List of streetcar lines in Manhattan explained

The following streetcar lines once operated in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.

List of lines

North-south lines

Lines related to Broadway are listed first, and then the table contains all other lines by their Lower Manhattan trunk (if applicable) from north to south.

Company (post-1911)NameFromToMajor streetsHistory
New York RailwaysSouth Ferry and Vesey Street LineSouth FerryCity HallTrinity Placebecame part of the Sixth Avenue Line and Eighth Avenue Line
New York RailwaysBroadway LineSouth FerryCentral ParkBroadway and Seventh Avenueopened by the Broadway and Seventh Avenue Railroad in 1864; leased by the Houston, West Street and Pavonia Ferry Railroad in 1893; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1893; leased by New York Railways in 1911; replaced by New York City Omnibus Corporation buses on February 12, 1936 (now the M5 bus)
New York RailwaysLexington Avenue LineUnion Square, earlier South FerryHarlemBroadway, 23rd Street, Lexington Avenue, 116th Street, and Lenox Avenueopened by the Lexington Avenue and Pavonia Ferry Railroad; merged into the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1894; acquired by New York Railways in 1911; replaced by New York City Omnibus Corporation buses on March 25, 1936[1] (now the M102 bus)
New York RailwaysBroadway and Columbus Avenue LineSouth FerryHarlemBroadway, Seventh Avenue, 53rd Street, Columbus Avenue, 116th Street, and Lenox Avenueopened by the Columbus and Ninth Avenue Railroad; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1893 and merged in 1895; acquired by New York Railways in 1911; replaced by New York City Omnibus Corporation buses on February 12, 1936 (now the M7 bus)
New York RailwaysBroadway and Amsterdam Avenue LineHouston StreetManhattanvilleBroadway, Seventh Avenue, 53rd Street, Ninth Avenue, Broadway, and Amsterdam Avenueeliminated in 1919
New York RailwaysBroadway and University Place LineCity HallCentral ParkChurch Street, Greene Street, Wooster Street, University Place, and Broadwayreplaced by the Broadway Line
Third Avenue RailwayBroadway LineEast 34th Street FerryFort Lee Ferry34th Street, First Avenue, 42nd Street, Broadway, and 125th StreetDecember 15, 1946 (now the M104 bus)
Third Avenue RailwayKingsbridge LineEast HarlemMarble Hill125th Street, Amsterdam Avenue, and BroadwayJune 22, 1947 (now the M100 bus)
Third Avenue RailwayBroadway and 145th Street LineHarlemWashington Heights145th Street, Amsterdam Avenue, and BroadwayJune 29, 1947
Third Avenue RailwayEast Belt LineSouth Ferry59th Street, earlier East HarlemSouth Street, Avenue D, 14th Street, and First Avenueopened by the Central Park, North and East River Railroad in 1863; leased to the Houston, West Street and Pavonia Ferry Railroad and Metropolitan Crosstown Railway in 1892; leased to the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1893; lease cancelled in 1908; bought by the Third Avenue Railway as part of the reorganized Belt Line Railway in 1913
Third Avenue RailwayAvenue D LineCity HallEast 23rd Street FerryEast Broadway, Columbia Street, Lewis Street, Avenue D, 14th Street, and Avenue Adiscontinued early, since it was largely redundant with the Avenue B Line and East Belt Line
Third Avenue RailwayAvenue B LineCity HallEast 34th Street FerryEast Broadway, Avenue B, 14th Street, Avenue A, 24th Street, and First Avenueopened by the Dry Dock, East Broadway and Battery Railroad; bought by the Third Avenue Railroad in 1897; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1900; lease cancelled in 1908; replaced by Avenue B and East Broadway Transit Company buses on July 30, 1932 (now the M9 bus)
N/AAvenue A LineWilliamsburg BridgeEast 23rd Street FerryAvenue A
Second Avenue RailroadAstoria LineAstor PlaceEast 92nd Street FerrySecond Avenue, 86th Street, and York Avenue
Second Avenue RailroadFirst Avenue LineAstor PlaceEast HarlemSecond Avenue, 59th Street, and First Avenue
Second Avenue RailroadSecond Avenue LineWorth Street, earlier City Hall or Peck SlipEast HarlemWorth Street, Bowery, and Second Avenueopened by the Second Avenue Railroad in 1853; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1898; lease cancelled in 1908; replaced by East Side Omnibus Corporation buses on June 25, 1933 (now the M15 bus)
