Canarsie "L" Line

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Updated 03/22/2008

The Canarsie Line was first a steam railroad, a BRT elevated line (later known as BMT), then a subway going into Manhattan in 1924. On October 21, 1865 it was first owned and operated by Brooklyn and Rockaway Beach Railroad. It operated from Atlantic Avenue in East New York to Canarsie Landing (Canarsie Pier).

On May 8, 1906 it was chartered to BRT. The line was then partly elevated with a third rail and trolley wire was used to power the trains on the ground-level sections. Service first ran on July 28, 1906 from Canarsie Landing to Williamsburg. In 1917 elevated cars replace operations from Rockaway Parkway Station to Canarsie Landing (Canarsie Pier). In 1920 train service to Canarsie Pier comes to an end. A track loop with a flower garden in the center is added to the Rockaway Parkway Station, and service to Canarsie Pier is replaced by trolley cars. They ran on the tracks on the “Right Of Way” between East 95 Street and East 96 Street in between some homes as far down to Skidmore Avenue for a few years.

In 1924 the first underground segment was opened running beneath 14 Street and 6 Avenue in Manhattan and extending under the East River to Montrose Avenue and Broadway Junction. In 1928 a second underground segment was opened running between Montrose Avenue and Broadway Junction, connecting to Atlantic Avenue. In 1931, a two block extension to 8th Avenue in Manhattan was opened connecting the Canarsie Line to the 8th Avenue line.

Trolley service via the “right of way” of East 95 Street/East 96 Street ends in 1942. The track is abandoned and trolley service begins service to Canarsie Pier via Rockaway Parkway. In 1951 Trolley service ends and is replaced by the B42 bus. In 1967 the route designation for the Canarsie Line was given "LL". The crossing at East 105 Street is eliminated in 1983. A new Station entrance and platform are built. Rockaway Parkway station is rebuilt in 1984. In 1985, Route destination changed to the now present "L" and sign color from black to grey.

(Click on Thumbnails for larger image)

BMT Sign	Old Canarsie Steam Line	Trolley in Station *Photo courtesy of BrooklynPix.com	BMT Sign
Old Ticket	Train in Station	Trolley picking up passengers in Station *Photo courtesy of BrooklynPix.com	Ticket
Canarsie Trolley	Trolley in Station *Photo courtesy of BrooklynPix.com	Trolley in the 1940's *Photo courtesy of BrooklynPix.com	Rockaway Parkway Station - 1946 *Photo courtesy of BrooklynPix.com
Trolley on East 98 Street 1948 *Photo courtesy of BrooklynPix.com	Remains of Trolley Easement Conklin Avenue Looking Towards Flatlands Avenue	Remains of Trolley Easement Conklin Avenue Looking Towards Glenwood Road	Canarsie Street Car 1951 *Photo courtesy of BrooklynPix.com
East 105 Street Crossing - 1950 *Photo courtesy of BrooklynPix.com	Train Crossing East 105 Street	Canarsie LL Crossing East 105 Street - 1964	East 105 Street Station 1964 *Photo courtesy of Ramona Garnes
Canarsie Rail Yard 1966	Canarsie LL Train 1969 *Photo courtesy of Ramona Garnes	Train Entering Station 1969	East 105 Street Station Today
Canarsie LL Train	Canarsie LL Train 1971	Canarsie L Train	Canarsie L Train Today