8 (New York City Subway service)
Encyclopedia
8 was a designation given to several IRT
services of the New York City Subway
.
, which opened on February 1, 1917 as an extension of the Queensboro Line (now part of the Flushing line
) from Queensboro Plaza. The Corona Line
(now also part of the Flushing Line) had already been built as another branch from Queensboro Plaza; when the Astoria Line opened half the trains ran to each terminal. At the time, the Queensboro Line ended on the other side of the Steinway Tunnel
at Grand Central.
Tracks opened over the Queensboro Bridge
on July 23, 1917, allowing elevated trains
of the IRT Second Avenue Line
to operate to Queensborough Plaza and then over either the Astoria or Corona line. Once this link opened, all elevated trains went to Astoria, and all subway trains to Corona, but this was modified by 1923, with both divisions running on each line. On March 22, 1926, the Queensborough Line (and Astoria service) was extended west to Fifth Avenue – Bryant Park, and it was completed west to Times Square on March 14, 1927.
BMT
shuttles (coincidentally also labeled 8) began using the Astoria Line on April 8, 1923, with a transfer to the Broadway Line
at Queensborough Plaza. This joint operation ended on October 17, 1949, and all IRT trains started operating to Flushing (where the Corona Line had been extended in 1928) and all BMT trains operated to Astoria. The numbers were only publicly used starting in 1948, so the public only knew the Astoria Line's IRT services as the 8 for about a year.
opened in late 1967, the TA
assigned labels to all services. The only remaining IRT
elevated line
, the IRT Third Avenue Line
in the Bronx
, was too long to be a shuttle
, so was assigned the number 8, unused since 1949. This service, running between 149th Street
and Gun Hill Road
, last ran on April 28, 1973, when the Third Avenue Line closed, and was replaced by the Bx55 bus route. The 8 bullet was only marked on maps and station signs, never on cars. Cars instead displayed SHUTTLE
and the destination.http://groups-beta.google.com/group/nyc.transit/browse_thread/thread/a7065eeb80591602/b80df6369f787ab3?q=%22lenox+shuttle&rnum=3#b80df6369f787ab3
for more information.
The 8 has been a proposed re-designation of the express .
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company was the private operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904, as well as earlier elevated railways and additional rapid transit lines in New York City. The IRT was purchased by the City in June 1940...
services of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
.
Astoria Line
The 8 label was first used for the Astoria LineBMT Astoria Line
The Astoria Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, serving the neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. It runs from Ditmars Boulevard to 39th Avenue along 31st Street. It then serves Queensboro Plaza along 27th Street. It was built as part of the Dual Contracts and...
, which opened on February 1, 1917 as an extension of the Queensboro Line (now part of the Flushing line
IRT Flushing Line
The Flushing Line is a rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system, operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route...
) from Queensboro Plaza. The Corona Line
IRT Flushing Line
The Flushing Line is a rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system, operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route...
(now also part of the Flushing Line) had already been built as another branch from Queensboro Plaza; when the Astoria Line opened half the trains ran to each terminal. At the time, the Queensboro Line ended on the other side of the Steinway Tunnel
Steinway Tunnel
The Steinway Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between 42nd Street in Manhattan and 51st Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, in New York City. It was originally designed and built as an interurban trolley tunnel , with stations near the trains' current...
at Grand Central.
Tracks opened over the Queensboro Bridge
Queensboro Bridge
The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, also known as the 59th Street Bridge – because its Manhattan end is located between 59th and 60th Streets – or simply the Queensboro Bridge, is a cantilever bridge over the East River in New York City that was completed in 1909...
on July 23, 1917, allowing elevated trains
Elevated railway
An elevated railway is a form of rapid transit railway with the tracks built above street level on some form of viaduct or other steel or concrete structure. The railway concerned may be constructed according to the standard gauge, narrow gauge, light rail, monorail or suspension railway system...
of 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...
to operate to Queensborough Plaza and then over either the Astoria or Corona line. Once this link opened, all elevated trains went to Astoria, and all subway trains to Corona, but this was modified by 1923, with both divisions running on each line. On March 22, 1926, the Queensborough Line (and Astoria service) was extended west to Fifth Avenue – Bryant Park, and it was completed west to Times Square on March 14, 1927.
