I couldn’t imagine a six track subway running along Second Avenue and the amount of branches it had was insane

The 2nd Ave. line has so much potential to be good, but I have a feeling after Phase 2 they’ll stop and say this is good enough.

Indeed, I actually would like to learn more about the R11. Anyways, Here's my idea for the Second Avenue Line. Once Phase 2 is completed, they should extend the line along 125th Street to Broadway, then add two branches into the Bronx: one along Third Avenue and Webster Avenue to Gun Hill Road, and the other along 163rd Street Lafayette Avenue to Throgs Neck. While Phase 3 is being constructed, they should connect it to the Queens Blvd Line (via 63rd Street) and the Astoria Line (via 59th Street), build it with four tracks, and connect the two inner tracks to the existing Grand Street Station. A lower level should then be built at the Grand Street Station for Phase 4. Phase 4 should also continue past Hanover Square and connect with the Fulton Street Line via the old Court Street Station, where the NY Transit Museum is. The museum should stay, but the old trains should be moved to the lower level at the City Hall Station on the BMT Broadway Line, which should then be converted into another museum that can be viewed by the public.

I think they needs to be a pt. 2 to this video as to how the lines would have look like in different scenarios because the amount of BS the MTA have said to push this project back from since the 1920s and now looking how long it has token them just to finish the 1st phase. I would love to see the many versions they envisioned would have happened

It’s really not understandable that it took this long to build the Second Avenue Subway. The groundbreaking took place in 1972. Between then and now, NYC built 1.5 miles of subway and 3 stations. In the same time period, the DC Metro built 128 miles of subway and 97 stations. WMATA has had way worse troubles than the Subway, including having no dedicated source of funding and having its initial funding held up by Natcher. The saga of the 2nd Avenue Subway is down to nothing but corruption and sheer, unadulterated incompetence.

Have you heard of the possible hidden track underneath Owl's Head Park in Brooklyn? It was supposed to connect Brooklyn to Staten Island by subway, but ran out of funding before abandoning the project. That subway would have been a game changer for sure.

The 2nd Ave Line is a line that should’ve been up and running decades ago. Truth be told, the 2nd & 3rd Ave El’s should’ve never been torn down until a 2nd Ave Line was up and running. Thinking about this line is a reminder of what incompetency looks like and how forgotten Transit is until something comes up and it can’t be ignored anymore. I don’t even like how it’s being “phased”. It’s a setup for this thing to never be built. And it’s dead wrong that this line doesn’t go into The Bronx. Just having it go to 3rd Ave - 149th St would be massive. This line has the potential to be amazing and the 3 new stations built have done a tremendous job with travel down the East Side but so much needs to be done. It would be nice if it all would happen in my lifetime but I’m not holding my breath on that. Here’s hoping Phase 2 gets done and done on time.

Fantastic thorough history of the 2nd Ave subway. In the 1970s R11s were being used on the Franklin Ave shuttle. I used to love seeing them at the Prospect Park station when riding the D train into Manhattan.

The ind conversion of the Pelham line sounded like a terrible idea due to cutting back the 6.

