The Fifth Ave el was a steam powered el that went to Adams, Bridge, and Atlantic Aves on 11/5/1888. To the south, the line was extended to St Marks, Union, and 3rd street on 6/22/1889. A Fulton street station was added in between Bridge and Atlantic on 7/27/1889 and thru routed north to Sands street across the Brooklyn Bridge to an elevated terminal, Park Row in Manhattan that same year. (The Sands to Park Row part of the tracks were part of the The New York and Brooklyn Bridge Railway 1883 - 1889). Later, it was extended again to 9th, 16th, 20th, and 25th on 8/15/1889. Years later, the Brooklyn Rapid transit (BRT) took over the line and electrified it 7/3/1899.

On 5/29/1890, the Fifth Ave el was extended south once again to a very important station at 36th called Union Depot. This station became the meeting place for other south Brooklyn railroads to join like the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line), The Brooklyn, Bath, and West End Railroad, and The Sea Beach Railway. After Union Depot, the Fifth Ave el continued west until it turned south on Third Ave el five more elevated stops; 40th, 46th, 52nd, 58th, and 65th streets on 10/1/1893.

The Fifth Ave el was known as the BMT #6 train (1924 - 1940). This particular el was the main artery to not only the Culver, West End, and Sea Beach lines in 1890, but additionally the Brighton Beach line 8/15/1896, the Myrtle Ave el in 1898, Fulton st el in 1898, and Lexington Ave el 3/13/1898 crossing the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan. Unfortunately, the Fifth Ave el was losing business to the newer Fourth Ave subway around the corner since 1915! They co-existed for a time, but the Fourth Ave subway was able to bring the West End , , Sea Beach , and Brighton line , across the newer Manhattan bridge and Montegue street tunnel through Broadway, all the way to 59th street and Lexington Ave. It was also able to bring the Culver through the Nassau street loop along with the eastern division's Jamaica el , and Myrtle Ave line . The Fifth Ave el only went up to the tip of Manhattan at Park Row! Plus the Fifth Ave el was redundant in Brooklyn with the newer Fourth Ave subway, so they ended the Fifth Ave el on 6/1/1940 and the Third Ave el portion of the structure became part of the Gowanus Expressway in the 1940s.

