Secrets of the L Line

Now with a triple digit age count, the pioneer of CBTC in the MTA is on the spotlight as every station is searched for secrets. Between columnless platforms, mysterious dormant screens, and dismantled sharp curves, there is a lot to learn about the L train.
Music used:
• Kevin MacLeod: Harmful... v
• Kevin MacLeod: The Lift
• xv K2 vx - Natures Maj...
• Morning Light
• Kevin MacLeod: Rains W...

[@sparkswolverine]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@ethan_playzroblox4265]

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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@bink023]

Good stuff - keep up the great work

[@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.

[@Silxvr]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@GUNNERS_GOAT]

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.

[@nodog1961]

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

[@ianhardy9375]

You forgot Dekalb Avenue station

[@NewYorkRecordingsNYC]

Poor Graham Ave

[@user-ql7vw2qx1u]

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.

[@Sylveonkpopnyct]

YOU FORGOT THE Z AT BROADWAY JUNCTION RAHHHHH

[@TG4164]

It was never canon anyways...

[@RmsRivera]

Happy 100th Birthday L Train

[@radicaledwards3449]

You are now riding the Canarsie bound L train.

[@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 ❤

[@droppingemstv4283]

Great video

[@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…

[@RyanGill-ki7gy]

I'm your 300 sub

[@theofficial1train]

W Thumbnail

[@BMTEnjoyer160]

I expected the (B) next.

[@ommy7672]

Could've explained Broadway junction a little better

[@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.

[@jacoanimationstudio-di7hi]

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

[@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