@@WillTheBassPlayer No they actually recorder the train scene from Spider-Man 2 in Chicago. None of our subway trains look like the trains in Spider-Man 2. They look like Chicago subway trains.
Don't forget, the IRT 7Th Ave Line (#1 Train to Van Cortland Park, the Bronx) is elevated in Manhattan, starting with Dykeman St. This line crosses the "Broadway" Bridge.
@@duckmercy11 That's right, I forgot to mention that and the fact that the #1 line is also elevated at 125Th Street in Harlem. (The #1 Line crosses "Manhattan Valley" there and engineers decided to elevate the line, rather than tunneling underneath it there.) However, what's now the Metro North Commuter Rail, is actually a former New York Central RR Line, probably built at grade level originally and was elevated to eliminate grade crossings.
For whatever reason, it always makes me think of that scene in The Fugitive where Harrison Ford makes a call and the police, listening in, can tell he's bizarrely still in the city and not on the run because they heard the train station announcement. And that one cop kind of starts to believe he was innocent.
Remember when he stole the scrubs and disguised hisself as a doctor in his old place of employment? In the quick moments he sees a patient passing and they didn’t know what the problem was and he tells a nurse as he’s running from the cops what the diagnosis is and then just poof disappears
the nyc subway is actually almost just as elevated as it is underground. most of the elevated track in manhattan was removed, but a lot of it remains in the outer boroughs.
Atlanta also has a lot of elevated portions of its metro but NY and Chicago are by far the largest. They did say by 2026 they’re expanding it into more metro area around the city tho but every time they say something they never do so we’ll have to wait and see 😂
Vancouver BC has the SkyTrain which was supposed to be mostly above ground but theyve started putting parts underground. Better for snow but i prefer overhead. It's fully automated and remarkably convenient with service so often you don't bother much with timetables.
@@Latvijas_Amēlija No. Adding to it is a big investment but it's still the way to go. In the daytime, the service is as quick as an elevator. And everywhere they run a line, there's an explosion of building.
@@Latvijas_Amēlijakeep in mind that the Skytrain only opened in 1985 and will have 100km of track by 2030 vs Chicago’s L which opened in 1892 and currently has 165km of track. Vancouver’s also much smaller than Chicago in terms of the metro area, but Skytrain actually has higher ridership (about 15% higher as of 2022).
Vancouver skytrain was constructed thanks to Quebec fund pension CDPQ Caisse de depot et placement ... Montreal is building a new automated sky train of 10$ billion ... the first lane will open this june 2023 from the South Shore Champlain bridge to the Montreal island With an amazing view of Montreal skyline
There are more than just a 'few' elevated lines in NY. In fact, youd have an easier time counting lines that don't have elevated portions. As an example, the 4, 5, 7, A lines spend more time above ground than they do in the Manhattan tunnels.
@@dubreil07 actually, the 4 has its own elevated line in the Bronx that's between Woodlawn and 161 St- Yankee Stadium, so you could be right, but not completely. While the A is the longest, with more elevated stations than any line in the system.
The 4/5 and A trains run mostly underground. The 4/5 train is only above ground in thr bronx but completely underground in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The A train is entirely underground in Manhattan and Brooklyn but completely above or at grade in Queens.
@@simonalexander6700 true, but during late nights and weekends the (4) is extended to New Lots Av, replacing the (3) that runs from Harlem-148 St to Times Sq-42 St, while the (5) runs a shuttle service between Eastchester-Dyre Av and East 180 St.
IMHO American cities need trams and light rails that can reach corners of every streets of suburb, making easy for people to commute and move train, bus stations & Airports outside cities (but link with airport train) to reduce pollutions, traffic jams and parking garage wastes.
I live in a heavily populated area and really would love if it were like this. A good transportation system would be great. This place is so bland as well. People need to plant native plants instead of invasives and give kids pretty places to go out and have fun. Big cities are gross.
Not so fun fact the main reason we dont have good transportation in alot of places is because they didn't want the poor people coming to certain places. Long Island NY is a great example of this- look up Robert Moses. He designed a parkway with very low bridges to make sure buses were unable to get into the area to keep out the poor. He also bulldozed a bunch of Black and Latino houses to make parks and built highways through the middle of minority neighborhoods. Dude was an absolute prick.
I'm glad they're still up, because they feel way safer and more comfortable than the underground lines in Chicago. Sure you freeze your ass off in winter waiting for the train, but you also don't feel trapped in a subterranean dungeon waiting to get accosted.
The L truly is iconic. I’ve been on both the NYC subway and L, and having actual light and scenery during your stinky commute really elevates the experience.
Philadelphia also has an elevated that travels underground through downtown and emerges in West Philly heading west and Fishtown heading towards northeast Philadelphia and is approximately 12miles long. We also possess an entirely submerged 12mile underground subway that travels under most of Broad Street covering the entire north and south regions of the city.
