Different enough from other Brooklyn trolley lines to deserve a thread of its own. All private right-of-way, no street-rnning. Elkevated Stillwell avene terminal fo easy transfer to the rapid-transit lines. Originally operated with steam trains, then open-platform gate elevated cars. Connected toi the rest of the streetcar system by tracks on Surf Avenue that last saw revenue streetcar service in 1947, about five years befoire Nortons Point cars ceased. The last pgoto is of a return shop move on Srf Avenue.
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From Russ Jackson**:**
The private-right-of-way line was called the Norton’s Point line, but the single track section running out to the waterfront at Norton’s Point was moribund for years. The western end of Coney Island was developed as a gated community known as Sea Gate. After development the single track section out through the community ran right across lawns and driveways in places. The operated part of the Norton’s Point line ended at the end of double track and did not go out through the Sea Gate area. It was put back in operation for a brief period during WWII. The line in Surf Avenue ended at he same location and there was a track connection between the two lines. The history of all this can be found in Eric R. Oszustowicz. The Elevated Raileoads of Brooklyn and the BMT Subway, Volume One, (Electric Railroaders Association, New York, NY, 2021), pages 27.33, 52.
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Movement from shop (Coney Islasnd or DeKalb Avene) on Surf Avenue. Tracks here included somec"L-rail" that dated from horsecar days, rail usable in street trackage with Belgian-Block pavement between rails, not asphalt.
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From Eric Oszustowicz
The cars are laid up between Beach 38th St and Mermaid Av. The baseball field is the bright sandy area in the photo below. 5 cars are laid up just beyond the end of the field in this 1924 aerial view. The long dark line is the shadow of the cars. The right of way at this point runs along the north side of Surf Av which can seen on the left in the previous photo of the operator on a ladder cleaniing his front window.
Nolte that richard Allman has imlproved the balance of some earlier posted photos.
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I had put the orange line for the right-of-way on the wrong side of the shadows. The figure in the previous posting is now corrected. Apologies.
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Finally, from Bill Demakakowski, a photo inside the Sea Gate gated community:
but, a photo from asn inboud car shows a Nolrtons Point motorma Both the Nortons Point bLikne and the streetcar line on Neptune and Sjurf Avenbujes had thikr vwestern terminal, at the entrance to the gated Sea Gate community. The double-end Peter Witts on the Nortons Point line normally had Nortons Point as the destination-sign for outbound runs, and the 2500 deck-roof semi-convertables showed Sea Gate. But here is aqn exception on a NBortons Point outbound, photographed from an inbound.
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Hello! Thank you so much for supplying so much information on the Norton’s Point Line. I am a college student doing a touch a research on Seagate, and I stumbled on the Norton’s Point Line while trying to find information about the neighborhood. I was wondering if you would be able to supply the sources which you found all the information and amazing photos from, as I would like to, if possible, include some of this information in my paper/presentation. I also see that you cited Eric R. Oszustowicz’s book, and I wanted to ask if you know where this book might be borrowed, as the prices online are a bit hefty. Thank you!
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Welcome on board, rbwantstoknow.
David
Unless otherwise noted, as from the web or specific fruiend, all photos on this threead are from my camera, take miostkly while a highschool student, years 1947-1949. O(bservations are directly from my experience and riding and photographing and thiose of others commenting on the thread.
You will find the books The Elevated Railways of Brooklyn
(two volumes) an invaluable and authoritive reference.
Go to the website www.erausa.org and you will be able to order both volumes
and you are welciome to contact m e further at
ddaveklepper1@ygmail.com
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Welcome aboard @rbwantstoknow
Full Titles: Elevated Raiolwaysw o Brooklyn and the BMT Subway.
Full Titles: Elevated Railways of Brooklyn and the BMT Subway. And a pdf and docx are av ailable
Welcome back, Mr. Klepper!
I miss not having an edit button! Pdf and docx of the posted photos, not Eric’s books. which are well-worth having.
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Welcome back on board, Dave.
Do you not have that little gray pencil icon under the post window? That is what you use for editing, but note that it appears in a separate window and some of the conventions are different.
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Oh wow, welcome back David! It’s SO good to “see” you here again.
Now that you’re “settled” in I think you’ll find this new Forum site is very easy to use once you’re used to it. Hey, I’m posting pictures on the “Classic Trains Forum” now since we don’t need a third-party holding service anymore.
This just made my day!
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Welcome aboard rbwantstoknow!
