42nd Street was an elevated station on the IRT Third Avenue Line

IRT Third Avenue Line

The IRT Third Avenue Line, commonly known as the Third Avenue El, was an elevated railway in Manhattan and the Bronx, New York City. Originally operated by an independent railway company, it was acquired by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and eventually became part of the New York subway...

 in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. It had two levels with the lower level (built first) having three tracks. The main line tracks were served by two side platform

Side platform

A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...

s. A side platform connected to the southbound platform for shuttle service to Grand Central

Grand Central (IRT elevated station)

Grand Central was the terminal for some trains of the IRT Third Avenue Line. It was part of the original Third Avenue El, which opened on Tuesday, August 27, 1878. When the El north of 42nd Street opened, this segment was reduced to a shuttle, which connected to the mainline at 42nd Street...

. The upper level was built as part of the Dual Contracts, and had one track and two side platforms over the two local tracks.

The next stop to the north was 47th Street

47th Street (IRT Third Avenue Line)

47th Street was a station on the demolished IRT Third Avenue Line. It had two levels. The lower level was served by local trains by two tracks and two side platforms. It was built first. The upper level was built as part of the Dual Contracts and had one track for express trains. The next stop to...

 for local trains and 106th Street

106th Street (IRT Third Avenue Line)

106th Street was a station on the IRT Third Avenue Line in New York City. The station was opened on December 30, 1878, and had two levels. The lower level had two tracks and two side platforms and served local trains. The upper level had one track and two side platforms over the local tracks on the...

 for express trains. The next stop to the south was 34th Street

34th Street (IRT Third Avenue Line)

34th Street was a station on the demolished IRT Third Avenue Line. The station was served by Third Avenue local trains and a shuttle to the 34th Street Ferry. Third Ave service originally had two tracks and two side platforms. During the Dual Contracts, a center express track was built...

 for local trains and 23rd Street

23rd Street (IRT Third Avenue Line)

23rd Street was a station on the demolished IRT Third Avenue Line. It had two levels. The lower level was served by local trains and had two tracks and two side platforms. It was built first. The upper level was built as part of the Dual Contracts and had one track with two side platforms and...

 for express trains. The shuttle platform closed on December 23, 1923 and the main line station closed on May 12, 1955. When the IRT Second Avenue Line

IRT Second Avenue Line

The IRT Second Avenue Line, also known as the Second Avenue El, was an elevated railway in Manhattan, New York City, United States, operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company until city takeover in 1940...

 was closed on June 13, 1942, a free transfer for Third Avenue Line passengers was made available to and from the subway services at Grand Central – 42nd Street to replace the direct service to lower Manhattan that was lost.