BMT
Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation
The Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation was an urban transit holding company, based in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, and incorporated in 1923. The system was sold to the city in 1940 and today, together with the IND subway system, form the B Division of the New York City Subway...
shuttles (coincidentally also labeled 8) began using the Astoria Line on April 8, 1923, with a transfer to the Broadway Line
BMT Broadway Line
The BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United States. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks...
at Queensborough Plaza. This joint operation ended on October 17, 1949, and all IRT trains started operating to Flushing (where the Corona Line had been extended in 1928) and all BMT trains operated to Astoria. The numbers were only publicly used starting in 1948, so the public only knew the Astoria Line's IRT services as the 8 for about a year.
Third Avenue Line
When the Chrystie Street ConnectionChrystie Street Connection
The Chrystie Street Connection is a major connecting line of the New York City Subway, and is one of the few connections between lines of the BMT and IND divisions...
opened in late 1967, the TA
New York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
assigned labels to all services. The only remaining IRT
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company was the private operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904, as well as earlier elevated railways and additional rapid transit lines in New York City. The IRT was purchased by the City in June 1940...
elevated line
Elevated railway
An elevated railway is a form of rapid transit railway with the tracks built above street level on some form of viaduct or other steel or concrete structure. The railway concerned may be constructed according to the standard gauge, narrow gauge, light rail, monorail or suspension railway system...
, 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 the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, was too long to be a shuttle
S (New York City Subway service)
Three services in the New York City Subway are designated as S . These are short services that connect passengers to longer services:* Franklin Avenue Shuttle...
, so was assigned the number 8, unused since 1949. This service, running between 149th Street
149th Street (IRT Third Avenue Line)
149th Street was a station on the demolished IRT Third Avenue Line. The station was originally opened on June 16, 1887. It was built three tracks and two island platforms. The next stop to the north was 156th Street. The next stop to the south was 143rd Street...
and Gun Hill Road
Gun Hill Road (IRT White Plains Road Line)
Gun Hill Road is an express station on the IRT White Plains Road Line of the New York City Subway. Located in the Bronx at the intersection of Gun Hill and White Plains Roads, it is served by the 2 train at all times while the 5 train provides additional rush hour service in the peak direction.This...
, last ran on April 28, 1973, when the Third Avenue Line closed, and was replaced by the Bx55 bus route. The 8 bullet was only marked on maps and station signs, never on cars. Cars instead displayed SHUTTLE
S (New York City Subway service)
Three services in the New York City Subway are designated as S . These are short services that connect passengers to longer services:* Franklin Avenue Shuttle...
and the destination.http://groups-beta.google.com/group/nyc.transit/browse_thread/thread/a7065eeb80591602/b80df6369f787ab3?q=%22lenox+shuttle&rnum=3#b80df6369f787ab3
Present status
Current rollsigns have an 8 (as well as a and a ) in a green circle, the same color as the , and and the diamond service of the 6. See Unused New York City Subway service labelsUnused New York City Subway service labels
The New York City Subway currently uses various letters and numbers to designate the routes that trains use over the differing lines in the system. Along with the color corresponding to the route's trunk line, these form a unique identifier for the route, easing navigation through the complex...
for more information.
The 8 has been a proposed re-designation of the express .
See also
- BMT 8, the BMTBrooklyn-Manhattan Transit CorporationThe Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation was an urban transit holding company, based in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, and incorporated in 1923. The system was sold to the city in 1940 and today, together with the IND subway system, form the B Division of the New York City Subway...
service that operated in tandem with this service until 1949