Actually most of the train stops in the outer boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Bronx are elevated. The closer the train gets to Manhattan the more likely it is to go underground.
NYC still has more elevated track than Chicago. If you spend any time in the outer boroughs in places like south brooklyn, queens, bx, etc most of the trains are still elevated.
I think the point of the video is Chicago has the only elevated tracks right in the heart of the city (hence the name “the Loop”). NYC doesn’t have elevated trains in Manhattan. The Loop is a remnant of the privately created lines from the late 1800s. However note, there are two lines - the Red and Blue- which were publicly developed in the 1940s which are true subways under the downtown/the Loop. You can transfer to/from all the subways and elevated trains at stations in the Loop.
I prefer the elevated traind vecause you can see the world around you as you ride. Its a beautiful view of the city. In the subway you cant see anything snd it smells moldy and rats run around on the tracks and sometimes the platforms. In the elevated, you get sunshine, daylight, snd can see visual cues that remind you when youre getting close to your stop. Underground the homeless go there to get some shelter from the cold. Above ground, the platforms are outdoors and its cold so homeless cant find shrlter from the weather.
I always thought it was the"El"...in any case.... When I visit Chicago, I find it to be a mostly efficient way to get around to various neighborhoods... My main complaint is that the platforms are so elevated that it is long climb up when the elevators aren't working...(which is often)...and God forbid if you use a wheelchair...
Time to show some love to my home borough... THE BRONX! We, of the mainland U.S., yup, only full borough of NYC geographically connected to the rest of America. For well over a century, The Bronx has been home to several elevated train lines. We even have permanent reminders of the competitive early days of transit. The IRT #4 is elevated, while 2 blocks east is the underground IND Concourse Line. For 80 years, we had the 3rd Avenue El. By 1973, the portion from 149th Street to Gun Hill Road went out of service. But if you look carefully, its structural impact remains. The portion of the Cross Bronx Expressway that passes 3rd Avenue was originally built high enough to accommodate street traffic. While just low enough to pass under the elevated train line. The Gun Hill Avenue Station was even built at a higher level to accommodate the 3rd Avenue El making its terminus just 13 feet above street level! ❤😎
Brooklyn, queens and northern Manhattan all have elevated or above ground subway lines. Almost all of New York’s subway lines have much of their tracks above ground in Brooklyn, queens, the Bronx and northern Manhattan.
This includes the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, (ALL NUMBERED LINES!) and the lettered lines A,B,C,D,F,G,J,L,M,N,Q,Z and the Franklin ave shuttle. The ONLY trains without an above ground section, to my knowledge, are the E and R lines.
Sure there's some shootings and crime but that's the same with every major city in America. It has more pockets of good areas than bad areas. Don't let the media taint or dictate your views.
Yeah man. The T and highway are underground here in Boston now. It’s still a nightmare, just out of sight now. The rent skyrocketed right after that 🤦♂️
That's like the entirety of any major city in India. It's not a bad thing, it helps with shade, and noise pollution is not that bad if it's electric. Plus the street art on the pillars are beautiful!
Boston still had some "L's" when i lived there in the late 80's. I used to watch an L make a downhill bank turn above Storrow dr. With the trains squealing brakes and the second story apartments so close they could reach out their window and touch the train. God love those noise tolerant people!
I grew up in Inwood, Manhattan and we lived 1/2 block from an L (IRT Line from Dyckman to 242d is elevated). You get so used to it you really don't ever hear it. I'm a big fan of "El"s)
Part of the Orange Line on Boston’s MBTA (known locally as The T) was elevated and ran right through the city. It was all moved underground eventually. Now, most of the lines are subway until you get outside of the downtown area, and though they are above ground, they are by and large, not elevated except in sections.
I always loved the elavted subways in the US, it's just something about them looks so cool a train passing through lots of buildings elavted, wish we had more in London, at least we have the DLR
Had to go to Chicago in April and honestly wish I could've stayed longer. So much to do and the city is alive, born and raised in a small hick filled town so, Chicago was a much needed breath of fresh air.
Boston's system at one point had a large portion elevated which was referred to also as the L (though just those sections... the system is called the T. Cause of the MBTA's logo)
Boston also used to have elevated trains. There was the Elevated Causeway for the Green Line until 2004 and sent underground. The Washington Street Elevated was for the Orange Line and was replaced by the Southwest Corridor in 1987 on a new route. The original Washington Street route was replaced with bus services, most notably the Silver Line, but only up to Nubian Square (formally Dudley). The Atlantic Avenue Elevated operated until ~1938 and demolished in 1941 with no replacement service. The Charlestown Elevated was also for the Orange Line and also replaced in 1975, but does not terminare in Everett and instead went northbound to Malden.