I just came up with my own fantasy expansion plan that mostly revolves around the Second Avenue Subway. Based on what we currently have, I would have express tracks built under the current tracks of Phase 1. 72nd street station would become an express station by receiving a new lower level platform for express trains. In phase 2, the 106th Street station should be built in the typical express station layout with 2 Island platforms and 4 tracks all on the same level; this allows for a cross platform interchange between local and express service. The N and Q trains from Broadway would handle local service while the T train and a new V train would handle express service. At 116th Street, the line would split into two branches: the N train serves the 125th Street-Crosstown subway, while the Q, T and V trains continue into the Bronx via Third Avenue. There would be three branches in the Bronx: the Q line would diverge at 163rd Street and run to Throgs Neck via Lafayette Avenue; the T train would run along Boston Rd to E 180 Street, where it would take over the Dyre Avenue line (currently the 5 train) to Eastchester-Dyre Avenue, and the V train would continue along Third Avenue and the Metro-North Railroad right-of-way to Gun Hill Road, roughly following the former route of the Third Avenue Elevated. Going back to Manhattan, the T and V trains would meet up with a new Z train at 55th Street. This new Z train would run from Springfield Blvd in Queens and along the Long Island Expressway until Main Street, where it would turn onto Main Street and connect with the 7 Train. It would then turn onto Northern Blvd and run local while an extended L train handles express service; they would run into Manhattan through a new 57th Street tunnel. The Z train would turn south at Second Avenue to meet up with the T and V trains and the L train would continue along 57th Street to 10th Avenue (for more information on this 10th Avenue-57th Street line, see the comment I made on Mystic’s L train extension video). This new Z train would handle local service south of 55th Street while the T and V trains handle express service. At Houston street, the local tracks should be connected to the existing Chrystie Street connection tracks that the M train uses to run into Williamsburg. This allows Second Avenue trains to run across the Williamsburg Bridge to Metropolitan Avenue. Sending a branch of the Second Avenue Subway to Metropolitan Avenue frees up the M train, which can now be lengthened to 10 cars and handle daytime express service along the Culver line to Church Avenue. This would also play a big role in a Queens Blvd deinterlining plan (or in terms of less wonky language, redesign). With F and M trains having a longer route length, they would run express while the E train and a new K train handle local service. All Broadway Local service would run to Astoria, so all W trains become R trains under this plan. To prevent Queens Blvd from being cut off from Broadway, an in-system connection would be made between Queens Plaza and Queensboro Plaza and 36th Street would be converted into an express station. The E and K trains would run local to 179th street, allowing the F train to run full express in Queens, and the M train would run to Jamaica Center. Returning to Manhattan yet again, the E and K trains handle local service on 8th Avenue. This allows the C train to run express; the B and D trains would handle local service north of 59th Street. The B and C lines would swap northern terminals with the B train running to 168th street and the C train running to 205th Street; the D would be cut back to Bedford Park Blvd. South of Houston Street, phase 4 of the Second Avenue Line would be built as planned. The T and V lines would be extended into Brooklyn past Hanover Square, via a new tunnel that connects to the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets station. The IND Court Street station (currently the Transit Museum) can either be converted to service, or new tracks and platforms can be built below the existing ones if the museum is kept. With the T and V trains handling local service along Fulton Street to Euclid Avenue, the C train will, again, be able to run express out to Lefferts Blvd. This, in turn, allows all A trains to run into the Rockaways and greatly improve service down there. Feel free to share your thoughts on this by replying!

They should have built the six track version. The street is so wide that it wouldn't have been that tough to put so many tracks underground with cut and cover. The superexpress service would have been great to connect Harlem to Lower Manhattan, and the other branches would have provided great connectivity to other boroughs and neighborhoods.

Thanks for making a video on the past, as we're feeling out of luck for this line in the present. But, what we really need to see is the future.

Very well done. Yes. Do one on the R-11

This is just a side comment to your excellent video, but it honestly speaks to your professionalism that your ad read for Masterworks actually felt like a researched, balanced, and well supported recommendation for the service.

we sure do LOVE 2nd ave

Great as always. I wouldn't mind learning about the R11's. They seem to have an interesting backstory plus only one set? I hope you get a chance to cover them.

The one constant throughout the video was, "Hey! The Lexington Avenue line is horribly overcrowded! Let's do something about it." Decades go by.

Great video, thanks! I'm interested in a video on the R11's. :)

1:00 Here in Philadelphia it’s $2 If you use our Septa key (4.95 pretty sure for the card. Also some of the cost of the initial card goes to credit) & 2.50 in cash & coins (Btw if you use cash there is no refund for change)

I'd love to see a video on the R11 subway cars

Keep up the good work dude.

I would love to see you do a video on R11 train

Great video! Please do one on the R11 cars.

Are there any sources that say that Second Avenue Phase 2 construction will begin next year? I've been looking for anything that says when construction will begin but I haven't seen it anywhere.

It's amazing they were able to extend the 7 and 2nd avenue line in Manhattan with all the inflation nowadays. But we can all see the compromises that were made to get it done. Any future extensions should go all out or not be done at all.

I see your back on the grind, for now

Suggestion: make a video on “2 Avenue Subway: All endings” and show every plan and possible ending of the line

They should have scrapped the 2nd and 3rd ave EL only after the completion of this subway line, not before its construction.

do a video about the #7 train and the proposals for the extension of the #7 line past Main Street Station??

Mystic Transit can you make a video about the Quadboro Local line or the The Forgotten Route 131

Gonna be excited for my great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandkids to see this subway open for the first time

Almost no one mentions the R11. Would love to see a video on covering that so that missing piece of NYCT history can be properly filled.

the line should be 4 tracks so the line can have express service. the express tracks could be built under the existing line.

The 2nd Avenue line was sent to the 3rd Avenue line between South Ferry in Manhattan and Gun Hill Road in The Bronx but the 2nd Avenue line starts at 125th Street but it starts as the 3rd Avenue line between Gun Hill Road and 129th Street there was a free transfer to the 2 and 5 trains at 3rd Avenue-149th Street and for the 6 line at 3rd Avenue-138th Street and at Houston Street to go to the underground South Ferry station

If I had a dollar for every month the second Avenue subway was planned, I would be a millionaire

Great Video!!!

