Extent and service BMT Sea Beach Line

open cut, looking west 6th avenue overpass, lirr bay ridge branch on left , bmt sea beach line on right.



16th avenue powerhouse


route description

the modern line begins split bmt fourth avenue line @ flying junction south of 59th street. between station , split, crossover switches provided between local , express tracks of fourth avenue line, , express tracks curve east under northbound local track become beginning of sea beach line. after emerging tunnel under fourth avenue, 2 separate sea beach tracks rise on either side of ramp formerly connected original line brooklyn shore @ 65th street in bay ridge.

after passing former junction line shore, sea beach widens width of 4 tracks. stations have 2 side platforms no platform access express tracks anywhere on sea beach right-of-way.

before , after kings highway, there crossover switches southbound express track northbound express track. on both sides of kings highway, crossovers exist allow express trains switch local tracks before station or local trains switch express after station. express tracks end south of 86th street line becomes double-tracked, , cut diagonally adjacent coney island yards. after several yard connections, line ends @ coney island–stillwell avenue terminal.

express tracks

the express tracks intended host coney island express. service carried on these tracks twice in line s history — summer weekend service chambers street 1924–1952 , again 1967-1968 provide fast rush-hour broadway line express service coney island riders (nx). though these expresses thought of being sea beach expresses, did not serve single station on sea beach line.

the express tracks on sea beach had other uses on years. new equipment, experimental cars, broken in on these tracks. tracks used motorman training , set short stretch of 1950s-era automation test ill-fated system later used on 1 track of irt 42nd street shuttle.

historically, 2 express tracks absolute block, is, there no signal control between 1 end of tracks near sixth avenue , kings highway. train not supposed enter block until train in front of had departed block.

the express tracks section on block allowed deteriorate severely did of system 1970s on. in 1998, decided rehabilitate express tracks in area, full signaling. northbound (e4) track rehabilitated, however, two-way traffic northern end kings highway if needed. southbound (e3) track remains unused, being disconnected other 3 tracks , inaccessible 59th street kings highway.