extra notes on Park Ave

The Park Avenue Improvement was contracted in two sections, and involved several types of structure.

48 St to 56 St

Contracted 17 January 1873

Open cut from the station yard to the start of the tunnel, with an iron bridge at each street.

56 St to 68 St

Contracted 17 January 1873

Tunnel, stone walls with brick jack arches on iron beams. Station-like side platforms between 59 and 60 St.

68 St to 72 St

Contracted 17 January 1873

Tunnel, stone walls with brick arch. Destroyed older tunnel for two tracks, of unknown date, from 68 St to 71 St; new tunnel is 14 feet lower.

72 St to 80 St

Contracted 17 January 1873

Tunnel, stone walls with brick jack arches on iron beams. Station-like side platforms between 72 and 73 St.

80 St to 96 St

Contracted 1 December 1872

Tunnel, stone walls with brick arch and stone arch. Center tunnel probably incorporated the Mount Pleasant Tunnel from 92 St to 94, a rock tunnel built in 1844. Station with two island platforms between 86 and 87 St.

96 St to 115 St

Contracted 1 December 1872

Stone viaduct. Station with side platforms at 110 St, probably wooden on iron frame.

115 St to Harlem River bridge

Contracted 1 December 1872

Open cut with stone walls. Station with side platforms from 125 to 126 St.

The tunnel is still in use as built from about 58 St to 96 St. The first block or two of old tunnel was replaced about 1910 to add an opening between tracks at 57 St, the beginning of the approach to Grand Central Terminal, which was built 1909-1913, extending underground operation to the end of the line. At 96 St, the cut was later covered for one further block, putting the modern day portal at 97 St.

The open cut in Harlem was replaced by a steel viaduct built in 1895-1897. The reason was the need for a higher level Harlem River drawbridge that would not have to be opened for most boat traffic. The steel viaduct merges with the stone viaduct between 110 St and 115 St. The old 125 St station in cut was replaced by the new one on the steel viaduct.

Complete schedule of service to 86 St, 110 St, and Harlem at the start of rapid transit service, 15 May 1876. The rapids ran to Williams Bridge. A few additional Harlem Division trains stopped at Harlem as shown. No Hudson Division or New Haven railroad trains stopped at the three local stations.

Inbound

Harlem         0603 0653 0713 0737 0800 0833 0918 1000 1048 1148 1249
110 St         0606 0656 0716 0740 ---- 0836 0921 ---- 1051 1151 ----
86 St          0609 0659 0719 0744 ---- 0839 0924 ---- 1054 1154 ----
Grand Central  0615 0705 0725 0750 0810 0845 0930 1010 1100 1200 1259

Harlem         1338 1438 1519 1638 1659 1723 1738 1752 1903 1944 2108 2320
110 St         1341 1441 ---- 1641 ---- 1726 1741 ---- 1906 ---- 2111 2323
86 St          1344 1444 ---- 1644 ---- 1729 1744 ---- 1909 ---- 2114 2325
Grand Central  1350 1450 1529 1650 1709 1735 1750 1802 1915 1954 2120 2330

Outbound

Grand Central  0630 0715 0745 0810 0915 0940 1035 1130 1230 1330 1530
86 St          0636 0721 ---- 0816 ---- 0946 1041 ---- 1236 1336 1536
110 St         0639 0724 ---- 0819 ---- 0949 1044 ---- 1239 1339 1539
Harlem         0642 0727 0755 0822 0925 0952 1047 1140 1242 1342 1542

Grand Central  1605 1630 1715 1745 1815 1900 1945 2040 2215 2345
86 St          1611 1635 1721 1751 1821 ---- 1951 ---- 2221 2351
110 St         1614 1637 1724 1754 1824 ---- 1954 ---- 2224 2354
Harlem         1617 1640 1727 1757 1827 1910 1957 2050 2227 2357

Track 2, Southbound, July 2001

Brick arch tunnel, north of 80 St.

Beam tunnel, between 80 St and 72 St.

Brick arch tunnel with round vents, between 72 St and 68 St.

Beam tunnel, between 68 St and 58 St.