The Fifth Avenue Line, also called the Fifth Avenue Elevated or Fifth Avenue-Bay Ridge Line, was an elevated rail line in Brooklyn

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...

, New York City, United States. It ran above Hudson Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, Fifth Avenue, 38th Street, and Third Avenue from Downtown Brooklyn

Downtown Brooklyn

Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest central business district in New York City , and is located in the northwestern section of the borough of Brooklyn...

 south to Bay Ridge

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Sunset Park on the north, Seventh Avenue and Dyker Heights on the east, The Narrows Strait, which partially houses the Belt Parkway, on the west and 86th Street and Fort Hamilton on...

. The portion on Third Avenue was called the Third Avenue Elevated to distinguish service from the West End Elevated.

History

The Union Elevated Railroad, leased by the Brooklyn Elevated Railroad

Brooklyn Elevated Railroad

The Brooklyn Elevated Railroad was an elevated railroad company in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, operated from 1885 until 1899, when it was merged into the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company-controlled Brooklyn Union Elevated Railroad.-Lines:...

, built the Hudson Avenue Elevated, a branch of the Brooklyn Elevated's Lexington Avenue Elevated. This line split from the Brooklyn Elevated at a junction at Hudson and Park Avenues, and traveled south above Hudson Avenue to the Long Island Rail Road

Long Island Rail Road

The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...

's Flatbush Avenue terminal. Trains began operating between Fulton Ferry

Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn

Fulton Ferry is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is named for a prominent ferry line crossing the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and is also the name of the ferry slip on the Brooklyn side...

 (the terminal of the Brooklyn Elevated) and Flatbush Avenue on November 5, 1888.

The line crossed the Myrtle Avenue Elevated at grade two blocks south of its merge with the Brooklyn Elevated. On its second day of operation, November 6, a Hudson Avenue train crashed into a Myrtle Avenue train. Service was suspended immediately, and did not resume until June 22, 1889, when an extension south to Third Street was completed, and a new connection into Myrtle Avenue opened, taking trains between Third Street and Sands Street

Sands Street (BMT station)

Sands Street was a station on the demolished BMT Myrtle Avenue Line. It was a large complex with 2 levels. The upper level served trains going to Park Row. It had 4 tracks and 2 island platforms with the outside of the platforms serving streetcars. The lower level had a terminal and a loop for...

 at the end of the Myrtle Avenue Elevated, and replacing the four track crossings with one. The unused two blocks north of Myrtle Avenue were placed back in service on December 9, 1889, when Myrtle Avenue trains began to use it to reach Fulton Ferry via the old Brooklyn Elevated.

An extension south to 25th Street

25th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line)

25th Street was a station on the now demolished BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had two tracks and one island platform. The next stop to the north was 20th Street. The next stop to the south was 36th Street. The station closed on...

 at Greenwood Cemetery was opened at 4 p.m. on August 15, 1889. At this new terminal, elevated passengers could transfer to the north end of the Brooklyn, Bath and West End Railroad for Coney Island

Coney Island

Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....

. A further extension to 36th Street

36th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line)

36th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had four tracks and two island platforms. The next stop to the north was 25th Street. The next stop to the south was Ninth Avenue for Culver...

, at a new Union Depot serving the West End Line and Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver Line) to Coney Island, opened on May 29, 1890.

The Seaside and Brooklyn Bridge Elevated Railroad was organized on March 18, 1890 to extend the Fifth Avenue Elevated south to Fort Hamilton

Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn

Fort Hamilton is a neighborhood in the far southwestern corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is located south of, and often considered part of, Bay Ridge. The area stretches from 86th Street as its northern border to 101st Street/the Narrows at the south; it is bounded by New York...

, to extend the Lexington Avenue Elevated from Van Siclen Avenue east to the city line, and to build in High Street at the Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...

 (this became part of the Sands Street

Sands Street (BMT station)

Sands Street was a station on the demolished BMT Myrtle Avenue Line. It was a large complex with 2 levels. The upper level served trains going to Park Row. It had 4 tracks and 2 island platforms with the outside of the platforms serving streetcars. The lower level had a terminal and a loop for...

 station loop). The extension of the Fifth Avenue Elevated, along Fifth Avenue, 38th Street, and Third Avenue, opened to 65th Street on October 1, 1893.

Station listing

Fifth Avenue trains served Park Row

Park Row (BMT station)

Park Row was a major elevated railway terminal constructed over the New York end of the Brooklyn Bridge, across from New York City Hall in Manhattan that served as the terminal for BMT services operating over the Brooklyn Bridge from the BMT Fulton Street Line, BMT Myrtle Avenue Line and their...

, Sands Street

Sands Street (BMT station)

Sands Street was a station on the demolished BMT Myrtle Avenue Line. It was a large complex with 2 levels. The upper level served trains going to Park Row. It had 4 tracks and 2 island platforms with the outside of the platforms serving streetcars. The lower level had a terminal and a loop for...

, Adams Street

Adams Street (BMT Myrtle Avenue Line)

Adams Street was a stop on the demolished BMT Myrtle Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms. It was opened on April 10, 1888 and closed on March 5, 1944. The next stop to the north was Bridge–Jay Streets. The next stop to the south was Sands Street....

