Interborough Rapid Transit Lines
The Interborough operates the old subway traversing the length of Manhattan and also the four elevated lines in Manhattan and the Bronx. The original lines of this system were built in 1868 and were the first elevated tracks in New York and probably the first in the world. Other elevated lines were built between 1870 and 1880, and the present old subway was completed in 1904-8.
Steam locomotives were superseded on the Manhattan Elevated line in 1902 and electric motor car trains were substituted. The original General Electric equipment installed at that time is still in daily operation after 20 years’ service.
The present rapid transit facilities of the Interborough include the following branches:
| Division | Length of Road | Total Single Track |
|---|---|---|
| Bronx Subway Line Contracts 1 & 2 | ||
| Underground | 19.56 | 62.97 |
| Elevated | 6.16 | 22.32 |
| Contract No. 3 | ||
| Atlantic Ave. | .... | .27 |
| Astoria Line Elevated | 2.33 | 6.87 |
| Brooklyn Line | 5.10 | 17.66 |
| Corona Line Elevated | 4.21 | 12.61 |
| Clark St. Tunnel | 2.31 | 4.67 |
| Jerome Ave. Line | 6.04 | 18.89 |
| Lexington Ave. Line | 5.00 | 21.15 |
| 149th St. Loop | .55 | .55 |
| Nostrand Ave. Branch | 2.70 | 5.55 |
| Pelham Bay Park Line | 7.15 | 21.6 |
| Queensboro Subway | ||
| Underground | 1.61 | 5.98 |
| Elevated | 1.03 | .... |
| South Ave. Line Underground | 4.19 | 15.73 |
| White Plains Rd. Line Elevated | 4.88 | 15.82 |
| Manhattan Division Elevated | 37.67 | 113.19 |
| 8th Ave. & 162nd. St. Connection | .62 | 1.26 |
| Queensboro Bridge Line | 1.35 | 2.73 |
| Webster Ave. Line | 1.74 | 5.33 |
| West Farms Subway Connection | .5 | 1.00 |
| Totals | 114.7 | 373.15 |
The number of passengers carried by the Interboro Lines during the fiscal year 1921 was 1,013,678,831. This figure represents 2,773,479 passengers per mile of track. In the main 4-track subway 10-car express trains are operated during rush hour periods on minimum headways of 108 seconds.
Power Supply
The power generating equipment of the Interborough includes briefly the following:
| 59th St. Power Station | Total Kw. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo-Generators | 3-30,000 kw. | 90,000 | |
| Compound Units | 5-15,000 kw. | 75,000 | |
| Engine-driven Units | 4-7,500 kw. | 30,000 | |
| Total | 195,000 | Kw. | |
| 74th St. Power Station | Total Kw. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo-Generator | 1-60,000 kw. | 60,000 | |
| Turbo-Generators | 3-30,000 kw. | 90,000 | |
| Turbo-Generator | 1-7,500 kw. | 7,500 | |
| Engine-driven | 3-7,500 kw. | 22,500 | |
| Total | 180,000 | Kw. | |