franklin Shuttle is a shadow of what it was. Franklin Avenue station "horseshoe" platform gone, paper transfers to the IND Fulton Street line gone, Dean Street gone, single tracked through Park Place, Park Place station completely redone with the adjacent pedestrian walkway between Park Place and Sterling Place closed off, you can now connect to the IRT at the Botanic Gardens, limited viewing from the Carroll Street footbridge, all the oddball rolling stock replaced by a 2 car R68. So many changes since the 1950's.

[@GoodnightIrieMon]

I agree. As a young railfan, I remember being intrigued by this short route. The elegantly deteriorating stations….the wooden platforms….Dean St….the remnant of the Fulton St elevated…..trains running in opposite directions for the full route. It was amazing for a railfan!

[@garylyons9232]

Beautiful. Brought back memories from 50 years ago, when I was going to Brooklyn college. Thanks much. Gary L. from Pa.

[@DJHammersTrains]

+Gary Lyons Glad you enjoyed! Be sure to subscribe!

[@rodneybourne17]

The entire line was double tracked from Prospect Park to Franklin Ave. with the Park Place station having an island platform. The stop after the Franklin Ave. terminus was the Dean Street station which was demolished during reconfiguration of the line. The Botanical Garden station was also shortened during that time.

[@jamescapra5081]

Thanks. I kind of remembered taking this Shuttle in the 1950's as a kid,going to the Brooklyn Dodger Game at Ebbetts Field.I was travelling from Queens.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

I don't know why I needed to use the Franklin Ave shuttle, but it was the only time I ever did and it was back in the late '80s. It was amazingly rickety, probably the only time I didn't feel safe on a train line. Great work. At least they salvaged some of the line. We could've had an even greater system but politicians are notoriously short-sighted and corrupt, so my taxpayer dollars never make it to where they're needed.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Rudolph Guarnacci They should’ve connected to the Crosstown G Line as well.

[@usatran]

Back when I was a kid growing up on Monroe St and attending St. Peter Claver School, I used to take the shuttle everywhere. Imagine a 6-car train of BMT Standards signed up to go to Coney Island. On Saturdays, that was the service pattern for the beach crowds. The Brighton Line trains ran on the express tracks to Brighton Beach. The 7-Franklin Ave Line (as it was known then) ran all the way to Stillwell Ave.

[@SpikessDaGoD187]

Should've talked about the station that used to be there - Dean Street.

[@DARTHBLUNT713]

Exactly

[@Musicradio77Network]

Dean St. was the station where it usually stops was closed down in 1995 by the MTA, but it was reopened in 1999. Franklin Ave. Shuttle S Train had four stops including Franklin Ave., Park Place, Botanic Garden, and Prospect Park, and right near the Prospect Park Station is the site of the wreck of the Malbone St. Tunnel of 1912.

[@oluhamilton2121]

THANK YOU!!

[@blue9multimediagroup]

@@Musicradio77Network no it closed in 1995. The line was then rebuilt without it and reopened in 1999.

[@paulrouda90]

When I was a kid (late 40's, early 50's) the Franklin shuttle always used the Southbound outermost track at Prospect Park. After discharging passengers, it would pull north and cross over the "Express Tracks" (today's B and Q). Then reverse and return to Prospect Park on the Northbound outermost track. In the summer, Franklin's ran express to Brighton Beach, stopping at Church, Newkirk, Kings Highway and Sheepshead Bay. To my knowledge, Franklin trains *always* used BMT standards. Us kids were convinced that when continuing to Brighton Beach, Franklins ran faster than regular Brightons (even when the Brighton express used Standards).

[@alankanen3600]

No mention is made of the Dean Street stastion which was removed from service years ago. I am very glad to see the redo of the shuttle.In the past the worst vandalized cars were run on that line. The other platform at Franklin Avenue was as in bad coindition as the rolling stock. Traveling at night was considered an adventure. It once was the worst of the three shuttle trains in the New York subway system.

[@Graham-ce2yk]

A nicely edited and informative video. I would agree with your comments about Park Place Station, the two biggest mistakes the MTA made when the rebuilt the line was firstly the short platform lenghts they chose and secondly not to restore double tracking for the full length of the line, it's a criminal waste of operational flexibility. Almost makes one wish that someone would set up a kickstarter or similar to fund a new rebuild to fix the misakes...

[@BingCherry11]

These train rides are so much fun!

[@Bassotronics]

Awesome! Each station is unique and makes the ride a fun experience. You never know what you will see or encounter next. And this obviously applies to all train stations in N.Y.