The Fifth Ave el, BMT #6 train, Brooklyn 1930s

The Fifth Ave el (BMT #6)
PARK ROW	(Manhattan) crossing Brooklyn bridge	opened 9/24/1883 - 1889 for The New York and Brooklyn Bridge Railway. Steam locomotives were used to get trains in and out of the terminals, but were pulled by cables across the bridge	After 1896 the system changed to one where a motor car was added to each train to maneuver at the terminals, while en route the trains were still propelled by the cable	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) ran Fifth Ave el accross Brooklyn Bridge 6/18/1898 and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 6/1/1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) using steam locomotives 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed BMT #5b 5/30/1931 to 6/1/1940, Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, Brighton line 6/18/1898 - 1920, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	also served Lexington Ave el 6/1898 and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #12 1924 - 3/5/1944, also served Fulton st el 1898 and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #13 1924 - 6/1/1940, station demolished/ closed 3/5/1944
SANDS ST	Brooklyn Bridge end of bridge (Brooklyn)	upper level opened 9/24/1883 - 1889 for The New York and Brooklyn Bridge Railway. Lower level opened 11/5/1888 using steam locomotives to the rest of Brooklyn. Steam locomotives were used to get trains in and out of the terminals, but were pulled by cables across the bridge	After 1896 the system changed to one where a motor car was added to each train to maneuver at the terminals, while en route the trains were still propelled by the cable.	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) ran Fifth Ave el across Brooklyn Bridge 6/18/1898 and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 6/1/1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed BMT #5b 5/30/1931 to 6/1/1940, Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, Brighton line 8/15/1896 - 1920, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	also served Lexington Ave el 9/1/1888 and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #12 1924 to 3/5/1944, also served Fulton st el 1898 and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #13 1924 - 6/1/1940, also served Myrtle Ave el 1898 and electrified 7/1/1900, renamed BMT #11 1924 - 3/5/1944, station demolished/ closed 3/5/1944
ADAMS ST	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	opened 4/10/1888, steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 11/5/1888 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed BMT #5b 5/30/1931 to 6/1/1940	Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	also served Lexington Ave el 4/10/1888 and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #12 1924 to 3/5/1944, also served Myrtle Ave el 1898 and electrified 7/1/1900, renamed BMT #11 1924 - 3/5/1944, station demolished/ closed 3/5/1944
BRIDGE / JAY STREET	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	opened 4/10/1888, steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 11/5/1888 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed BMT #5b 5/30/1931 to 6/1/1940	Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	also served Lexington Ave el 4/10/1888 and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #12 1924 to 3/5/1944, also served Myrtle Ave el 1898 and electrified 7/1/1900, renamed BMT #11 1924 and renamed again MJ 11/27/1967 to 10/4/1969, station demolished/ closed 10/4/1969
FULTON ST	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 7/27/1889 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913. These lines electrified 7/3/1899	demolished/ closed 6/1/1940
ATLANTIC AVE	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 11/5/1888 - 1889	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	demolished/ closed 6/1/1940
ST MARKS AVE	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 6/22/1889 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899,served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	demolished/ closed 6/1/1940
UNION ST	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 6/22/1889	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	demolished/ closed 6/1/1940
3RD ST	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 6/22/1889	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899,served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	demolished/ closed 6/1/1940
9TH ST	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 8/15/1889	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	demolished/ closed 6/1/1940
16TH ST	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 8/15/1889	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	demolished/ closed 6/1/1940
20TH ST	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 8/15/1889	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	demolished/ closed 6/1/1940
25TH ST	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 8/15/1889	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	demolished/ closed 6/1/1940
36TH ST (UNION DEPOT)	Fifth Ave el (Brooklyn)	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 5/29/1890 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Fifth Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	also served The Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad (Culver line) 1890 - 1899, served the BMT #5 train 1924 - 1931, renamed #5b 5/30/1931 - 6/1/1940	also served Sea Beach Railway 1903 - 1913, and West End line 5/29/1890 - 1913	Union Depot became a bus inspection shop 1917 - 1984, rebuilt as the Jackie Gleason Depot 1988 - present
40TH ST	Third Ave el (Brooklyn)	opened 10/1/1893	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 1893 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Third Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	-	6/1/1940 (part of the Gowanus Expressway)
46TH ST	Third Ave el (Brooklyn)	opened 10/1/1893	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 1893 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Third Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	-	6/1/1940 (part of the Gowanus Expressway)
52ND ST	Third Ave el (Brooklyn)	opened 10/1/1893	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 1893 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Third Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	-	6/1/1940 (part of the Gowanus Expressway)
58TH ST	Third Ave el (Brooklyn)	opened 10/1/1893	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 1893 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Third Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	-	6/1/1940 (part of the Gowanus Expressway)
65TH ST	Third Ave el (Brooklyn)	opened 10/1/1893	steam locomotives served the Fifth Ave el 1893 - 1899	Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) took over Third Ave el and electrified 7/3/1899, renamed the BMT #6 train 1924 - 1940	-	6/1/1940 (part of the Gowanus Expressway)

TRANSFER HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THESE BMT LINES

THE CULVER EL - (BMT #5a and #5b)	THE SEA BEACH LINE (BMT #4)	THE BRIGHTON LINE - (BMT #1a, #1b)	THE WEST END EL - (BMT #3a, #3b)	FOURTH AVE SUBWAY (BMT #2)
FRANKLYN SHUTTLE (BMT #7)	THE JAMAICA EL - (BMT #15)	MYRTLE-CHAMBERS SUBWAY (BMT #10)	JAMAICA EL SKIP STOP SERVICE	THE CANARSIE LINE (BMT #16)
THE ASTORIA EL - BROADWAY SUBWAY	ASTORIA EL SHUTTLE - (BMT #8)	FLUSHING EL SHUTTLE - (BMT #9)	BROADWAY - QUEENS BLVD LINE	THE BRIGHTON EXPRESS
THE LEXINGTON EL (BMT #12)	THE FULTON ST EL - (BMT #13)	BROOKLYN SHORTLINE (BMT #14)	THE SIXTH AVE SUBWAY-JAMAICA EL	THE 14TH -FULTON EL (BMT #17)
THE FIFTH AVENUE EL - (BMT #6)	THE JAMAICA / 4TH AV SUBWAY	THE MYRTLE AVE EL - (BMT #11)	THE SEA BEACH - BRIGHTON EXPRESS	THE SUNNY SUMMER SUNDAY SPECIAL
	BRIGHTON LINE VIA TUNNEL	THE BROADWAY - WEST END LINE	THE BROADWAY - WEST END SHORTLINE

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SUBWAY TRIVIA: THE LIRR IN RELATION TO BROOKLYN ELS:
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