BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Circa-1935, we see two TARS streetcars working the "P" line, passing by the NYW&B station house on the right.......

https://www.newdavesrailpix.com/tars/htm/tarsfp076.htm

(courtesy: davesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

To this very day, the handsome, towering, and majestic 1912 headhouse at E. 180th St., that served "Westchester" passengrs until 1937, still serves IRT riders.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?136285

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?77374

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an excellent photo gallery dedicated to the remains (and these crumbling remains become more and more obscure over the years) of the old NYW&B, which ceased operating in late 1937.

Of particular interest are the photos taken of the former NYW&B platform areas at E. 180th St., and the few remaining station houses......

https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/New_York,_Westchester,_and_Boston_Remains

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are two views of the former NYW&B station house at Heathcote; the area occupied by the traffic lanes was once the location of the two platforms.

You can see where there is a blank space on the wall of the station house, facing the former track area; this was where the long-since demolished passageway connected the station house to the stairways, which led down to the platforms.

Few, if any, in the area today, know that, at one time in decades past, a high-speed electric commuter railroad once operated here.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?18830

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?18832

(courtey: nycsubway.org)

[N4 Jamaica]

Do not neglect a visit to the excellent website crafted by historian Otto Vondrak. www.nywbry.com
---
Dad rode the system and knew it well before abandonment. In the 1960's he disputed historians born after 1937 for inaccuracies in their printed narratives.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The former Wykagyl station house from the air, as it appeared in the 1950's; note the building had been converted into shops.

The former ROW beneath the former station is clearly visible....

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?38506

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The same former station, in 1983..........note the old platforms are still visible.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?18913

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.......the same former station site, in 2001........indeed,how the mighty hath fallen.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?18914

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In this 1981 bus (MaBSTOA) photo, note the old gabled building on the right, housing multiple shops.

Until 1937, this was the NYW&B's Hunts Point station (Harlem River branch).....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155724

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a little bit of interesting reading:

https://forgotten-ny.com/2021/05/dyre-avenue-2012/

As I had mentioned earlier, interestingly enough, the Dyre Avenue line was operated as a division of the IND (note comments from "Andy"); this I truly find ironic, as the equipment used on the line was all ex-INTERBOROUGH! (wooden El cars, and later, steel subway cars)

And the signals came from the BMT!

(courtesy: forgotten-ny.com)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also:

https://forgotten-ny.com/1999/05/the-new-york-westchester-and-boston-railroad/

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The ex-NYW&B ROW in the Bronx was not the only time that the City purchased a section of railroad, with the purpose of converting it to subway/rapid transit operation.

In 1950, the LIRR experienced yt another destructive trestle fire on the Rockaway line, the railroad threw in the towel, and wrote the line off.

Then, in 1953, the City bought the former LIRR line, and converted the route for subway operation (high-level platforms and other infrastructure were already in place)

In 1956, subway service began (the ceremonial first train was made up of then-new BMT R-16's); interestingly, for many year, a double-fare was charged on the Rockaway line, and special tokens were issued.

In the manner of a traditional railroad operation, train crews were changed at Euclid Avenue.

Prior to the line's 1956 opening, a prolonged strike at WESTINGHOUSE could have delayed the line's opening date; however, equipment was borrowed from the Dyre Avenue line(!!) and the Aqueduct substation was skeletonized.

Arrangements were also made to purchase other power; in closing, the new Rockaway line actually opened on its target date of June 28, 1956, then a first for any new NYC transit line.....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Excellent hitory, stats, and photo galleries on the IND's Rockaway line.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/IND_Rockaway_Line

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)