Secrets of the L Line

[@tweetingsparks]

I love that the Canarsie tubes have internet service. I wish the Bronx-Manhattan tunnels had internet service, too.

[@Astrochorius]

It is the first line to receive CBTC, after all.

[@stevenroshni1228]

I believe they put that in during the Sandy renovations 2019-2020

[@RonGerstein]

The original Canarsie Railroad did not terminate at Rockaway Parkway, but it continued to the Canasie Pier. When the BRT bought the Canarsie Railroad, it electrofied it from the original steam engines. The track past Rockaway Parkway was considered not feasible to be eletrified, so they replaced the steam engine tracks with a trolly car route, and there was a free transfer. When the trolly car route was replaced by buses, the B42, the bus route went down Rockaway Parkway to the Canarsie Pier, and the transfer was STILL FREE.

[@markholmes3592]

For Wilson Avenue, the Manhattan bound platform is not underground. It is at street level but made to look underground.

[@koga115]

If you look at the Canarsie Rockaway station on Google maps, but put it into satellite mode, you can see the curve of where the train used to go a little better. Its fascinating

[@munipalsfanboything]

All the secrets in Manhattan (besides the 8th Ave ones) are new to me! Happy 100th Birthday, L Train! Also I'd love to see secrets of the Franklin (S) since that line has a LOT of secrets with lore behind it! (i.e, Dean St, The entire renovation project, Botanic Garden!) Also at 20:03 something interesting to note is: there is a bus route nearly as short as the B42: The B39. The B39 runs from Williamsburg Bus Terminal, over the Williamsburg Bridge, and onto the Lower East side for 2 stops. The whole route clocks in at about 1.8 miles, just a mere 0.5 miles longer than the B42! It's interesting to think that the shortest bus runs up ONE street for it's entire run! Great video overall!

[@BabyKee]

16:53 Fun Fact about those Announcements: By around 2018-2019, when they got the current signs to replace the old green and orange ones, they cut out the parts where she said “Will depart in approximately” “The Following…” and “Is now Arriving on the… ____Track” I remember hearing the original station announcements a lot when I was growing up between the Sutter and Livonia Av stations

[@tabbcarter5657]

Respectful Correction: The lower track at Wilson Avenue, north or westbound is not underground. It is on the surface directly under the north or eastbound track. That is why you will notice you don't go downstairs when you enter the station. The reason for this is that when the line was built the Evergreen Cemetery would not give the builders permission to lay the two tracks parallel, because they wanted the property line for space for graves.

[@yellowpsychopath]

2:42 It wouldn't need to mention 6 Av because it's meant to show that 8 Av is the terminus of trains heading in that direction.

[@guineaprince-tt9ch]

New Lots is not the only two-track el; 45th Rd. [Court House Square] is also. I don't know if we could technically include Dyckman St.; then, to say nothing of the whole New Lots, the Jamaica. So, I don't know if you're actually going by el width, because W. 8th is NOT a two-track el, but a four - owing to its double-deck.

[@wisconsinvoleyball]

Amazing video and music choices!!! Music transitioning from upbeat to slower makes the video so much better imo, keep it up!

[@gigteevee6118]

You mean keep the music track slower 🙉 less bpm, more facts per min!

[@WaddlesTravelsTheWorld]

Happy birthday L train!!! one of the most underrated lines, the L is awesome and so is this video !

[@Von-lf2dh]

This is great man seriously I thought i knew all but this expanded my knowledge on the L

[@DistrosProjects]

The J at 75th Street - Elderts Lane also has a tiny portion of its platforms in Brooklyn while the rest are in Queens, since the Queens border runs through the center of Eldert Lane and the station does not end until further along the Brooklyn side.

[@JoseMartinez-lf5fg]

Hi, 6th Ave used to be the last stop on the L before 8th Ave as completed; you can still see remnants of the crossover before entering the station.

[@CerveloR5]

Oh wow I never knew the L kept going out to Canarsie pier. You can actually see the old layout from google maps in satellite mode.