[@JorgeCat78]

13:15 it is only used whenever a certain General Order is in effect, taking out O2 track. But, at night, one train does use it to platform onto the Southbound side, when that train is being layed up (or stored,) or if it needs to be sent to Coney Island Yard for work. I've actually operated on that track - I just love operating over growing weeds!

[@dixondiaz8448]

Good subtitles. I miss the old shuttles like the Culver Shuttle, the Polo Grounds Shuttle, and the ones before my time, like the Fifth Avenue El shuttle from 38th to 65th Street in Bay Ridge, and Manhattan’s 34th Street and 42nd Street shuttles.

[@sonicboy678]

I'm honestly surprised you didn't mention anything about R68 2923, especially since it appeared several times.

[@jayreal1971]

wow i remember took the s train to the museum back in the 70s on a school trip was like i think 7 OR 8 YEARS OLD

[@michaelleggett3980]

In the early 1960s, I recall taking the SS when it was BMT 7 & The AB Standards formed a 3 car train. Those cars were long for their time(67 feet).

[@michaelricky2401]

Franklin Shuttle has 9 total cars, 2916-2924; all are R-68 Single cars. The punch at Botanic Gardens must be used as the tower machine at DeKalb Avenue that controls the line is on Automatic at all times, failing to punch makes the train sit before the switch until the T/O walks back and punches. The only time the track O1 punch is used is for a layup.

[@goodnyc]

Good tour but the former Dean Street Station wasn't mentioned.

[@kingofbehfist6730]

On the sign in park place, there should be a light on each side indicating the direction of the train and where it's headed to for people who rush onto the train after it has stopped, to prevent people from boarding the wrong train

[@blue9multimediagroup]

Motormen announce which train it is. Plus it's short line that if you go the wrong way, you can come right back in about 20min.

[@businessbuilding1]

Because of you, my 2017 NYCT tour included this route. Really enjoyed riding it so thanks for the tips :)

[@BIRDIECHANNEL]

AWESOME! one thing, you forgot to mention that there used to be another station, dean st, but was closed because of low ridership

[@anonymousanonymous7250]

BIRDIECHANNEL The only thing remaining is an oddly placed lamppost.

[@BIRDIECHANNEL]

yeah, but still cool to mention!

[@anonymousanonymous7250]

BIRDIECHANNEL I agree

[@APotatoCommuter]

Consumers Park also used to exist too. Closed by the existence of Botanic Garden

[@TheLordAI]

I was gonna mention that about Dean st too my aunt still lives down the street from that stop. I still remember when Park Place still had a wooden platform

[@dcrbmwc]

I really love your annotations on your tour videos...eg. let's take the next train, or some such.

[@sabrinamerrick1271]

Love on the Franklin Avenue shuttle.

[@ZeacorZeppelin]

This was the greatest tour video of the New York City subway line and passive aggressive Subway user video I've ever seen

[@gus196666]

i love NYC subway trains , thank you for your videos are very fascinated

[@fernandosalas8589]

Lived in NYC a long time and never heard of the s shuttle in Brooklyn and 2 car train need to ride the s shuttle for the fun of it. I thought I got on every train in the city thanks, my problem is I live in Florida now, but must go back to ride this s shuttle so I can tell people I got on every train in NYC.👍🚞🛤

[@BingCherry11]

I used take this train to the Botanic Garden because the Franklin Shuttle was more convenient and a shorter ride. However, it is true you had to walk some distance but it was really not that far.

[@sydneytrainsvlogs]

Thank you for this video :) I'm a rail fan from Australia and I have over 1,900 videos on my channel. I want to expand to overseas locations with NY being one of the top places on my list :)

[@carloctave]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I've always felt that the shuttle should have 3 carts. Then again, they'd probably have to build a longer platform.

[@cats0182]

+carloctave It can't have 3 cars. The cars are semi-permanetly mated pairs. It's either 2 or additional pairs of two.

[@the_earlybirf1170]

@masterangel 45 actually in the 1950's you could fit 3 and sometimes 4 due to older BMT cars

[@the_earlybirf1170]

@masterangel 45 yeah you should have seen how bad the line was in the late 70's through early 80's

[@christherailfan5851]

@@cats0182 these cars are not permanent coupled together, just like the R62’s and the R62A’s

[@Swampnutz10303]

Used to ride this line (3 trains) to get to school before the rehabilitation. That transfer was the worst part of my commute. Oh man, those paper tickets!