@@dubreil07 yup. I remember when they took it down I was very sad mostly because people protested for to much noise. Making a tunnel far more expensive then just tell the conductor to go slower
Honestly.... happened once decades ago in 1977. It has not since... but a blue line train part elevated and part subway to O'Hare airport. Had the driver dose off and it cashed the end stop bumper at the airport in 2014. No one died 34 injured. Chicago's system began in the 1800s a relic that gets renewed for more decades of service and maintenance. Was fully computerized by the 90s and automated announcements already. A system of alerts of times trains arrive including phone apps. New trains arriving currently and coming decades as some get retired. No one calls for its destruction. Though Covid had it lose 1/2 it's ridership after years if increases with some lines reaching 1920s peak levels again. WFH still has levels down from 2018s peaks.
40% of our subway is elevated here in NYC, if you live in Washington Heights/Inwood (Manhattan), Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. It’s hard to fall asleep when there’s a train passing by your window every 10-20 minutes.
The underground trains are MUCH faster, mind you, but the elevated ones are still super fun to ride. Nice views and they are an iconic piece of the city.
The Miami Metrorail system is built like an elevated metro for sure but I think it's not often called a proper metro system because it simply isn't frequent enough or isn't high capacity enough
Also, it's more practical! Now there's an extra layer of streets under the cities in addition to the ones at street level, making for more convenient deliveries and transportation for people that know the city well. Trains very, very rarely will crash or derail, making them safer to elevate than lanes of actual traffic. I'm sure vehicle fires would be a pain, tho 😅
Growing up in row house Philly in the '60's we called the Market-Frankford line the "El" (not "L"), as most of it's length, outside of downtown, is, indeed, elevated. That is the only "El" in Philly, though. The Broad St Line is fully subsurface, as are the downtown segments of the PATCO line & the various trolley lines.
Yes, and also decreases possible building density. It's still much better choise overall than building a road overhead, and it's probably cheaper upfront to build new rail than the alternative, underground. Also problems with flooding don't bother this system, but underground system must be well designed to pump it out, if parts of the track are below sea level. Scyscrapers also swallow light though, but of course it makes for higher population density and hence makes nearly any metro system lucrative. It's a tradeoff either way.
Thats actually **not true**. New york has WAY more miles of elevated train tracks than Chicago. WAY MORE. But people are expecting to see it in the city manhattan which its no longer the case not from mid to lower manhattan, But from upper west side, harlem to the bronx and yonkers there is plenty, not to mention elevated lines in Brooklyn and Queens on out to far rockaway. collectively and in regards to new yorks subway lines that traverse elevated tracks there is far more than Chicago.
The "L" train in Chicago looks great compared to here in New York. We still have tins of L trains. Most of the Bronx, Queens, and parts of Brooklyn are all L trains.
It's sad to see all the hate for Chicago in the comments - specifically related to crime. It is the only major city in the midwest, and by far it is the most liberal. It's sad to see the repuatation of such an amazing city become politicized. Chicago doesn't even come close to having the highest voilent crime rate in the country, and depending on the year, it barely squeezes into the top twenty. Even so, partisan politics have pushed the unfortunate narrative that Chicago is is overrun. While the volume of crimes is high, Chicago is several times the size of any other midwestern city. This is why we measure crime rates by population! Large, culturally and socio-economically diverse cities like Chicago should be celebrated! Running a meteopolis with 9 million people is hard.
Fun fact: the old elevated greenline/orangeline railway trains on Causeway street in Boston were BARELY able to fit underneath the newly built highway in the early 60s
@@Qwerty0791 a subway system doesn’t start being a subway system at some point after the 3rd or 4th lines, so the point stands that Chicago is not the only US city with an elevated system.
Part of the BQE is built where the NY Elevated ran, which is why it runs up high in the middle of the street. I believe that the former Railroad viaduct is part of the highway’s supporting structure, I might be mistaken though.
Your right joe according too Google Chicago is the rattiest city in all the United States according too pest control company “Orkin” - holy cannoli, I didn’t know - but do you know what this means @JoeHernandezjdez? Chicago needs there very own Rat Tsar, just like New York City does. But nonetheless when it comes too solving our nations rat problem exterminators/garbage collectors/and generally people who know how to prevent rats from taking over should be sought after and have their potential ideas/solutions implemented because mindlessly throwing money at problems doesn’t always work. Also rats are smart they take advantage of human failure/lack of cleanliness - last thing -you know those tiny bull terrier dogs they kill rats, the Irish doing it maybe we do it too.
Fun fact: Chicago actually has a single subway line that runs underground. It goes North and South (duh) and looks like they built it in 1950 and never updated anything. Philadelphia's single line is more depressing but Chicago's was more frightening.
The red line only runs underground for a small portion (North/Clybourn to Roosevelt), whereas the red line runs above ground from Howard-fullerton and Cermak/Chinatown to 95th (with a planned extension to 132nd). That’s 3 miles N/S of subway, while the Howard-Fullerton stretch is 6.5 miles above ground, and the Cermak-95th stretch is 7 miles above ground. In short, the portion of the red line that is subway is less than 1/4 of the line’s total length.
