When the signage reads "Coney Island Via Bridge" as well as the reverse route, I assume they're referring to one of the bridges connecting Manhattan. I have this set on order, so it'd be nice to understand the actual route.

Thanks a lot.

Most likely Manhattan bridge. From queens plaza the train would have run down the BMT route down Broadway and onto the bridge. you can see this routing at http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm It would have followed the N/W routing.

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/...aps/bmt_1939_wf3.jpg
http://en.allexperts.com/e/b/b...nsit_corporation.htm

...gives some information on all of the original BMT Lines

Terrific links. Thanks so much both of you.

Bob

The "via Bridge" indication was more meaningful during the 1930's and up to the mid 1950's. The Bridge which is referenced is the Manhattan Bridge. This Bridge has two sets of two track lines on it today, the South trackway used for the Broadway servive , ie Q and N and the North trackway used for the 6th Avenue service , ie B and D

Prior to the integration of the IND and BMT routes which started in the postwar period, these two lines were both used by BMT routes. The Brighton Express (Q), The SeaBeach (N) and West End Express( B)on the North Trackway brought travelers uptown on the Broadway line and were usually marked, " via Bridge" Local Service via the 4th Avenue ( R) and Brighton Locals reached the Broadway Subway in Manhattan using Montague street Tunnel and made stops on the West Side of Lower Manhattan. These trains were usually marked "via Tunnel" . On the North end of the Broadway subway , these trains would turn east at 57th street and cross into Queens using the 60th street tunnel and terminate at Queens Plaza which was the elevated Queensborough Plaza station.

The Culver Line, Franklin Ave Line, West End Local and 4th Ave Express service used the South Trackway as well as the Montague Street Tunnel to bring travelers into Lower Manhattan using the Nassau Loop . In the morning as an Example, these trains would alternately use the Bridge and the Tunnel on the inbound run and run through the Nassau loop using either the Bridge or Tunnel to return to Brooklyn . So if a train on these routes was marked Via Bridge or Via Tunnel, passengers would know the order of stops in Manhattan on the Nassau loop, a Via Bridge train stopping at Chambers Street, Fulton Street and Broad Street and a Via Tunnel Train stopping at Broad Street, Fulton Street and Chambers street.

The Via Bridge and Via Tunnel designations were most meaningful to this loop service. In Brooklyn, all BMT trains from the 4th Ave subway and the Brighton went through the 6 track mainline and Dekalb ave station complex. Passengers could change from one train to another depending on their destination in Manhattan, again the via Bridge and Via Tunnel spelling out the route. In subsequent years just before the IND and BMT integration The Via Bridge and Via Tunnel designation was primarily used for the Broadway service routing as the Nassau Street loop and the South Trackway was no longer operated.

When the R-11s arrived , the joint IRT/BMT operation on the Flushing and Astoria Lines had been eliminated and some BMT Brighton Trains ran via the Manhattan Bridge through Queens Plaza and on to Astoria. At times some of these trains would be turned at Queens Plaza.

So if you are running a set of R-11s, You are in the period from Delivery, 1949 or so into the late 1950's and running on the Brighton Line. If you have a set of R-34's , you are in the mid 1960's or later and running on the West End Line before the IND /BMT integration reached the present level of Service routes.

R-11's also saw service on the Franklin Ave Shuttle and were used on the 14th street Canarsie line , todays L train but route 16 back when the R-11s were delivered.

This Forum truly is a rich resource. Steamer, thanks for the details. I can now see where the "via Tunnel" vs. "via Bridge" markings would aid the riders. I assumed MTH used authentic signage, but just didn't question why "via Bridge" would be included.

I'm having a lot of fun referring to various posts on this section while looking at online maps of the Boroughs and visualizing the stops/destinations. Tomorrow I'm going to print the subway map that Pelham provided the link for, and also the referenced BMT information in Gladstone's links.

Once again, thanks for all the useful data.

hey Bob, glad to be of assistance

You are most welcome Bob. The BMT operations in those days were quite fascinating as they offerred a great number of choices to their passengers, depending what part of Manhattan they wished to arrive in . Also service in the summer months was still focused on fast convenient service carrying the folks to Coney Island Beaches on Summer Weekend days.

The guide from the Worlds fair for which a link was provided in this thread has a great deal of information about he variety of service provided by the BMT in that time. In addition to the Subway routes through the Montague street tunnel and over the Manhattan Bridge, BMT elevated trains operated over the Brooklyn Bridge through the three level Sands Street Station to reach Rark Row In Manhattan. BMT elevated trains also operated over the williamsburg Bridge also providing much the same service as we have from The present day J and M lines.

Enjoy the R-11's