Third Avenue RailwayThird Avenue LineCity HallWashington HeightsBowery, Third Avenue, 125th Street, and Amsterdam Avenueopened by the Third Avenue Railroad in 1853; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1900; lease cancelled in 1908; reorganized as the Third Avenue Railway in 1910; replaced by Surface Transportation Corporation buses on May 28, 1947 (now the M101 bus)
New York RailwaysFourth and Madison Avenues LineCity HallHarlem, earlier also East 34th Street FerryCentre Street, Bowery, Park Avenue, and Madison Avenueopened by the New York and Harlem Railroad in 1832; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1896; leased by New York Railways in 1911; lease cancelled in 1920 but reinstated in 1932; replaced by Madison Avenue Coach Company buses on February 1, 1935 (now the M1 bus)
N/AFourth Avenue and Williamsburg Bridge LineWilliamsburg, BrooklynGrand Central TerminalBowery and Park Avenueoperated from 1904 to 1911 by the Metropolitan Street Railway
New York RailwaysSixth Avenue LineGreenwich Village, earlier South FerryCentral ParkTrinity Place, West Broadway, and Sixth Avenueopened by the Sixth Avenue Railroad in 1852; leased by the Houston, West Street and Pavonia Ferry Railroad in 1892; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1893; leased by New York Railways in 1911; replaced by New York City Omnibus Corporation buses on March 12, 1936 (now the M6 bus)
New York RailwaysSixth Avenue Ferry LineDesbrosses Street FerryGreenwich VillageWatts Street, Varick Street, and Carmine Streetdiscontinued September 21, 1919
New York RailwaysSixth and Amsterdam Avenues LineSouth FerryManhattanvilleTrinity Place, West Broadway, Sixth Avenue, 53rd Street, Columbus Avenue, Broadway, and Amsterdam Avenueeliminated in 1919
New York RailwaysLenox Avenue LineCentral ParkHarlemLenox Avenuebecame part of the Broadway and Columbus Avenue Line and Broadway and Lexington Avenue Line
New York RailwaysSeventh Avenue LineGreenwich Village, earlier Williamsburg, Brooklyn or City HallCentral ParkGreenwich Avenue and Seventh Avenueopened by the Broadway and Seventh Avenue Railroad in 1864; leased by the Houston, West Street and Pavonia Ferry Railroad in 1893; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1893; leased by New York Railways in 1911; replaced by New York City Omnibus Corporation buses on March 6, 1936 (now the M10 bus)
N/ASeventh Avenue and Fort Lee Ferry LineBrooklyn BridgeFort Lee FerryCentre Street, Canal Street, West Broadway, Sixth Avenue, 23rd Street, Seventh Avenue, Broadway, and 125th Street
New York RailwaysEighth Avenue LineSouth Ferry or Cortlandt Street FerryHarlemTrinity Place, West Broadway, and Eighth Avenueopened by the Eighth Avenue Railroad in 1852; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1896; leased by New York Railways in 1911; lease cancelled in 1919; merged into the Eighth and Ninth Avenues Railway in 1926; replaced by Eighth Avenue Coach Corporation buses on November 12, 1935 (now the M10 bus)
New York RailwaysNinth and Columbus Avenues LineCortlandt Street FerryMorningside HeightsGreenwich Street, Washington Street, Ninth Avenue, and Columbus Avenuesplit between the Ninth Avenue Line and Broadway and Columbus Avenue Line
New York RailwaysNinth and Amsterdam Avenues LineCortlandt Street Ferry or Christopher Street Ferry, earlier City HallMorningside HeightsGreenwich Street, Washington Street, Ninth Avenue, Broadway, and Amsterdam Avenueopened by the Ninth Avenue Railroad in 1859; leased by the Houston, West Street and Pavonia Ferry Railroad in 1892; leased by the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1893; leased by New York Railways in 1911; lease cancelled in 1919; merged into the Eighth and Ninth Avenues Railway in 1926; replaced by Eighth Avenue Coach Corporation buses on November 12, 1935 (now the M11 bus)
Third Avenue RailwayWest Belt LineSouth FerryMidtownWest Street and Tenth Avenueopened by the Central Park, North and East River Railroad in 1863; leased to the Houston, West Street and Pavonia Ferry Railroad and Metropolitan Crosstown Railway in 1892; leased to the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1893; lease cancelled in 1908; bought by the Third Avenue Railway as part of the reorganized Belt Line Railway in 1913
Third Avenue RailwayTenth Avenue LineWest 42nd Street FerryManhattanville42nd Street, Amsterdam Avenue, Broadway, and 125th StreetNovember 17, 1946