, and Bridge–Jay Streets before leaving the Myrtle Avenue Line

BMT Myrtle Avenue Line

The Myrtle Avenue Line, also called the Myrtle Avenue Elevated, is a fully elevated line of the New York City Subway as part of the BMT division. The extant line is the final remnant of one of the original Brooklyn elevated railroads...

. Aside from those stations, the entire line closed on May 31, 1940.

Name	Location	Opened	Closed	Notes
Fulton Street Fulton Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) Fulton Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. Served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had two tracks and one island platform. The next stop to the north was Bridge–Jay Streets. The next stop to the south was Atlantic Avenue. It...	Hudson Avenue and Fulton Street	July 27, 1889		connection to Fulton Street Elevated trains and Fulton Street Line Fulton Street Line (Brooklyn surface) The Fulton Street Line or East New York Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States along Fulton Street between Fulton Ferry and East New York... , DeKalb Avenue Line DeKalb Avenue Line The DeKalb Avenue Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, United States, running mostly along DeKalb Avenue, as well as eastbound on Lafayette Avenue , between downtown Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens... , and Flatbush Avenue Line Flatbush Avenue Line (surface) The Flatbush Avenue Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running along Flatbush Avenue between Downtown Brooklyn and Marine Park...  streetcars
Atlantic Avenue Atlantic Avenue (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) Atlantic Avenue was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was Served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform...	Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue	November 5, 1888		connection to Long Island Rail Road Long Island Rail Road The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...  Atlantic Division trains at Flatbush Avenue and St. Johns Place Line St. Johns Place Line The St. Johns Place Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York, mainly along Atlantic Avenue, Washington Avenue, Sterling Place, and St. Johns Place between Downtown Brooklyn and Crown Heights... , Flatbush Avenue Line Flatbush Avenue Line (surface) The Flatbush Avenue Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running along Flatbush Avenue between Downtown Brooklyn and Marine Park... , Third Avenue Line, and Seventh Avenue Line streetcars
St. Marks Avenue	Fifth Avenue and St. Marks Place	June 22, 1889		connection to Bergen Street Line Bergen Street Line The Bergen Street Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running westbound mostly along Bergen Street, as well as eastbound on Dean Street , between downtown Brooklyn and Ocean Hill...  streetcars
Union Street Union Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) Union Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. Served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms. The next stop to the north was Saint Marks Avenue. The next stop to the south was 3rd Street. It closed on May...	Fifth Avenue and Union Street	June 22, 1889		connection to Union Street Line streetcars
3rd Street 3rd Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 3rd Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. Served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform. The next stop to the north was Union Street. The next stop to the south was 9th Street. It closed on May 31,...	Fifth Avenue and Third Street	June 22, 1889
9th Street 9th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 9th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. Served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform. The next stop to the north was 3rd Street. The next stop to the south was 16th Street. It closed on May 31,...	Fifth Avenue and Ninth Street	August 15, 1889		connection to Smith and Ninth Streets Line and Hamilton Avenue Line Hamilton Avenue Line The Hamilton Avenue Line was a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running mostly along Hamilton Avenue between Bay Ridge and Hamilton Ferry at the north end of the avenue in Red Hook...  streetcars
16th Street 16th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 16th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform. The next stop to the north was 9th Street. The next stop to the south was 20th Street. It closed on May...	Fifth Avenue and 16th Street	August 15, 1889		connection to 15th Street Line streetcars
20th Street 20th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 20th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform. The next stop to the north was 16th Street. The next stop to the south was 25th Street. It closed on May...	Fifth Avenue and 20th Street	August 15, 1889
25th Street 25th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 25th Street was a station on the now demolished BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had two tracks and one island platform. The next stop to the north was 20th Street. The next stop to the south was 36th Street. The station closed on...	Fifth Avenue and 25th Street	August 15, 1889
36th Street 36th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 36th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had four tracks and two island platforms. The next stop to the north was 25th Street. The next stop to the south was Ninth Avenue for Culver...	Fifth Avenue and 36th Street	May 29, 1890		connection to West End Line trains
40th Street 40th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 40th Street was a station on the now demolished BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had two tracks and one island platform. The next stop to the north was 36th Street. The next stop to the south was 46th Street. The station closed on May 31,...	Third Avenue and 40th Street	October 1, 1893		connection to Church Avenue Line Church Avenue Line (surface) The Church Avenue Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, running mainly along 39th Street and Church Avenue between Sunset Park and Brownsville... , 39th Street and Coney Island Line, 39th Street and Manhattan Beach Line, and 39th Street and Ulmer Park Line streetcars
46th Street 46th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 46th Street was a station on the demolished BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform. The next stop to the north was 40th Street. The next stop to the south was 52nd Street. It closed on May 31,...	Third Avenue and 46th Street	October 1, 1893
52nd Street 52nd Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 52nd Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform. The next stop to the north was 46th Street. The next stop to the south was 59th Street. It closed on May 31,...	Third Avenue and 52nd Street	October 1, 1893
58th Street 59th Street (BMT Fifth Avenue Line) 59th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was served by trains of the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It had two tracks and one island platform. The next stop to the north was 52nd Street. The next stop to the south was 65th Street Terminal. It closed on May 31,...	Third Avenue and 58th Street	October 1, 1893
65th Street	Third Avenue and 65th Street	October 1, 1893		connection to Sea Beach Line, Bay Ridge Suburban Line, Bay Ridge Line, Third Avenue Line, and 86th Street Suburban Line streetcars