What this route needs a larger TBM Big Bertha Type South of 63rd street Basically 2 tonos on top of each other made by a single machine the top level local lower level express tracks A separate tunnel will connect the 2 tracks just like Barcelona metro in Spain. Only my mom used the 72nd st 2nd ave then M72 bus to the Mary Manning Nursing Home.

Will you do a video about the Long Island Rail Road Grand Central Madison when it opens, they will increase frequency

Arent the tunnels from 96th to 125 partially done already?

Do you think the Archer avenue line will ever be extended to it's original plan?

I’d love a video of the R11, don’t really know about each railcars

Quick question what’s the song at 11:15

The 2nd Ave subway HAS to relieve the M15, the busiest bus route in the city.

If they knew the Second Avenue Subway wouldn't be built for another 60 years, could the 2nd and 3rd Ave elevated stay up?

10:29 aka Diamond D train

What will happen with the M15 select bus service?

Just send the line across 125th street. We have enough lower Manhattan service. There is a desperate need for crosstown service above central park.

there's a second ave subway joke in mad men when peggy tries to buy her first apartment

Can you talk about projects that never got constructed?

I believe in an alternate universe, construction on the Second Avenue Subway would’ve started a couple years after World War 2, probably between 1947-1948, and it would’ve been completed in phases throughout the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Phase 1 of the line between 125th Street and 57th Street-7th Avenue would’ve been completed in 1953, Phase 2 between 72nd Street and Houston Street would’ve been completed in 1956, and Phase 3 between Houston Street and Court Street would’ve been completed between 1960-1961. Phase 1 would be similar to the present day Q Train extension, with 2 tracks. 72nd Street would’ve been an island platform as it was in our timeline, but the 86th, 96th, 106th and 116th Street stations would’ve been side-by-side platforms. Phase 2 would have 4 tracks, 2 express and 2 local. Instead of 55th Street, we would see 49th and 57th Street stations be built instead. 42nd, 14th, and Houston Street stations would be express stations, while 57th, 49th, 34th, and 23rd Street Stations would serve the local. In addition, we would’ve seen a few extra stations at St Marks Place, 28th Street, and 65th Street. Phase 3 would’ve seen a 2-line running from Houston Street to Hanover Square as currently planned by the MTA, but after which it’ll run via a new tunnel under the East river and into Court Street in Brooklyn, after which, trains will merge onto the Fulton Street line, where they’ll run up to Euclid Avenue. In the years following, minor improvements would be made. In the mid-to-late 60’s, a trunk line would’ve been built, which would’ve linked the line from Houston Street to Bowery. In 1989, Lexington Av-63rd Street would’ve still been built, but as an infill station so passengers can transfer from the Q to the F (from the N to the orange Q or JFK Express at the time it was constructed). Sometime in the early 1990’s, one last trunk line would’ve been built, linking the line between 57th Street and Roosevelt Island, providing service from 2nd Avenue to the Queens Boulevard line. 57th Street would’ve looked similar in design to that of 50th Street on the C and E. The 2010 service cuts would’ve been pretty different. We would still see the W line be eliminated, and the M would still be re-routed to run along 6th Avenue with the F. The Z, however, would be rerouted via the Christie Street connection to run along the 2nd Avenue line, at least up until 42nd Street, where would split from 2nd Avenue and run along the BMT Astoria Line with the N.

will we be alive to see the entire 2nd Avenue line built???

That would’ve been an amazing expansion for the MTA, but seeing it how it is it’s a shame that we can’t spend $1 billion on transit infrastructure in America but we can spend $1 billion on highway infrastructure. 😢 smh

Are we even gonna pose the question as to rather or not the T train is coming to a transit system near you? Lol

I will die before it’s actually completed.

The fact that this new T line only stays in Manhattan, I think they could have saved money during one of its delays and made this either BRT or light rail. And the “Rich man’s” line is the perfect nickname for this because it mainly is benefiting the east side wealthy residents. An extension to another borough would be helpful. This could also be a Throggs Neck line in the Bronx or something

I seen it before, but poor #5070 got conquested....😡

At this point bro just have the L train convert on the J,M,F,Q line on weekends and have the C train on the F,M,J then convert on the L line to rockaway park away

7:55 nice littering lol

Man! Its just bad luck! Great Depression, WW2, 1975 Fiscal Crisis.

He actually got a sponser lets go!

1:02 that one didn’t age well A subway ride is $2.75

It was a terrible shame to demolish the Els. Imagine how nice it would be to have more transit and unique views of the city. They should just rebuild the El at this point.