[@nickrod9526]

I remember when this was a two track system! If i recall, after Dean St, it switched over to the current track. I remember going to my grandparents house and just watching the abandoned platform across the street while waiting for the train. Looks weird with just one track.

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

FACT : When I was young, me and the classmates from school or when I was in YMCA summer camp, I've always take the S Train to go to the Prospect Park Zoo! : )

[@robertgerber2533]

Cool. I think I was on that line once in the late 60’s

[@randallates5435]

What a neat tour! I like how you mix subway operations with history. Lots of neat history tidbits are in your videos.

[@MrAtrain1]

Great stuff- Love The Franklin Ave. Shuttle!

[@TG4164]

12:40 Lol i hate when that happens

[@alfyryan6949]

I have to say, it's incredibly charming

[@thomasmann9216]

Thank you. It was nice to learn about the history of the line.

[@cats0182]

I presume the "punch-box" is used when the train is going to be taken out of service for maintenance and has to be routed through the old Malbone Street Tunnel.

[@RayTac23]

Nice! I Have Not Been On This Short Stretch Of Track For Around 6-7 Years! I Going To Have To Pay A Visit Over The Summer Of This Year!

[@kevinbrooks6078]

Thank you Sir, as always you have done a great job....Be safe!

[@huncho1057]

Do more tours, i love this

[@DJHammersTrains]

Jay Jay Any suggestions?

[@esaulmendoza267]

Dj Hammers Smith Street-9th Street

[@huncho1057]

Broadway junction complex 42 street area And also i think you should do a video series where you should do like a tour about specific lines. Talk about the history behind the lines and take us to each station on the line. I would absolutley love that.

[@PeruvianPotato]

@@DJHammersTrains 50th Street Station and Myrtle-Wyckoff Sts.

[@tanishaglasgow8098]

Wow

[@EdGreenberg]

Very nice work. Thank you, DJ. Wish we could get a railfan-window view, but that seems to be a think of the past.

[@derrickwilson9039]

I didn’t know much about the franklin ave shuttle Lots of information thanks great video!

[@JorgeCat78]

8:49 actually, some parts of the IRT still have route request boxes, or punch boxes. One example is 125 on the Lexington Avenue corridor.

[@IngaHicks]

Great video on the Brooklyn Franklin Ave shuttle

[@cats0182]

As I remember the history, the line branched off the Fulton Street EL at the latter's Franklin Avenue station. There was no Franklin Avenue station on this line at that time. In 1918, a BRT train traveling on the Fulton Street El from lower Manhattan to Coney Island used those tracks, oversped the curve in the Malbone Street tunnell, crashed and killed hundreds. It was supposedly the worst crash in subway history. I guess the tunnel is still there. Maybe as a silent testament to that horrible evening.

[@DJHammersTrains]

+Cats01 That tunnel is still used for revenue service. One train each night uses the tunnel to get to the southbound local track at Prospect Park. Here is a video of a train arriving on that track: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4S4oXt7brJma7s

[@cats0182]

+Dj Hammers Thanks. That is interesting.

[@RedArrow73]

Think of it as the Original Brighton Line, because it was.

[@Musicradio77Network]

Malone St. Tunnel was the worst accident in subway history.

[@purplesword5536]

I love these videos about the shuttle..could you do one on the long defunct culver shuttle in Boro park? the line originated at the 9th ave stop on the west end line now the "D" train but for yrs it was the "B". THe stairs to the lower level where the shuttle berthed still remain..

[@bobexplora987]

I really love these tour videos, very informative and well done. I wish for this video you did something about the demolished dean street station. Maybe included a photo or stood around the street level area. But still nice job!

[@Gabriel-bj1ut]

If ridership on the Shuttle increases the platforms could be expanded to 3 or even 4 cars. They could also extend the shuttle to link the G line at Bedford nostrand, stopping at one stop inbetween

[@blue9multimediagroup]

It's a feeder line. There are other lines that do the heavy work.

[@smrtc651productions]

good thing that the old trains in NYCT are not breaking

[@PeteDJPJ]

I always like to "Hear" the announcement here.

[@steveember8972]

Very informative and nice video, but can you do anything about the serious phase distortion in the soundtrack? Sounds like it's being modulated by a flushing toilet! Finally ended up watching with volume turned down.

[@larryrwendelljr4465]

Nice editing and history lesson DJ Hammers! :o)

[@DJHammersTrains]

Thanks!

