TROLLEY POLE, SUNSET PARK

THERE are a number of iron poles that supported trolley wires scattered around NYC, especially in Brooklyn, where I can locate about a dozen or so. Here is one found on 37th Street abutting Green-Wood Cemetery, which I have walked in dozens of times, led at least four tours in, and even “circumnavigated” in 2008. There were no trolley lines per se on 37th Street, but there were trolley tracks that connected Union Depot (see below) to the BMT subway and trolley repair yards between 5th and 9th Avenues north of 39th Street. The trolley line that ran down 39th Street and Church Avenue (used today by the B35 bus) was one of Brooklyn’s longest-lasting, running until Halloween 1956. The mastarm on the trolley pole has likely always been used for signage.

The current Jackie Gleason MTA bus depot at 5th Avenue and 36th Street was built in 1988 and was named for the Brooklyn comic whose perhaps most beloved character was Brooklyn Bus driver Ralph Kramden. The Gleason, one of the major depots in NYC, served, or serves, the B8, B9, B11, B16, B23, B35, B37, B61, B63, B65, B67, B68, B69, B70, B71, B75 and B77 lines, running inwestern and central Brooklyn from Bay Ridge to Crown Heights. There has also been a small museum fleet including a 1948 GM and 1956 Mack — the green and white buses I rode on in my youth. Occasionally, those buses are trotted out for the Brooklyn Bus Festival held annually in September.

The Gleason depot replaced the large brick 1890 Union Depot shown above, which served the Brooklyn, Bath and West End Railroad (today’s D train) and the Culver (today’s F train). The Union Depot became a subway/el car and bus inspection shop in about 1917 and served that role until 1984, when it was demolished. The current, architecturally boring Gleason Depot opened in 1988. Additionally, until 1940, the Fifth Avenue El ran on 5th Avenue beside the depot.

As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site. Take a look at the new JOBS link in the red toolbar at the top of the page on the desktop version, as I also get a small payment when you view a job via that link. 

4/9/24