Second Avenue Elevated Railroad at 23rd Street, 1936
The Second Avenue Elevated Railroad began operation in 1880. The “el” ran up
First Avenue to 23rd Street, where it traveled west one block, turned north
and ran up Second Avenue. A decrease in riders on elevated trains in the 1930s
led New York City to begin eliminating these lines and dismantling the tracks
in order to raise the value of adjacent real estate. The Second Avenue el was
abandoned north of 57th Street on June 11, 1940, and south of 57th Street on
June 13, 1942. The tracks were dismantled soon after.