[@larryrwendelljr4465]

Dj Hammers Your welcome, DJ! :o)

[@AjaniDGleason]

Dj Hammers you can notice the old platform at Botanic Garden when it was 4 cars

[@DJHammersTrains]

+Ajani D. Gleason Yeah, the remains are still there.

[@AjaniDGleason]

Dj Hammers this rehabilitation was kind of retarded since this the second most used shuttle line. The 42 street shuttle has 3 tracks. The Rockaway Park Shuttle has two and this shuttle has 1 and a half tracks lol

[@razahbennett6810]

+ADG Da Railfanner hikk

[@Musicradio77Network]

I wish the Franklin Ave. Shuttle S train will have new OMNY machines to be adding on all 4 stations from Franklin Ave., Park Place, Botanic Garden, and Prospect Park stations will all have new OMNY machines.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

MTN Productions OMNY installations have been put on hold due to the virus, so that’s going to have to wait.

[@bakerlonian]

What an enjoyable video. Entertaining and informative. Well done.

[@samuelitooooo]

A modern-day LIRR to Coney Island would be interesting to see. You keep mentioning that there's room for two tracks, but would two platforms fit in this space?

[@Slickmickyoyo97]

Damn DJ Hammers, these videos are freakin fantastic. We're lucky to have you posting them, thanks!

[@DJHammersTrains]

+MP So glad you like them! Be sure to encourage people to subscribe!!

[@luisl2838]

MP it’s not Dj hammers it’s Mark perelmuter who filmed this

[@adminrobloxgameyt9868]

you rock Dj

[@dzy01]

That last platform was really narrow! That could be a safety issue. That is the problem with crowding at the TTC's Bloor-Yonge station lower platform (Line 2). During rush hours, it's really dangerous - it's already the busiest station in North America - about 400,000 passengers use the station (both Lines 1 & 2) on a regular weekday. The same used to be at Union Station until the second platform was added. I know for sure, this will be a problem at Yonge-Eglinton on Line 1 once the Crosstown line (Line 5) opens in a few years time.

[@RedArrow73]

One must remember the car bodies of the Gate Cars involved in Malbone were built, above the floor, about like a china closet. So picture a china closet with 80+ ppl packed inside telescoping over another china closet with an equal number of live bodies inside IT and you get the picture.

[@nickrod9526]

Anyone else remember when Dean St had a wooden platform? Lolol.

[@sethlewin7815]

In case anyone's interested, I posted a series of pix of the shuttle from October 31, 1999, the day my last relatives moved out of Brooklyn and ending my regular visits to the borough. They can be reached at www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/brook.htm#fas and also include a few pix of a work train at the Kings Highway station of the Brighton line (now the B/Q line).

[@TheChicagoL]

Two car trains on the New York Subway system??? To see trains with a length of only two cars on the CTA, is customary. But to see a consist less than 4 cars in rev service on ANY part of the New York transit system just seems almost unreal.

[@jesussavesnyc]

i remember when this shuttle train used to stop on Dean Street Platform Station in the early 90's yet in 1995 they Demolished it, Eliminate it, & Destroyed it! aint no sign of the Dean Street Stop at all as if it never existed!

[@BenTheMiner]

Also thanks for the info!

[@carloctave]

Ok. I watched the whole video and even the uploader touched on the platform thing.

[@bigcripgs9373]

My Favorite Robbery Train 🚆 In The 90's

[@nycitymodeltransitsystemby5785]

Nice Video, DJ

[@blue9multimediagroup]

Why would they extend the Q onto a single track stub line?

[@Trainguy198]

What no

[@blue9multimediagroup]

@@Trainguy198 Listen to what they said in the video LoL.

[@dennisdriscoll7830]

97 is the official toll!

[@scharkalvin]

Can you see what remains of the Dean Street station?

[@DrKO2453]

Very well done! What video equipment do you use?

[@SpikessDaGoD187]

Great video though!

[@ginamarquezpacheco8845]

Hmmmmmmmmmm was the time to come back with The shuttle train

[@ezeikelnewton9107]

Why is there two track inside of the track?

[@bmfine1]

good tour but you failed to mention the former Dean st Station demolished during the rebuild. this station could be seen in the movie Money Train .

[@THXEB-nj5wr]

that was the Franklin/Fulton terminal station before rehab in money train not dean street.

[@luisl2838]

Mark didn’t tour it because it doesn’t exist now

[@tanishaglasgow8098]

Took u to the Resruants?

[@taniaakhter900]

only 2 cars?

[@arielgonzalez5296]

Tania Akter Yes.

[@BenTheMiner]

Tania Akter Now a days I see a random three car. Someone explain this please.