Cali has HSR project, but I don't know when it'll finish, it's already almost a decade but not even half gets build. Even a non-rich country like Indonesia can finish their HSR in just 7 years!
The 4 train also elevates for just a short run in the Bronx just after it comes from the underground tunnel and you used to catch a view of old Yankee Stadium from the outfield looking in n it would stop n let you out right outside n you’d take the steps down n in to the stadium- I always thought this was just about the coolest thing ever!!!
Nearly the entire 4 train in the Bronx is elevated. As well as the 6, 5, and 2 trains. The Bronx is the only place in the city where the majority of the lines are elevated.
Another reason why they were retained it has to do with the water table and depth issues around the downtown area since it's getting close to the Lake Michigan where parts of the water table is Shallow. If they want to make this a modern one they should be looking at London DLR and colonial Hong Kong MTR pre Chinese takeover elevated tracks which are actually made of prestressed concrete and steel unlike Chicago MTA NYS 1,2,4,5,6 7, A,B,D,F,J,L,M,N,Q,W & Z trains which are the 1890s style elevated.
This is still very much the thing in Bangkok. BTS Skytrain is very busy public transit system. They're actually still expanding the network. Then again all the highways are elevated, too
The elevated ones in NYC have a very old style original New York City iron work. I love the touch of history but i always feel like I'm gonna hit a column when i drive under them. Stressful
And Spider-Man stoped this train from going off the rails in the early 2000s
God bless that Spiderman. I saw his Uncle died a few years back was very sorry to see that :(
That was one of the NY elevated trains, not the Chicago L
I believe that was the 7 train in Astoria, Queens in NYC, not in Chicago.
174 uneducated people liked this sh*t lmao
@@WillTheBassPlayer No they actually recorder the train scene from Spider-Man 2 in Chicago. None of our subway trains look like the trains in Spider-Man 2. They look like Chicago subway trains.
You still see elevated tracks outside of Manhattan like Brooklyn and Queens and The Bronx. Also upper Manhattan.
Don't forget, the IRT 7Th Ave Line (#1 Train to Van Cortland Park, the Bronx) is elevated in Manhattan, starting with Dykeman St. This line crosses the "Broadway" Bridge.
@@joshbenton4080 The Metro North commuter rail is also elevated in Manhattan on Park Ave from 96th-132nd street.
@@duckmercy11 That's right, I forgot to mention that and the fact that the #1 line is also elevated at 125Th Street in Harlem. (The #1 Line crosses "Manhattan Valley" there and engineers decided to elevate the line, rather than tunneling underneath it there.) However, what's now the Metro North Commuter Rail, is actually a former New York Central RR Line, probably built at grade level originally and was elevated to eliminate grade crossings.
Yes, but it doesn't wind through the business district, as it does in Chicago.
@@LUIS-ox1bv the 8th ave. trains in Brooklyn run through business districts.
For whatever reason, it always makes me think of that scene in The Fugitive where Harrison Ford makes a call and the police, listening in, can tell he's bizarrely still in the city and not on the run because they heard the train station announcement. And that one cop kind of starts to believe he was innocent.
Ah, yes! EXCELLENT writing, that!
Is he as smart as you?……Smarter 😏
the way you explained a part of that movie makes me want to watch it especially since i tend to pass it up a lot i probably will watch it
@@aydinaguilar3435 it's one of the best 👌🏼. Got some action, great plot and engaging to watch. I like to watch it every year or two.
Remember when he stole the scrubs and disguised hisself as a doctor in his old place of employment? In the quick moments he sees a patient passing and they didn’t know what the problem was and he tells a nurse as he’s running from the cops what the diagnosis is and then just poof disappears
I'm happy they didn't tear them down. Chicago's transportation system is one of the best parts of Chicago!
That and the pizza are the only good parts of that shit ridden hell scape.
I was advised to not even take the L from a friend who lives there when I went because she said I would get robbed.
@@altnap that's just something we tell tourists to keep them safe. You're probably fine, but robberies aren't completely unheard of.
@@ElephantWhisperer222 I've been stuck in this hellscape for a bit over 13 years and I completely agree.
@@silaskuemmerle2505 I hope you can find somewhere better soon mate. All the best.
the nyc subway is actually almost just as elevated as it is underground. most of the elevated track in manhattan was removed, but a lot of it remains in the outer boroughs.
The MetroMover in Miami would be another elevated system. Not as large as the Chicago or NYC systems but it's growing.
