.gif)
South Ferry (New York City Subway)
Encyclopedia
The South Ferry loops are a pair of New York City Subway
underground station
s in South Ferry
, Manhattan
that have been disused since March 2009. The stations, the southernmost in Manhattan built by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company
, are two side platform
s on curved sections of track that form balloon loop
s; however, free transfers were unavailable between the platforms and each platform was meant to be served by its own line. The most recent configuration consisted of the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line on the outer loop platform and the IRT Lexington Avenue Line
on the inner loop platform. Both stations are individually named South Ferry; the name "South Ferry loops" is used to distinguish these platforms from the successor station, South Ferry, that is used by the Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line's 1
service.
of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company
. The inner track existed when the station was built, but only as a storage track. When the "H" system of the IRT opened on July 1, 1918, Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line trains used the outer platform while the inner platform was opened for IRT Lexington Avenue Line
trains which used the original trunk line in Lower Manhattan
. Services on the Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line, including the 1
and 9 trains, used the outer platform as a terminal station until March 16, 2009, when the new South Ferry station opened for 1 train passengers. That station, located underneath this one, allows a free transfer to the trains of the BMT Broadway Line
, whereas neither of this station's platforms did.
The outer platform accommodated the first five cars of a train. The rear five cars of a 10-car train could not load or unload. Gap filler
s were used to bridge the gap between the platform and the doors. Spray nozzles lubricated the track to reduce the friction caused by the tight curve. The sharp curvature slowed train operation and generated a loud metallic scraping noise. In order to eliminate this special operation, the new station was built as a two-track, full (10-car) length island platform
on a less severe curve, permitting the operation of a typical terminal station
. The MTA claims that the new station saves four to six minutes of a passenger's trip time and 24 trains an hour can run on the entire Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line as opposed to 16 to 17 trains with the former operation.
The outer platform's only point of egress was within the Staten Island Ferry
's terminal building and was not ADA-accessible
. By contrast, the successor station is fully accessible (although its transfer to the BMT Broadway Line is not) and has three entrances; the main entrance is across from the ferry terminal building's entrance.
The outer track is now used for train storage and turnarounds primarily for the Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line.
The inner platform of South Ferry opened for IRT Lexington Avenue Line
passengers on July 1, 1918, as that line's service was moved from the outer platform. This platform has an even sharper curve than the outer platform, and only the center doors opened at South Ferry, with special arched openings in a wall between the platform and track at the locations of the doors.
In the late 1950s, when the IRT
division began to use mostly R-type
cars which could not have only the center doors opened, 5
trains (which ended at South Ferry evenings and weekends only) and 6
trains (which ended at South Ferry late nights) were rerouted to the outer loop. The Bowling Green – South Ferry Shuttle, which ran weekdays and at first also late nights, continued to use the inner loop, running to the west platform at Bowling Green
until 1977, when the inner platform was closed and Lexington Avenue trains stopped using the outer loop. Specially modified R12
cars were used starting in the late 1960s until the service ended. These cars had two different door controls; the first opened the outer two sets of doors while the second opened the center set of doors only.
Both tracks are now used to turn 5 trains from Bowling Green
station in the evenings and on weekends.
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...
underground station
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
s in South Ferry
South Ferry (Manhattan)
South Ferry is at the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City and is the embarkation point for ferries to Staten Island and Governors Island....
, Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
that have been disused since March 2009. The stations, the southernmost in Manhattan built by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company
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...
, are 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 on curved sections of track that form balloon loop
Balloon loop
A balloon loop or turning loop allows a rail vehicle or train to reverse direction without having to shunt or even stop. Balloon loops can be useful for passenger trains and unit freight trains, such as coal trains....
s; however, free transfers were unavailable between the platforms and each platform was meant to be served by its own line. The most recent configuration consisted of the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line on the outer loop platform and the IRT Lexington Avenue Line
IRT Lexington Avenue Line
The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York...
on the inner loop platform. Both stations are individually named South Ferry; the name "South Ferry loops" is used to distinguish these platforms from the successor station, South Ferry, that is used by the Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line's 1
1 (New York City Subway service)
The 1 Broadway – Seventh Avenue Local is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. It is colored red on station signs, route signs and the official subway map, since it uses the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line for its entire route....
service.
Outer platform
On July 10, 1905, the outer South Ferry platform was the first of the two platforms to open and was an extension of the original trunk lineHistory of the IRT subway before 1918
The first regularly operated subway in New York City was built by the city and leased to the Interborough Rapid Transit Company for operation under Contracts 1 and 2. Until 1918, when the new "H" system that is still operated - with separate East Side and West Side lines - was placed in service, it...
of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company
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...