East-west lines

Lines are listed roughly from east to west.

Company (post-1911)NameFromToMajor streetsHistory
N/AFulton Street Crosstown LineCortlandt Street Ferry or Barclay Street FerryFulton Street FerryFulton Street1908
New York RailwaysChambers and Madison Streets LinePavonia FerryGrand Street Ferry, earlier also Roosevelt Street FerryChambers Street and Madison Streetdiscontinued September 21, 1919 (now the M22 bus)
N/ACortlandt Street LineCortlandt Street Ferry or BroadwayGrand Street FerryGreenwich Street, Washington Street, North Moore Street, Beach Street, Canal Street, and East Broadway
Joint
(NYR, TARS, BRT)
Brooklyn and North River LineDesbrosses Street FerryDowntown BrooklynCanal Street, Manhattan Bridge, and Flatbush Avenue
Third Avenue RailwayPost Office LineCity HallWilliamsburg, BrooklynBowery, Grand Street, Essex Street, and Delancey Street
New York RailwaysCanal Street Crosstown LineTriBeCaChinatownCanal Street
Third Avenue RailwayGrand Street LineDesbrosses Street FerryWilliamsburg, Brooklyn or Grand Street FerryVestry Street and Grand Street
New York RailwaysMetropolitan Crosstown LineDesbrosses Street Ferry, earlier also West 14th Street Ferry and Union SquareGrand Street FerryWatts Street, Spring Street, and Delancey Streetdiscontinued September 21, 1919; restored from February 1, 1920 to May 20, 1931 by court order[2] [3]
New York RailwaysAvenue C LineDesbrosses Street Ferry, earlier Chambers Street FerryEast 23rd Street Ferry, earlier Grand Central TerminalWest Street, Charlton Street, Houston Street, Prince Street, Stanton Street, Third Street, Avenue C, 17th Street, 18th Street, and Avenue Adiscontinued September 21, 1919 (Served on Avenue C by M9 and Houston Street by M21)
New York RailwaysBleecker Street LineChelsea, earlier West 23rd Street FerryBroadway, earlier Fulton FerryBleecker Street
New York RailwaysEighth Street Crosstown LineChristopher Street FerryWilliamsburg, Brooklyn or East Tenth Street FerryChristopher Street, Tenth Street, Eighth Street, Ninth Street, and Tenth StreetMarch 6, 1936 (now the M8 bus)
New York Railways14th Street Crosstown LineWest 23rd Street FerryWilliamsburg, Brooklyn, earlier also Grand Street FerryWest Street, 14th Street, and Avenue AApril 20, 1936 (now the M14 bus)
last NY Railways line converted to buses
New York Railways17th and 18th Streets Crosstown LineGreenwich Village, earlier Christopher Street FerryEast 23rd Street FerryUniversity Place, 17th Street, 18th Street, and Avenue A1913
N/AChristopher and 23rd Streets LineChristopher Street FerryEast 23rd Street FerryGreenwich Street, Washington Street, 14th Street, and Avenue A
New York Railways23rd Street Crosstown LineWest 23rd Street FerryEast 23rd Street Ferry or East 34th Street Ferry, earlier also Union Square23rd StreetApril 8, 1936 (now the M23 bus)
N/AGrand Central Station and West 23rd Street Ferry LineWest 23rd Street FerryGrand Central Terminal23rd Street and Park Avenue