[@trackwerkOG]

Great Video Detailing the line! Here's a number of facts to add: + The 8th Avenue Terminus was the alternate decision rather than connecting to the IND 8 Avenue Line. The planned connection is also evident by how the south end of the IND Platforms are about a half block north of 14 Street leaving space for a tunnel connection to 6th Avenue. + When 6th Avenue was a terminal, there was a wall at the East end of the platform similar to how 8th Avenue is today. + 1st Avenue's Eastern exits have the last remaining older 1990's RGB Displays displaying train arrival info, as the rest of the line used to before the late 2010s. + The ceiling at Montrose Avenue towards the Eastern end is higher and slopes upwards where the ramp to the street used to connect to the Manhattan-bound track. + There were a few proposed branches off this line, one running South along Utica Avenue after Montrose. Ultimately today's route was chosen. + A school yard above where the line curves off Bushwick Avenue features "tracks" painted directly above where the tunnels run underneath. + My personal favorite secret, The Subway Themed Playground! Named Justice Gilbert Ramirez Park just West of the Morgan Avenue Station, there are also "rails" directly above the tunnels through the playground and a play area with subway signs, entrance globes, tokens and other themed details. + The Wyckoff Avenue Subway was first proposed as a three-track Elevated directly above Wyckoff Avenue. Proposal for construction along the Bushwick branch was the result of businesses along Wyckoff whom did not want a noisy El above them; the LIRR also declined use of their Right of Way (regrettably so by the LIRR as only a few decades later the line was abandoned) thus today's Subway. + There is a long Ventilation Room spurring south off the tunnel next to the Canarsie-bound tunnel just before the Jefferson Street station. + Ever wonder why the Myrtle El has a third center track? This was to connect with the originally proposed three-track El along Wyckoff and an interchange between the lines above Myrtle and Wyckoff; NOTE that the Myrtle El becomes lower to the street than usual with low clearance below, as the Wyckoff El would have ran overhead. Myrtle's center track could served Canarsie trains. + Below today's Broadway Junction complex lies the freight tunnels for the line running adjacent to the Canarsie line. These tunnels also feature an abandoned station which would have been used for today's Canarsie line had the Bushwick Branch proposal been chosen. This tunnel and station will be used for the future IBX service with Light Rail Vehicles. + The Right of Way past Canarsie is still visible between houses and properties on Google Maps from Satellite View. + The Canarsie Station is also the only place in the NYCT system where one can board a bus within the station Fare Zone; one could technically walk into the fare zone through the roadway without entering any turnstiles or fare entry where buses enter (at the risk of getting caught); I've done it myself by accident the first time on my bike, confused as to why there was a turnstile for the sidewalk but not the street next to it trying to figure out how I just rode into the station without any fare entry.

[@blue9multimediagroup]

Line doesn't turn off Bushwick. It angles underneath it and there's no school anywhere near it. Just a community garden

[@gregodessite]

19:35 Many stations in Toronto, have such a feature. It was so in 2004, don't know about now.

[@BobFrTube]

I was confused about your comments about no transfer between the L and New Lots (now called the 3, formerly the 1). In the 60s I'd regularly take the LL and change to the Livonia Ave line coming home from school. And, yeah, there was the grade crossing in those days.

[@gregggoldberg5058]

You mentioned Halsey Steet the only station in two boroughs, not true, Part of the L platform at Myrtle-Wyckoff is in Queens and 75 St-Elderts Lane on the J and Z while the fare control and most of the platforms is in Queens, the western/southern end of both platforms is in Brooklyn as Elderts Lane itself is boundary and platforms slightly crosses over it

[@nodog1961]

9:42 75th Street J Train is also partially in Brooklyn

[@EndIessProductions]

That fact that the LIRR connection is a 2 block walk is frustrating 💀

[@EndIessProductions]

They probably built most of the elevated with 3 tracks bcuz the road was too wide for 2 tracks

[@Jonathan-f6x3q]

Great video! If you ever do the IRT elevateds in the Bronx, be sure to highlight that they served both the subway & elevated trains. Ex: The Jerome Ave line serves the 4 train but also had the 9th Ave elevated.

[@johnbruetsch8739]

105 st. Sta. Had a crossing gate at the ground level for cars,.. removed in the 60’s, 🇺🇸

[@blue9multimediagroup]

1973

[@ZorenManray]

Seems there was a misspeak near the end of the video as it looks like the gap of where the tracks used to go to Canarsie pier was between E 95th and E 96th streets? Another neat video regardless. it's fun to hear about all the oddities of old infrastructure.

[@whereisthedollar]

Took the L Line alot, in years 69-72, too Canarsie HS.