[@arielgonzalez5296]

BenTheMiner / Minecraft & More Its only 2 cars for the Franklin Avenue shuttle trains.

[@Swampnutz10303]

Used to be 4 when I rode it as a kid.

[@arielgonzalez5296]

Swampnutz10303 Really?

[@tanishaglasgow8098]

What trains make for lunch?

[@rafaelasuncionXD2000216]

Dj Hammers In total how many cars does the Franklin av shuttle have? I know there are two cars, but I mean how many in TOTAL on the Franklin Av line

[@rimidas3690]

+rafael asuncionXD (broniesrock285) it Only has two.

[@APotatoCommuter]

There are two trains with two cars. So, 4.

[@blue9multimediagroup]

They use any regular R68, but regular use about 20 cars set aside for the line.

[@agr804]

you forgot about Dean st

[@NYC_Ale]

PERIDOT 2004AGR56 there was no dean st that was in the IRT

[@sgtpepah4260]

There was. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Street_(BMT_Franklin_Avenue_Line) www.google.com/search?q=dean+st+nyc+subway&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS703US704&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=633&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi5uq-GjbbRAhWED8AKHfzrBjUQ_AUICCgD&dpr=1.5#imgrc=w2z5YxIqtF2deM%3A

[@agr804]

Thank you

[@luisl2838]

It closed because people didn’t pay fare.

[@blue9multimediagroup]

@@NYC_Ale and this isn't IRT. It's IND.

[@Din9r_]

Dang only 2 cars that must be just the unwanted train cars smh

[@sethlewin7815]

No, those are relatively modern ones. However in days past there'd be all sorts of odds and ends of cars running on the shutttle, and the old BMT lines had quite a selection of them.

[@TheLocalLt]

Seth Lewin I mean they aren’t old but R68s aren’t exactly the current generation of cars

[@BritanniaPacific]

Gaming With RS the Times Square shuttle is two cars long too, but much shorter

[@Vxllain]

TheNw1218 actually the Times Square Shuttle is 3 cars long.

[@teslamodels2283]

@@BritanniaPacific its 3 cars long

[@rimidas3690]

Oh I get it now.so the platform is to small. its only for the shuttle.

[@1220LOUIE]

This is the train that took people to Ebbets Field?

[@blue9multimediagroup]

Yes, as part of the original main line before it became a shuttle after the Brighton Line opened.

[@tanishaglasgow8098]

Wow

[@BenTheMiner]

Yay, station pigeons!

[@adminrobloxgameyt9868]

BenTheMiner / MTA Railfanner your train game on roblox is amazing

[@lilbluefoxie]

When the R68’s retire, how are they going to get a set of R160s up here? They will need to do some work to relengthen the platforms

[@nysubwaydude5634]

what do you mean Consumer Park

[@oluhamilton2121]

That was previously the name of the BOTANIC GARDEN station.

[@mynorthshore]

Consumer Park Station was located at Montgomery Street, just a few blocks above Prospect Park Station, and a few streets south of what would become the President Street entrance to the Botanic Garden-Eastern Parkway Station. Consumer Park itself became Botanic Garden. Consumer Park Brewery was the name of the large business next to the tracks at Consumer Park. The station itself was a "flag stop" where one had to signal the train on the platform, or advise a member of the train crew. "Botanic Garden-Eastern Parkway Station opened October 1st, 1928. The platform extended from under the new station south to President Street where a very BRT like wood station house was built, with stairs outside, to the platforms.

[@tanishaglasgow8098]

What can trains make for breakfast?

[@edurage88]

Now to the 42nd St., shuffle

[@HungryGuyStories]

So this line just has just two trains bopping back and forth between a handful of stations (kind'a like a funicular railway, but on level ground)?

[@blue9multimediagroup]

A shuttle.....

[@SamSitar]

can the shuttle be extended to connect the C line?

[@michaelmorales1475]

It does connect to the (C) Line at Franklin Avenue Station.

[@blue9multimediagroup]

It used to, but the connection was removed

[@ProStealthSniperProductions]

Very nice video Dj Hammers. Franklin Avenue Shuttle is my most favorite Shuttle, and it will always be. I may know what tour your doing next. I will tell you what I was thinking of at the next tour. Lets see if I am right or wrong. c:

[@luisl2838]

Franklin Avenue ,transfer to A (late nights) C (all times except late nights) Dean street ^Closed Park place Botanic garden ,transfer to IRT 2 3 4 5 Prospect park ,transfer to B Q