IND Second System
The IND Second System describes a planned but unbuilt major addition to the Independent Subway System of the New York Subway.
Background
Note: Please be patient with the slow editing process of this document. This is due to problems with my computer. I will have to use other computers whenever possible. If you have knowledge about the IND Second System and see errors, or may wish to augment this document, I hereby grant full permission to do so-The Creator and editor of this article Simon J. St. Cyr.
In the early 1920s, the then mayor of the City of New York, proposed a complex series of city-owned and operated rapid transit lines to compete with the BMT and IRT?especially their elevated lines. His plans were called ridiculous, but some aspects couldn't be passed up. After some replanning by the Board of Transportation, there were to be new lines by slightly different standards. These lines collectively are called the Independent City-owned Rapid Transit Railroad or the IND for short. Construction on the new lines would be done in three phases. Phase I is what is today's IND?two major trunk lines in Manhattan with one running under Eighth Avenue and one under Sixth Avenue, a crosstown subway under 53rd Street (connecting with the Eighth and Sixth Avenue Subways) running under the East River to Queens Plaza, that meets with a Brooklyn-Queens crosstown line (today's G Line) and travels under Queens Boulevard to about Van Wyck Boulevard, where it turns under Hillside Avenue and runs to 179th Street, and Grand Concourse Subway in The Bronx that branches off the Eighth Avenue Subway in Manhattan at 145th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue.
Phase I (Original System Built)
The core of Phase I are the Eighth and Sixth Av. Subways.
Summary
Manhattan
- Built to compete with IRT Ninth Av. Elevated—One block away.(Demolished)
- Built to compete with IRT Sixth Av. Elevated—Directly overhead.(Demolished)
- Partially built to compete with IRT Sixth Av. Elevated's connection to IRT Ninth Av. Elevated—Directly overhead. (Demolished)
Brooklyn/Queens
- Built to compete with BMT Fulton St. Elevated—Directly overhead. (Demolished)
- Brooklyn-Queens Crosstown Subway—
- Built to deny same route to BMT and compete with that company's Crosstown streetcar line
The Bronx
- Built to compete with IRT Jerome Av. Elevated. Approximately two blocks away. (Plan did not work. Discussed Later.)
Details
In order to understand the IND Phase 2, "The IND Second System", one must have a knowledge of Phase 1
Manhattan
The Eighth Av. Subway
The Eighth Av. Subway starts at the intersection of Vesey and Church St.(The site of the northeastern corner of the future World Trade Center) at two different stations both named Chambers Street. Four tracks are present here, two are for the terminus of 8 Av. Local trains, and the other two for trains going to Brooklyn. This line is four tracks from here to 168 St.-Washington Heights, and two tracks from Washington Heights to its 207 St. terminus.
It runs in a northern direction under Church St. This thoroughfare becomes the 6 Av. (officially