[@GobbiExists]

The Avenue A entrances were reconstructed due to the L train shutdown project, by the way. That’s why they look “state-of-the-art”.

[@1575murray]

They weren't reconstructed they didn't exist prior to the L train tunnel repair project. I believe that once they were opened the First Avenue entrances were upgraded. Other than those changes and the addition of countdown clocks and fluorescent lighting the platforms are pretty much as built and opened in 1924.

[@Silxvr]

14:54 there is actually one at the Manhattan bound Flushing av exit (flushing av and broadway, NE corner)

[@r211a-c-train]

Happy 100th Birthday L Train

[@robertball2741]

Very interesting, thank-you.

[@RonGerstein]

I rode on the L train weekdays from 1977 to 1988.

[@gigteevee6118]

Really great video and subway facts, so much to explore, but the music choice is very distracting and hectic over your voice and editing style, something smoother next time maybe? Not even sure it needs music, ambient subway sounds way better ❤

[@ommy7672]

Could've explained Broadway junction a little better

[@bink023]

Good stuff - keep up the great work

[@thurstonhowellthe3rd550]

In the early 80s before cbtc trains ran close too

[@josh_jay_way]

So what about Graham Ave & Dekalb Ave?

[@robotx9285]

17:57 Not exactly, both branches of the Rockaway Line on the A run on els and lack middle tracks. South of Broad Channel to Far Rockway and Rockaway Park

[@kcpatri]

not to mention the Myrtle Ave line north of Seneca Ave.

[@DatOrangeBus]

Didn't the 1av L train line have platform screen doors?

[@radicaledwards3449]

You are now riding the Canarsie bound L train.

[@ianhardy9375]

You forgot Dekalb Avenue station

[@sethschiller832]

Okay here is a history question about the L line around the mid to.late 70s and mid 80s mta built a connection after 1st Avenue the L line was moved and other lines were placed

[@Sylveonkpopnyct]

YOU FORGOT THE Z AT BROADWAY JUNCTION RAHHHHH

[@TG4164]

It was never canon anyways...

[@NewYorkRecordingsNYC]

Poor Graham Ave

[@droppingemstv4283]

Great video

[@BMTEnjoyer160]

I expected the (B) next.

[@norifromreallife-di7hi120]

happy birthday to my home line

[@yardin9852]

Did you say the L is the only elevated 2 track line? It's not. The 7 has 2 track portions. So does the 1. The F. I'm sure there is more.

[@TravisOmegaa]

Not the F nor the 7

[@arexsity]

@@TravisOmegaathe 7 does, at Court Square

[@arexsity]

@@TravisOmegaasame goes for the F at West 8th Street

[@GobbiExists]

What *is* true is that the L is the only elevated line (in the B Division) that has only 2 tracks for the entirety of it (that can be used for revenue service). The 7, F, and 1 trains all have 3 track portions in their run. The 1 train cannot use those 3 tracks for express runs, and the part where it pops up as elevated in Manhattan Island is only 1 station, but it has no 3 track so you can consider the 1 having a segment with a 2 track elevated line?

[@PADB]

Hold up, wasn’t PATH built first? I thought the reason why it took so long to build the 6 a express tracks was because the PATH tunnels were already there…

[@blue9multimediagroup]

It was. That's also why they're deeper. IND had to built around PATH.

[@declanftbl]

I can’t unhear Geoff Marshall’s English accent. 😂

[@Chinemeremdozie]

Huh

[@robotx9285]

​@@ChinemeremdozieGeoff Marshall, an infullencal You Tuber who also makes videos centering on rail transit lines. He' the guy who inspired all of the" secrets of [blank]" transit videos you see now.

[@theofficial1train]

W Thumbnail

[@RyanGill-ki7gy]

I'm your 300 sub

[@de-fault_de-fault]

I’ve always been ambivalent about the retconned BMT tile at 14th and 8th. Yeah it looks ok, but I’m not really a fan of imposing pretend “history” that isn’t actually historically accurate. There’s a kind of Disneyland element to that approach that I don’t care for. If it were up to me I’d have either kept the original IND look or done something entirely new.

[@RogueAfterlife]

I think your channel should focus more on the paths commuters take today rather than the found historical artifacts. It's great to study history but convincing people to change is a completely different concept