Yes but that isnt a metro. Its a gadgetbanh
And its miami. Miami fucking blows
You’re thinking Miami’s MetroRail. 👍
Miami's Metrorail is completely elevated, the thing is it hasn't been expanded (that half penny tax for the past 20'ish years has been for nothing)
Atlanta also has a lot of elevated portions of its metro but NY and Chicago are by far the largest. They did say by 2026 they’re expanding it into more metro area around the city tho but every time they say something they never do so we’ll have to wait and see 😂
Vancouver BC has the SkyTrain which was supposed to be mostly above ground but theyve started putting parts underground. Better for snow but i prefer overhead. It's fully automated and remarkably convenient with service so often you don't bother much with timetables.
Not as big of à system tho
@@Latvijas_Amēlija No. Adding to it is a big investment but it's still the way to go. In the daytime, the service is as quick as an elevator. And everywhere they run a line, there's an explosion of building.
@@Latvijas_Amēlijakeep in mind that the Skytrain only opened in 1985 and will have 100km of track by 2030 vs Chicago’s L which opened in 1892 and currently has 165km of track. Vancouver’s also much smaller than Chicago in terms of the metro area, but Skytrain actually has higher ridership (about 15% higher as of 2022).
Vancouver skytrain was constructed thanks to Quebec fund pension CDPQ Caisse de depot et placement ... Montreal is building a new automated sky train of 10$ billion ... the first lane will open this june 2023 from the South Shore Champlain bridge to the Montreal island With an amazing view of Montreal skyline
@@es3359 in city proper and metro terms, Vancouver has triple the per capita daily ridership than Chicago.
There are more than just a 'few' elevated lines in NY. In fact, youd have an easier time counting lines that don't have elevated portions. As an example, the 4, 5, 7, A lines spend more time above ground than they do in the Manhattan tunnels.
The 7 train yes but I think the 4 and A are mostly underground. The J/M/N can count as mostly being above ground
@@dubreil07 actually, the 4 has its own elevated line in the Bronx that's between Woodlawn and 161 St- Yankee Stadium, so you could be right, but not completely. While the A is the longest, with more elevated stations than any line in the system.
The 4/5 and A trains run mostly underground. The 4/5 train is only above ground in thr bronx but completely underground in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The A train is entirely underground in Manhattan and Brooklyn but completely above or at grade in Queens.
@@simonalexander6700 true, but during late nights and weekends the (4) is extended to New Lots Av, replacing the (3) that runs from Harlem-148 St to Times Sq-42 St, while the (5) runs a shuttle service between Eastchester-Dyre Av and East 180 St.
IMHO American cities need trams and light rails that can reach corners of every streets of suburb, making easy for people to commute and move train, bus stations & Airports outside cities (but link with airport train) to reduce pollutions, traffic jams and parking garage wastes.
I live in a heavily populated area and really would love if it were like this. A good transportation system would be great. This place is so bland as well. People need to plant native plants instead of invasives and give kids pretty places to go out and have fun. Big cities are gross.
Gang violence and crime is common in American cities.
Not so fun fact the main reason we dont have good transportation in alot of places is because they didn't want the poor people coming to certain places.
Long Island NY is a great example of this- look up Robert Moses. He designed a parkway with very low bridges to make sure buses were unable to get into the area to keep out the poor. He also bulldozed a bunch of Black and Latino houses to make parks and built highways through the middle of minority neighborhoods. Dude was an absolute prick.
@@goshawk4340r u dumb or think it’s doesn’t happen anywhere else?
@Moon Shine because Americans haven’t experienced that for generation OR double down.
I'm glad they're still up, because they feel way safer and more comfortable than the underground lines in Chicago. Sure you freeze your ass off in winter waiting for the train, but you also don't feel trapped in a subterranean dungeon waiting to get accosted.
Theyll accost you above ground too
A subway is a subway wether it’s above ground or below lol😂
The L truly is iconic. I’ve been on both the NYC subway and L, and having actual light and scenery during your stinky commute really elevates the experience.
These elevated rails are beautiful, i first saw these in The Blues Brothers and was amazed.
Philadelphia also has an elevated that travels underground through downtown and emerges in West Philly heading west and Fishtown heading towards northeast Philadelphia and is approximately 12miles long. We also possess an entirely submerged 12mile underground subway that travels under most of Broad Street covering the entire north and south regions of the city.
Yes we do
Above the famous Kensington ave
And it also ran partially downtown before they tore down that part in the 50s
Dont forget about the ridge spur and patco
52nd and Market. 😊
Miamis entire system is elevated too. Gotta love Chicagoland though. Been called home for years but i do miss the east coast.
I ❤ Chicago my home town
Do you take the L every day?
@@alek1766 That just sounds wrong and funny.
Actually most of the train stops in the outer boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Bronx are elevated. The closer the train gets to Manhattan the more likely it is to go underground.
Without the "L," Chicago just wouldn't be Chicago. Gotta love the "L"--the sight, the sound, the thrill of it!
NYC still has more elevated track than Chicago. If you spend any time in the outer boroughs in places like south brooklyn, queens, bx, etc most of the trains are still elevated.
