On the FNY Norwood tour on May 31st, 2014, we ran across this tall, iron post at Webster Avenue and East 204th. My feeling is that it used to hold trolley wire, but the 3rd Avenue El once ran along Webster Avenue as well, north to where it made a right turn on East Gun Hill Road. So the question was, did they run at the same time?
The old Fordham and Woodlawn Line ran on 3rd Avenue, Fordham Road, Webster Avenue, and Gun Hill Road to Woodlawn Cemetery. It was abandoned on July 1st, 1918.
The Third Avenue El opened stations between 200th Street (Bedford Park Boulevard) and Gun Hill Road on October 4, 1920, so this post predates the construction of the El and survived long after it.
Subway historian Andy Sparberg:
Third Avenue Railway’s W trolley, the Webster-White Plains Road Line, operated on Webster Ave. south of Gun Hill Road until it was converted to a bus route, today’s BX41, in June 1948. So for 28 years both transit modes coexisted on Webster Avenue between Fordham Road and Gun Hill Road. The bus continues to operate today, using large capacity articulated vehicles because of its heavy traffic.
This section of the Third Avenue closed for service on April 29th, 1973.
Photo by Bob Mulero.
6/1/15
5 comments
Third Avenue Railway’s W trolley, the Webster-White Plains Road Line, operated on Webster Ave. south of Gun Hill Road until it was converted to a bus route, today’s BX41, in June 1948. So for 28 years both transit modes coexisted on Webster Avenue between Fordham Road and Gun Hill Road. The bus continues to operate today, using large capacity articulated vehicles because of its heavy traffic.
Updated the page, thanks —
Thank you Kevin. Just please correct the spelling of my last name to “Sparberg,” I’ve been correcting folks for my whole life – you’re hardly the first one! No need to release this comment for public view. Thanks, no problem – discretion is always the better part of valor!
Note also what appears to be – but might not be? – a fire/police box indicator light at the top of the nearby street lamp pole. Those lights are a favorite object of mine, as they are (ironically) rarely noticed yet sometimes endure decades after their working life.
Born 1931. As kids we hitched all the trolley,s of the Bronx. The Webster Av trolley started at 149th St and Melrose Av (The Hub) ran north on Webster to Gun Hill Rd, then east to White Plains Rd and then north to 242d St and ended at the Bronx/Mt Vernon line. I ran Air Force Recruiting 1967-1970 all five stations.. Now in Stuart Fl.