. The inner track existed when the station was built, but only as a storage track. When the "H" system of the IRT opened on July 1, 1918, Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line trains used the outer platform while the inner platform was opened for IRT Lexington Avenue Line
IRT Lexington Avenue Line
The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York...
trains which used the original trunk line in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
. Services on the Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line, including the 1
1 (New York City Subway service)
The 1 Broadway – Seventh Avenue Local is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. It is colored red on station signs, route signs and the official subway map, since it uses the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line for its entire route....
and 9 trains, used the outer platform as a terminal station until March 16, 2009, when the new South Ferry station opened for 1 train passengers. That station, located underneath this one, allows a free transfer to the trains of the BMT 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...
, whereas neither of this station's platforms did.
The outer platform accommodated the first five cars of a train. The rear five cars of a 10-car train could not load or unload. Gap filler
Gap filler
Platform gap fillers on the metro systems like the New York City Subway or on train stations in Hong Kong are movable platform extensions at stations where the curvature of the platform creates a significant gap between the platform and subway car door...
s were used to bridge the gap between the platform and the doors. Spray nozzles lubricated the track to reduce the friction caused by the tight curve. The sharp curvature slowed train operation and generated a loud metallic scraping noise. In order to eliminate this special operation, the new station was built as a two-track, full (10-car) length island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
on a less severe curve, permitting the operation of a typical terminal station
Terminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
. The MTA claims that the new station saves four to six minutes of a passenger's trip time and 24 trains an hour can run on the entire Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line as opposed to 16 to 17 trains with the former operation.
The outer platform's only point of egress was within the Staten Island Ferry
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation that runs between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island.-Overview:...
's terminal building and was not ADA-accessible
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
. By contrast, the successor station is fully accessible (although its transfer to the BMT Broadway Line is not) and has three entrances; the main entrance is across from the ferry terminal building's entrance.
The outer track is now used for train storage and turnarounds primarily for the Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line.
Inner platform
IRT Lexington Avenue Line
The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York...
passengers on July 1, 1918, as that line's service was moved from the outer platform. This platform has an even sharper curve than the outer platform, and only the center doors opened at South Ferry, with special arched openings in a wall between the platform and track at the locations of the doors.
In the late 1950s, when the 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...
division began to use mostly R-type
New York City Subway rolling stock
The New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system and has a large fleet of rolling stock.-Overview:As of June 2011, there are 6,292 cars on the NYCT roster. Train assignments can be found here: A typical revenue train consists of 8 to 11 cars, although shuttles can be as short as two, and...
cars which could not have only the center doors opened, 5
5 (New York City Subway service)
The 5 Lexington Avenue Express is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. It is colored green on station signs, route signs, and the official subway map, since it uses IRT Lexington Avenue Line in Manhattan....
trains (which ended at South Ferry evenings and weekends only) and 6
6 (New York City Subway service)
The 6 Lexington Avenue and Pelham Local and Lexington Avenue Local and Pelham Express are two rapid transit services of the New York City Subway. The 6 local has a circle shape while the ' express has a diamond shape...
trains (which ended at South Ferry late nights) were rerouted to the outer loop. The Bowling Green – South Ferry Shuttle, which ran weekdays and at first also late nights, continued to use the inner loop, running to the west platform at Bowling Green
Bowling Green (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)
Bowling Green is a station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at Broadway and Battery Place , in the Financial District of Manhattan...
until 1977, when the inner platform was closed and Lexington Avenue trains stopped using the outer loop. Specially modified R12
R12 (New York City Subway car)
The R12 was a New York City Subway car, the first city-owned rolling stock for the IRT division. Built by American Car and Foundry Company in 1948, these cars were very similar to the R10s, except the R12 was smaller...
cars were used starting in the late 1960s until the service ended. These cars had two different door controls; the first opened the outer two sets of doors while the second opened the center set of doors only.
Both tracks are now used to turn 5 trains from Bowling Green
Bowling Green (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)
Bowling Green is a station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at Broadway and Battery Place , in the Financial District of Manhattan...
station in the evenings and on weekends.
Further reading
- Lee Stokey. Subway Ceramics : A History and Iconography. 1994. ISBN 978-0-9635486-1-0
External links
- South Ferry Terminal Project — Official MTA South Ferry Station Project Page
- Abandoned Stations — Bowling Green & South Ferry platforms