We all think it should have been built in the 30s with the rest of the IND, right?

I'd pass on the R11 video. But I like this video, though.

The project would get done faster and much more efficiently if they stopped using slow tunnel borers and used faster drills. The project will tunnel borers will take 100 years to complete!

Honestly it looks like 2nd Ave line won’t be completed in anyone who is watching this video lifetime.

Me In 2030 Riding Q To 125th Street

oh nice iPhone 14P gang

The Great Depression: A great economic depression

Everyday I take the subways I constantly see farebeating from the lowlifes to the guys with suits and all. MTA is losing milliions and millions due to these farebeating. I even saw a dam cop open the door for a old lady without paying. I see them wait on the door when someone exits the station they walk right in. What could the MTA do better on this. They are bitching they are losing zillions of dollars and we as tax payers are going to pay for this in increase fares for the years to come.

2号線鉄道の第2期工事完成を望む声あり

3rd Avenue Subway > 2nd Avenue Subway

They should have went for 2nd ave and cancel the 6th ave line it was a mistake. 6th ave IND should not have been built

You had me until your nonsense about inflation. Even if it's for a sponsor, it was a pile of crap.

These should be the [T] route stations: Ⓜ Manhattanville-Saint Clair Place (T) Ⓜ Hancock Place-125th Street (T) Ⓜ Lenox Avenue-125th Street (T) Ⓜ Park Avenue-125th Street (T) Ⓜ 116th Street (T) Ⓜ 110th Street (T) Ⓜ 103rd Street (T) Ⓜ 96th Street (T) Ⓜ 91st Street (T) Ⓜ 86th Street (T) Ⓜ 79th Street (T) Ⓜ 72nd Street (T) Ⓜ 66th Street (T) Ⓜ 59th Street (T) Ⓜ 50th Street (T) Ⓜ 42nd Street (T) Ⓜ 34th Street (T) Ⓜ 28th Street (T) Ⓜ 23rd Street (T) Ⓜ 18th Street (T) Ⓜ 14th Street (T) Ⓜ Saint Mark's Place (T) Ⓜ Houston Street (T) Ⓜ Grand Street (T) Ⓜ Chatham Square (T) Ⓜ Frankfort Street-Brooklyn Bridge (T) Ⓜ Maiden Lane (T) Ⓜ Hanover Square (T) Ⓜ Governors Island (T) Ⓜ Bay Street-Staten Island Ferry (T) Ⓜ Fort Hill Park-Westervelt Avenue (T) Ⓜ Clyde Place (T) Ⓜ Clinton Avenue-Goodhue Park (T) Ⓜ Kissel Avenue (T) Ⓜ Oakland Avenue (T) Ⓜ Chappell Street (T) Ⓜ Jewett Avenue (T) Ⓜ Faber Street-Castleton Avenue (T) Ⓜ Saint Joseph's Avenue (T) Ⓜ Walker Street-Simonson Avenue Ⓜ Union-Netherland Avenues Ⓜ Forest Avenue Ⓜ Lisk Avenue Ⓜ Lois Lane Ⓜ Bloomfield-Eduard Curry Avenue

These should be the [I] route stations: Ⓜ Battery Park (I) Ⓜ Hanover Square (I) Ⓜ Maiden Lane (I) Ⓜ Frankfort Street-Brooklyn Bridge (I) Ⓜ Chatham Square (I) Ⓜ Grand Street (I) Ⓜ Houston Street (I) Ⓜ Saint Mark's Place (I) Ⓜ 14th Street (I) Ⓜ 18th Street (I) Ⓜ 23rd Street (I) Ⓜ 28th Street (I) Ⓜ 34th Street (I) Ⓜ 42nd Street (I) Ⓜ 50th Street (I) Ⓜ 59th Street (I) Ⓜ 66th Street (I) Ⓜ 72nd Street (I) Ⓜ 79th Street (I) Ⓜ Van Alst Street (I) Ⓜ 31st Street (I) Ⓜ 36th Street (I) Ⓜ 46th Street (I) Ⓜ Roosevelt Avenue (I) P-O-R-T-A-L Ⓜ Yellowstone Boulevard (I) Ⓜ Union Turnpike (I) Ⓜ Forest Park-Myrtle Avenue (I) Ⓜ Jamaica Avenue Ⓜ Atlantic Avenue Ⓜ Rockaway Boulevard-Liberty Avenue Ⓜ Howard Beach-JFK Airport Ⓜ Hammels Wye Ⓜ Mott Avenue Ⓜ Horton Avenue Ⓜ Inwood-Cypress Road