That may be true, be we are still known for are “L,” tracks, hence the name.
I think the point of the video is Chicago has the only elevated tracks right in the heart of the city (hence the name “the Loop”). NYC doesn’t have elevated trains in Manhattan. The Loop is a remnant of the privately created lines from the late 1800s. However note, there are two lines - the Red and Blue- which were publicly developed in the 1940s which are true subways under the downtown/the Loop. You can transfer to/from all the subways and elevated trains at stations in the Loop.
@@Ddrhodes123 yeah that’s true. Manhattan does have some elevated tracks but they’re far uptown in Washington heights and Inwood area
I prefer the elevated traind vecause you can see the world around you as you ride. Its a beautiful view of the city. In the subway you cant see anything snd it smells moldy and rats run around on the tracks and sometimes the platforms. In the elevated, you get sunshine, daylight, snd can see visual cues that remind you when youre getting close to your stop. Underground the homeless go there to get some shelter from the cold. Above ground, the platforms are outdoors and its cold so homeless cant find shrlter from the weather.
Thank you for speaking about my city here in Chicago. Yes, our "L" is right in the middle of the downtown area!!! And yes we use the "L" all the time.
I always thought it was the"El"...in any case.... When I visit Chicago, I find it to be a mostly efficient way to get around to various neighborhoods... My main complaint is that the platforms are so elevated that it is long climb up when the elevators aren't working...(which is often)...and God forbid if you use a wheelchair...
Time to show some love to my home borough... THE BRONX! We, of the mainland U.S., yup, only full borough of NYC geographically connected to the rest of America. For well over a century, The Bronx has been home to several elevated train lines. We even have permanent reminders of the competitive early days of transit. The IRT #4 is elevated, while 2 blocks east is the underground IND Concourse Line. For 80 years, we had the 3rd Avenue El. By 1973, the portion from 149th Street to Gun Hill Road went out of service. But if you look carefully, its structural impact remains. The portion of the Cross Bronx Expressway that passes 3rd Avenue was originally built high enough to accommodate street traffic. While just low enough to pass under the elevated train line. The Gun Hill Avenue Station was even built at a higher level to accommodate the 3rd Avenue El making its terminus just 13 feet above street level! ❤😎
Brooklyn, queens and northern Manhattan all have elevated or above ground subway lines. Almost all of New York’s subway lines have much of their tracks above ground in Brooklyn, queens, the Bronx and northern Manhattan.
This includes the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, (ALL NUMBERED LINES!) and the lettered lines A,B,C,D,F,G,J,L,M,N,Q,Z and the Franklin ave shuttle. The ONLY trains without an above ground section, to my knowledge, are the E and R lines.
@@bonzofreebird393 wait where is the C train elevated?
@@barrybshrekson864 the c train is not elevated nether the e or r trains
North of South Bronx only has one line. the winter weather underground service map really makes it come to light
In the opening of "The Bob Newheart Show" from the 1970's there was a nice overhead shot of Chicago and the subway system. ❤❤❤
I like the elevated trains. I hope Chicago regains its glory. It has great bones, the buildings, the waterfront, the trains!
it's still glorious
Its fine what are you talking about. I've never met a person who visited it and didnt fall in love. Dont listen to the media its super inaccurate.
Sure there's some shootings and crime but that's the same with every major city in America. It has more pockets of good areas than bad areas. Don't let the media taint or dictate your views.
Yeah man. The T and highway are underground here in Boston now. It’s still a nightmare, just out of sight now. The rent skyrocketed right after that 🤦♂️
That's like the entirety of any major city in India. It's not a bad thing, it helps with shade, and noise pollution is not that bad if it's electric. Plus the street art on the pillars are beautiful!
The Blues Brothers slept in a room next to the tracks :)
There are 2 elevated lines in Paris. The advantage is great views on the city, cinematographic vibes.
My city ❤
Me too. Well almost. I’m in Downers Grove ☺️
I’m born and raised here and I won’t go anywhere else!
Same i won't go anywhere
same I'm from near west
Gotta love sweet home Chicago . West Sider here lol
Philadelphia’s Elevated line is called the L too!
The El in Philly
Market-Frankford Line
@@billie44 it’s sometimes the El in Chicago, it’s kind of ambiguous.
@@MarloSoBalJr people that live there call it the El and Broad street line the sub
You’re never be like Chi, Philly..
Boston still had some "L's" when i lived there in the late 80's. I used to watch an L make a downhill bank turn above Storrow dr. With the trains squealing brakes and the second story apartments so close they could reach out their window and touch the train. God love those noise tolerant people!
