Elevated (El) Railroad, New York 1903

New York, April 22, 1903.
American Mutoscope and Biograph Company

A brief clip over an elevated (El) train track. The low skyline of tenement buildings and open space place this view either uptown in northern Manhattan or perhaps one of the growing outer boroughs.

Elevated railways [els]. The earliest form of rapid transit in the United States developed in New York City in the last half of the nineteenth century.
The first elevated line was constructed in 1867-70 by Charles Harvey and his West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway company along Greenwich Street and 9th Avenue between Dey and 29th streets. Tracks were laid atop iron (and later steel) superstructures about thirty feet (nine meters) above the ground, and cars were pulled by a cable connected to a steam-powered generator at the terminus.
The elevated trains were noisy, made buildings shake, and placed those below in constant danger of being hit by falling ash, oil, or cinder, but the necessity of the system assured its continuance.
- (excerpts) Fred Eisenstadt / Encyclopedia of New York City edited by Kenneth T. Jackson

A little over a year and a half after this actuality was filmed the IRT subway would open for operation between City Hall and 145th Street in Harlem. Here's a film of a portion of that ride from Union Square at 14th St. and 42nd St. to Grand Central Terminal with local stops along the way: http://tinyurl.com/6rqvsnr

Recommended reading:
By The El / Third Avenue and Its EL at Mid-Century
- Lawrence Stelter
(The Third Avenue 'El' in a collection of great color photos before 'retirement' and dismantling in 1955. The neighborhood views are amazing.)

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[SweetJaneofGoth]

My grandpap says they should build ELs all over New York.

Then get rid of cars.

[pennyf9]

2 of the NYERR LOCOMTIVES STILL SURVIVE TODAY! SITTING IN A FEILD IN ALASKA IN SAD SHAPE.

[gabrielle1086]

last steam train was on 9 Ave el on feb. 18th, 1903.

[ishouldntbeyoutubing]

Older than 1903 isn't it? I thought the steam locomotives had been replaced by electric service by then.