The IRT Third Avenue Line, commonly known as the Third Avenue Elevated, Third Avenue El, or Bronx El, was an elevated railway in Manhattan and the Bronx, New York City. Originally operated by the New York Elevated Railway, an independent railway company, it was acquired by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and eventually became part of the New York City Subway system.
Third Avenue elevated trains at 59th Street
The Bowery under the El, from Division Street, 1936, Berenice Abbott
The Third Avenue El over the Bowery in the 1890s.
84th Street station of the Third Avenue El in September 1942
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) was the private operator of New York City's original underground subway line that opened in 1904, as well as earlier elevated railways and additional rapid transit lines in New York City. The IRT was purchased by the city in June 1940, along with the younger BMT and IND systems, to form the modern New York City Subway. The former IRT lines are now the A Division or IRT Division of the Subway.
A New York Transit Museum set of IRT Lo-Voltage motor cars at Mosholu Parkway station
The IRT Powerhouse
An old IRT sign remains at Wall Street station.
Routes of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, 1924