Still has major disadvantages like this plus shaped intersection where trains have to wait for others and it’s rly slow …
I grew up in Inwood, Manhattan and we lived 1/2 block from an L (IRT Line from Dyckman to 242d is elevated). You get so used to it you really don't ever hear it. I'm a big fan of "El"s)
Part of the Orange Line on Boston’s MBTA (known locally as The T) was elevated and ran right through the city. It was all moved underground eventually.
Now, most of the lines are subway until you get outside of the downtown area, and though they are above ground, they are by and large, not elevated except in sections.
I always loved the elavted subways in the US, it's just something about them looks so cool a train passing through lots of buildings elavted, wish we had more in London, at least we have the DLR
Had to go to Chicago in April and honestly wish I could've stayed longer. So much to do and the city is alive, born and raised in a small hick filled town so, Chicago was a much needed breath of fresh air.
Boston's system at one point had a large portion elevated which was referred to also as the L (though just those sections... the system is called the T. Cause of the MBTA's logo)
Chicago is a beautiful city, been there 5 times already
I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
Wtf you actually like Chicago, how?? Everything smells like piss and weed or a mixture of the two.
@@JoseMartinez-df2db Chicago sucks
👀
@@JoseMartinez-df2db👀
Boston also used to have elevated trains. There was the Elevated Causeway for the Green Line until 2004 and sent underground. The Washington Street Elevated was for the Orange Line and was replaced by the Southwest Corridor in 1987 on a new route. The original Washington Street route was replaced with bus services, most notably the Silver Line, but only up to Nubian Square (formally Dudley). The Atlantic Avenue Elevated operated until ~1938 and demolished in 1941 with no replacement service. The Charlestown Elevated was also for the Orange Line and also replaced in 1975, but does not terminare in Everett and instead went northbound to Malden.
Regarding the opening statement, the Miami Metrorail system is mostly elevated.
Very true, NY trains used to be elevated. I saw pics of old NY on Facebook and was surprised to see the Canal Street subway station above ground
Also you lose the view out the window as you ride the el. If you stick it underground, you make it pointless to have windows in the first place.
Windows are helpful to see when you’ve reached your stop
@@NiKiMa023also to break out in case of emergency.
I would rather not have view while commuting for 10/20 minutes than to have this eye sore throughout the whole city
@@nailil5722 I think they look neat
Seeing the Chicago L always reminds me of that scene towards the end of Planes Trains and Automobiles. Beautiful
I lived in Jamaica Ave and the J train was elevated but it was shortened they took it down it was a sad day for me as a kid.
It's still elevated throughout Brooklyn
Wtf? The J train runs elevated from Williamsburg bridge all the way to 121st street in queens. Only 2 stops for the J are below ground in Queens
@@dubreil07 yup. I remember when they took it down I was very sad mostly because people protested for to much noise. Making a tunnel far more expensive then just tell the conductor to go slower
@@fernandosalas8589the subways above ground in Manhattan would be too much.
Use to come from Indiana to Chicago in the summers....I miss that place so much!!
Miami has an entirely elevated metro system
U can barely call that shit a “metro system”, Miami public transit is now pretty shit
It's way smaller sadly :(
You try putting anything underwater in Florida. I mean underground lol
@@matthew8153 It's possible. Just rlly expensive because when you dig in Miami, it fills up with water. London had the same problem.
@@rinc_1013 Chicago also had the same problem, but it got easier once they raised the city and developed new technology.
Chicago has a combination of elevated and underground subway trains. I was born there and lived there for over 20 years.
the chicago train system is so cool when your walking the streets and trains topple over the top of you
Honestly.... happened once decades ago in 1977. It has not since... but a blue line train part elevated and part subway to O'Hare airport. Had the driver dose off and it cashed the end stop bumper at the airport in 2014. No one died 34 injured. Chicago's system began in the 1800s a relic that gets renewed for more decades of service and maintenance. Was fully computerized by the 90s and automated announcements already. A system of alerts of times trains arrive including phone apps. New trains arriving currently and coming decades as some get retired. No one calls for its destruction. Though Covid had it lose 1/2 it's ridership after years if increases with some lines reaching 1920s peak levels again. WFH still has levels down from 2018s peaks.
not very cool if you live in one of the apartments right next to the track
@@muscleman125 I must be old but I think they used to often make them part of the setting / plot for tv shows and movies.
40% of our subway is elevated here in NYC, if you live in Washington Heights/Inwood (Manhattan), Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. It’s hard to fall asleep when there’s a train passing by your window every 10-20 minutes.
I am in Chicago now! Live there! Hate public transportation too
the entirety of miami’s public transport is elevated..
Not really mass transit tho-
@@woof101 was commenting on the title of the short, “the ONLY us city with a mostly overground metro” which is just false lol
@@girllrot ikr
Vast majority of train transit is elevated in Vancouver B.C., Canada as well.
In Miami the majority of the system is also elevated. Metro Rail.
Aren’t they on their own right of way, and not directly over pubic roads?
@@rpvitiello not the point
No comparison to Chicago’s iconic el.
