The first elevated railroad began operation in New York in 1868 along Ninth Avenue. After early financial and technical problems, service was improved and the number of passengers increased. By 1878 the Ninth Avenue “el” ran from South Ferry to West 61st Street. This successful means to transport passengers in an increasingly congested city led to the development of additional elevated railroads, including two in the Rose Hill and Kips Bay area.
The Third Avenue Elevated Railroad began operation in August 1878, with steam powered locomotives pulling passenger cars from South Ferry, up the Bowery and Third Avenue, to 42nd Street. By the end of the year, service was extended 129th Street. By 1880, a spur line was completed that ran down 34th Street from Third Avenue to the East River, connecting the Third Avenue el with the Long Island Railroad ferry terminal.
The Second Avenue Elevated Railroad began operation in March 1880, with service between Chatham Square and 65th Street, extended to 129th Street by August. The Second Avenue el ran up First Avenue to 23rd Street, where it traveled west one block, turned north and ran up Second Avenue. The Second and Third Avenue elevated lines were eventually connected downtown at Chatham Square and uptown at 129th Street. Both lines became part of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, or IRT, in 1903.
