Lower Manhattan, NYC: There’s a transfer point where a person riding on the #6 line can transfer to the N or the R, the stop being called “Canal Street” on all of the beforementioned lines.
In the process of following the signs from 6 to N/R, one finds oneself walking down a platform which is neither of these lines. It is not the J/M line platform either, although you can transfer to the J or M at this stop as well. There are signs of the large rectangulor sort that overhang the platform area and usually say things like “R - Astoria - All Times” but which say “No trains stop here.”
There are tracks, though, and a corresponding platform on the other side; and the tile work and ceramic decor is all new and sparkling clean. There’s no way this is an old abandoned line that has fallen into disuse. Also, although I do NOT have a very good sense of direction when wandering through tunnels underground, I get the strong impression that these tracks and platforms run east-west, and there’s no crosstown line in that area.
Anyone know if they are perhaps putting in a new subway line or a shuttle service of some kind?
From the unofficial but excellent website on the NYC subways, http://www.nycsubway.org, comes the following:
“BMT Canal Street: What’s that unused platform at Canal Street, when you transfer between the J/M/Z and the N/R?”
“As a side effect of the Manhattan Bridge’s south side tracks being closed for construction, the lower level station at Canal Street has been unused for several years. If you were to ride across the Manhattan Bridge on the south side, the first stop on the south side bridge tracks in Manhattan is this unused station at Canal Street. After leaving Canal Street, the bridge tracks join the BMT Broadway Subway as the express tracks along the line until 57th Street, where the tracks diverge to the 60th and 63rd Street Tunnels to Queens.”
“On the main Broadway line station at Canal Street (currently in use by N and R locals), there are two center “express” tracks visible from the platforms. These tracks have never been used in regular service. They originate at the unused lower level of City Hall Station, run past Canal Street, and then dead end, just before the bridge tracks rise in their place. Originally it was intended for Broadway Local service to originate at City Hall upper level and proceed north on the local tracks. The tracks coming from Brooklyn via the Montague Street Tunnel were to run though the lower level of City Hall, and then continue as the express service up Broadway. The North Side of the Manhattan Bridge was to stop at the (currently unused) Canal Street bridge line platform, and then proceed crosstown on Canal Street to the Hudson River, while the South Side tracks were terminated at Chambers Street on the Nassau Street line.”
“As it was finally built, the north side tracks connected to the Canal Street Bridge Line, the south side tracks to the Nassau Street line, the upper level of City Hall was connected to the Montague Street Tunnel line, and the lower level of City Hall was left as a three track terminal station, currently used only for train storage and never used by passengers. The Chrystie Street connection construction in 1967 realigned the Manhattan Bridge approaches into what they are today (north side to 6th Avenue Subway, south side to Broadway subway via Canal Street Bridge line).”
This summer the they will be changing service due to work on the Manhattan bridge. They will change the service on the B and D from Brooklyn so that they run over the south side of the bridge and connect to the Broadway lines through those “mystery tracks” at Canal Street. (They currently run on the north side of the bridge, which connects to the 6th Avenue lines.)
To differentiate them from the north portions of the B and D lines, which will run on 6th Avenue, the Brooklyn/Broadway portions of the trains will be renamed V and W.
I’ve seen a detailed explanation of what will happen, and may be able to find it for you later.
If I am interpreting this track diagram correctly, then I believe you’re walking between the tracks that used to connect what is now the BDFQ line from the Manhattan bridge to the NR, before the 6/JMZ -> NR transfer was completed.
I’m not so sure, though. It’s difficult to reconcile the track diagram with the route map, but you are definately correct that the mysterious tracks run east/west.
(post-preview)
It seems others have found the info on the nycsubway.org site. I, however, have provided the pretty pictures.
I grew up in NY and moved to the bay area when I was 23. Man I miss that place. The only thing I don’t miss is humidity. I haven’t had a decent pie, bagel, or pastrami sandwich in years.
Actually, under the original proposal the “V” will essentally run via the “F” route in Manhattan and Brooklyn: Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn and termination at - I think - Bergen Street. It’s designed to address the opening of the 63rd Connector to Queens. And this is all assuming that the TA still ends up doing what it says it will do, which is a big question. I’ve been following the SubTalk board over at nycsubway.org, and apparently there’s a lot of politicking going on both externally and internally which may result in some changes. Believe nothing 'till the TA press release.
God I miss that place.
