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  • This forum is for discussion of "Fallen Flag" roads not otherwise provided with a specific forum. Fallen Flags are roads that no longer operate, went bankrupt, or were acquired or merged out of existence.
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Brooklyn Trolleys & Streetcars

This forum is for discussion of "Fallen Flag" roads not otherwise provided with a specific forum. Fallen Flags are roads that no longer operate, went bankrupt, or were acquired or merged out of existence.

Moderator: Nicolai3985

Re: ghost rails at Park Circle

  by Passenger
 
jaystreetcrr wrote:... Another good place to see old rails is the junction of Church Ave. and McDonald Ave. While not much of the railheads are visible you can see the traces under the asphalt ...
Are those trolley tracks?

I thought they were the remains of South Brooklyn freight operation.

Re: Brooklyn Trolleys & Streetcars

  by JimBoylan
 
For most of McDonald Ave., the passenger trolley company and the trolley freight company shared the tracks and had the same corporate "parent". The freight lasted longer.

Re: Brooklyn Trolleys & Streetcars

  by bellstbarn
 
I have not been to the corner of Church Avenue and McDonald recently. However, let's consider the route of the McDonald Avenue car line from Coney Island in the 1940's. It left the shed on Surf Avenue (the shed containing a carousel) and went north on unkempt private right of way that paralleled the Culver el structure. At some point, the route moved under the el, into the center of McDonald Avenue. At Coney Island shops, the South Brooklyn freight moves joined it. For much of the trip north, if memory is correct, the tracks were open, not in pavement. When the Culver el swung west , the South Brooklyn also left McDonald Avenue and headed for the area adjacent to the 9th Avenue station and the continuing route to docklands. The McDonald Avenue PCC's continued north alongside the portal later to be used by the Independent Culver routing. At Church Avenue and McDonald, therefore, there were no South Brooklyn freight movements. Sometimes, we would see a Gravesend-Church car turn from McDonald Avenue to Church Avenue.
----
Bus B69 now serves the Vanderbilt Avenue portion of the McDonald-Vanderbilt PCC combo.
Bus B67 replaces the Seventh Avenue PCC route, but its southern end has been extended to McDonald Avenue and Cortelyou Road, Kensington.
South of that, the passenger must climb stairs to the F Culver train to reach Coney Island.

Re: Brooklyn Trolleys & Streetcars

  by gandor1
 
fordhamroad wrote:-I liked the PCC's a lot, took the Smith-9th whenever going downtown (Brooklyn) for shopping etc. There was a model RR store on the block behind A&S -- anyone recall its name? Also took the PCC's daily to High School, McDonald ave line to Bishop Loughlin. (Sorry no Barbra Streisand).
-also took the trolleys from Prospect Park down to Coney Island a lot, for the rides, or just to go swimming. Sometimes, for fun, we would jump on the back and ride the anticlimbers, just hang on. Of course the motorman would get annoyed, stop the car and come back to chase us away. We ran up the block. He couldn't leave the trolley. If he was very mean or particularly outspoken, we jerked his cord and sent the trolley up in the air. He had to stop to put it back on the overhead line, and then he was very outspoken. Dangerous sport, if auto traffic was heavy, but most drivers hung back if they saw us.
-the most exciting trolley moment was sneaking into the carbarns on 9th Ave after midnight. A couple of kids would avoid the watchman and browse around the empty cars, look at some of the old stuff in the corners. We were warned by the older kids to avoid the sand pit, you could get buried if it slipped. If they spotted us, we ran pretty fast, out into the city night. Never did any mischief or graffiti, those days. Just lookin.
-but, the best experience was getting one of the old red Fifth Ave. cars and riding it all the way downtown and across the Brooklyn Bridge, glimpses of the city, the river. Ultra neat. Or you could take the car the other way to the 69th st. ferry. Then cross to Staten Island. Then ferry back to Manhattan, walk up to Brooklyn Bridge, and so home again. Good city to be twelve in.


Roger
i know the hobby shop you rae talking about it was behind A&s on bond street.....the ownesr were pat and harold but they closed and moved the store to somewhere in brooklyn
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