Ninth Avenue Express

North = to Woodlawn

South = to Rector Street

Rector Street had four tracks and two side platforms. The two center tracks ended at a bump block just south of the station

Cortlandt Street had three tracks. Northbound had one side and one island platform. Southbound was served by the island platform and a wall platform

Barclay Street had three tracks and two side platforms

Warren Street had three tracks. Northbound had one side and one island platform. Southbound was served by the island platform and a wall platform

Franklin Street had three tracks and two side platforms

Desbrosses Street had three tracks. Northbound had one side and one island platform. Southbound was served by the island platform and a wall platform

Houston Street had three tracks and two side platforms

Christopher Street had three tracks. Northbound had one side and one island platform. Southbound was served by the island platform and a wall platform

14^th Street had three tracks. The lower level had two side platforms with the express on the upper level served by two side platforms

23^rd Street had three tracks and two side platforms. (Express center track on upper level.)

30^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms. (Express center track on upper level.)

34^rd Street had three tracks. The lower level had two side platforms with the express on the upper level served by two side platforms

42^nd Street had three tracks and two side platforms. (Express center track on upper level.)

50^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms. (Express center track on upper level.)

59^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

66^th Street had two levels. The lower level had two side platforms while the center express track was on the upper level with two side platforms

72^nd Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

81^st Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

86^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

93^rd Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

99^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

104^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level. Leaving here we curve onto 110^th Street in a section known as “Suicide Curve” due to its height- The highest ever in the system (far surpassing even today’s Smith and Ninth Station).This must have been quite a view of the city !

110^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms. The station did have elevators! Leaving here we make another sharp curve onto Eighth Avenue

116^th Street was another strange station, with three tracks. The east island served 116^th and 117^th Streets and the west island served 114^th and 115^th Streets. While we have no proof, there was probably no crossover or crossunder.

125^th Street was also a strange station. It too had three tracks and two offset island platforms. The east island was between 125^th Street and 126^th Street and the west island between 123^rd Street and 124^th Street. It too probably had no crossover or crossunder

130^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

135^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

140^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

145^th Street had two levels. The lower level had two side platforms while the center express track was on the upper level with two side platforms

151^st Street had three tracks and two side platforms with the center track on the upper level

155^th Street had four tracks and two island platforms*

Sedgwick Avenue had two tracks and two side platforms*

Anderson & Jerome Avenue was another strange station which was both el and tunnel due to street topography. The west end was in a tunnel with exit up to the street while the east exit was down to the street. The center exit wax at grade and also had an overpass to the Polo Grounds. The section from 155^th Street to 167^th Street survived until 1955 when the Giants Baseball Team left New York. We now merge with the IRT Jerome Avenue Line *

167^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms

170^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms

Belmont Avenue had three tracks and two side platforms. (This might be today’s Mt Eden Avenue Station)

176^th Street had three tracks and two side platforms

Burnside Avenue had three tracks and two island platforms

West 183^rd Street had three tracks and two side platforms

Fordham Road had three tracks and two side platforms

Kingsbridge Road had three tracks and two side platforms. This was the last stop for 6^th Avenue locals AND SOME 9^TH Avenue expresses

Bedford Park Boulevard had three tracks and two side platforms

Mosholu Parkway had three tracks and two side platforms

Woodlawn had two tracks an island platform and two side platforms

*   These stations survived until 1956 when the Polo grounds ball stadium was demolished after the baseball team moved to California. Even today, you can see remnants of this line from the 4 train between 161 and 167 Street stations.