Third Avenue Railway28th and 29th Streets Crosstown LineWest 23rd Street FerryEast 34th Street Ferry11th Avenue, 28th Street, 29th Street, and First Avenueleased to the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1896; lease cancelled in 1908
New York RailwaysWest 34th Street Pier LineWest 34th Street FerryTenth Avenue34th Street
New York Railways34th Street Crosstown LineWest 42nd Street FerryEast 34th Street FerryTenth Avenue and 34th StreetApril 1, 1936 (now the M16 and M34 buses)
Third Avenue Railway42nd Street Crosstown LineWest 42nd Street FerryEast 42nd Street Ferry or Long Island City, Queens; earlier also East 34th Street Ferry42nd Street and Third AvenueNovember 17, 1946 (now the M42 bus)
N/A42nd Street and Grand Street Ferry LineWest 42nd Street FerryGrand Street Ferry42nd Street, Tenth Avenue, 34th Street, Broadway, 23rd Street, Fourth Avenue, 14th Street, Avenue A, and Houston Street
New York Railways53rd Street Crosstown LineNinth AvenueSixth Avenue53rd Streetbecame part of the Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue Line, Broadway and Columbus Avenue Line, and Sixth and Amsterdam Avenues Line
Third Avenue Railway59th Street Crosstown LineTenth AvenueFirst Avenue59th Streetopened by the Central Park, North and East River Railroad; leased to the Houston, West Street and Pavonia Ferry Railroad and Metropolitan Crosstown Railway in 1892; leased to the Metropolitan Street Railway in 1893; lease cancelled in 1908; bought by the Third Avenue Railway as part of the reorganized Belt Line Railway in 1913; replaced by Surface Transportation Corporation buses on November 10, 1946
New York Railways86th Street Crosstown LineUpper West SideEast 92nd Street Ferry86th Street and York AvenueNew York and Harlem Railroad from 1920 to 1932;[4] Bustitution on June 8, 1936 (now the M86 bus)
Third Avenue Railway110th Street Crosstown LineFort Lee FerryEast Harlem125th Street, St. Nicholas Avenue, and 110th Street
New York Railways116th Street Crosstown LineMorningside HeightsEast Harlem106th Street, Manhattan Avenue, and 116th StreetApril 1, 1936 (now the M116 bus)
Third Avenue Railway125th Street Crosstown LineFort Lee FerryEast Harlem125th StreetAugust 5, 1941 (no longer a separate bus route; served by the Bx15 and M60)
Union Railway138th Street Crosstown LineHarlemBronx135th Street and Madison AvenueJuly 10, 1948 (now the Bx33 bus in the Bronx)
New York Railways145th Street Crosstown LineBroadwayLenox Avenue145th StreetOriginally operated by the Fort George and Eleventh Avenue Railroad
Union Railway163rd Street Crosstown LineWashington HeightsBronx155th StreetJune 27, 1948 (now the Bx6 bus)
Union Railway167th Street Crosstown LineWashington HeightsBronx181st StreetJuly 11, 1948 (now the Bx35 bus)
Union Railway207th Street Crosstown LineInwoodBronx207th Streetnow the Bx12 bus

See also

References

  1. News: Lexington Av. Gets Buses Wednesday. 21 March 2018. The New York Times. March 22, 1936. 39.
  2. Stephen L. Meyers, Manhattan's Lost Streetcars, p. 58
  3. [New York Times]
  4. Book: Manhattan's Lost Streetcars . Arcadia Publishing . Meyers, Stephen L. . 2005 . 97 .