@@Aar0nMiami actually it is
@@g..._anthony27 Nope. You're wrong.
OMG, that is great historical info. Thank you so much. It was very interesting. Thanks dude.
The underground trains are MUCH faster, mind you, but the elevated ones are still super fun to ride. Nice views and they are an iconic piece of the city.
Walking down the street in the wintertime, it was very convenient to walk under the El for protection from snow and wind.
Snow the still blown under the elevated sections. Walking under the El doesn't even protect you from strong winds
What cartoon is that shirt clip from with the dog??
Is the triplets of Belleville
Have fun 😊
@@kriskvogreat film
That's not true. Miami's metro doesn't have any underground sections
They don’t consider that a train system that’s why he didn’t mention it
@@edwardgresham what? how so?
The Miami Metrorail system is built like an elevated metro for sure but I think it's not often called a proper metro system because it simply isn't frequent enough or isn't high capacity enough
@@jacorp7476 ah, okay.
Lmao that is not a metro system
In Vancouver BC, we have a good combination of subways and what we call Skytrains.
above ground rail is such a beautiful thing
My favorite transit system I've been on. I love gliding through the buildings, you always have a cool view.
Also, it's more practical! Now there's an extra layer of streets under the cities in addition to the ones at street level, making for more convenient deliveries and transportation for people that know the city well.
Trains very, very rarely will crash or derail, making them safer to elevate than lanes of actual traffic. I'm sure vehicle fires would be a pain, tho 😅
I'm not from Chicago but lived there as a broke kid in my early 20s, I'd cry if they tore down the L too many great memories.
Love the Paris shot at the end 😍
"It's an iconic piece of Chicago" *shows Paris Metro Line 6*
Growing up in row house Philly in the '60's we called the Market-Frankford line the "El" (not "L"), as most of it's length, outside of downtown, is, indeed, elevated. That is the only "El" in Philly, though. The Broad St Line is fully subsurface, as are the downtown segments of the PATCO line & the various trolley lines.
And Miami? Def not as long or big as Chicagos but the entire system is elevated lol
nobody cares about miami
Love my Bangkok skytrain. Racing over traffic jams with highway speeds
Looks cool and retro futuristic but it swallows light
Yes, and also decreases possible building density. It's still much better choise overall than building a road overhead, and it's probably cheaper upfront to build new rail than the alternative, underground. Also problems with flooding don't bother this system, but underground system must be well designed to pump it out, if parts of the track are below sea level. Scyscrapers also swallow light though, but of course it makes for higher population density and hence makes nearly any metro system lucrative. It's a tradeoff either way.
Do more on Chicago!! 🤩
Thats actually **not true**. New york has WAY more miles of elevated train tracks than Chicago. WAY MORE. But people are expecting to see it in the city manhattan which its no longer the case not from mid to lower manhattan, But from upper west side, harlem to the bronx and yonkers there is plenty, not to mention elevated lines in Brooklyn and Queens on out to far rockaway. collectively and in regards to new yorks subway lines that traverse elevated tracks there is far more than Chicago.
I love all of your videos. I truly enjoy them. Keep it up!!
Miami’s MetroRail and MetroMover are completely elevated as is much of Atlanta’s MARTA
St Louis Metrolink is aboveground with the exception of parts of the downtown area.
The "L" train in Chicago looks great compared to here in New York. We still have tins of L trains. Most of the Bronx, Queens, and parts of Brooklyn are all L trains.
The L train goes from 8th Ave to BK. The elevated trains are somewhere else.
@Ryan Varjas mmm. I didn't mean the L train specifically. I meant "elevated trains." Bah! I even spelled " tons" wrong. Stinkin typos
Whenever l see this, the tone of NYPD Blues replay automatically in my head
I want to take the L. The metro I mean
The Bronx still has mostly elevated trains. The 1,2,3,4,5,6 all are elevated once they reach the Bronx.
NYC still has elevated trains. They’re in Upper Manhattan, and throughput Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn
The L is for “loop”
It's sad to see all the hate for Chicago in the comments - specifically related to crime. It is the only major city in the midwest, and by far it is the most liberal. It's sad to see the repuatation of such an amazing city become politicized. Chicago doesn't even come close to having the highest voilent crime rate in the country, and depending on the year, it barely squeezes into the top twenty. Even so, partisan politics have pushed the unfortunate narrative that Chicago is is overrun. While the volume of crimes is high, Chicago is several times the size of any other midwestern city. This is why we measure crime rates by population!
Large, culturally and socio-economically diverse cities like Chicago should be celebrated! Running a meteopolis with 9 million people is hard.
Fucking love my home town ❤
Fun fact: the old elevated greenline/orangeline railway trains on Causeway street in Boston were BARELY able to fit underneath the newly built highway in the early 60s
Miami’s entire subway system is elevated, so Chicago can’t be the only one.
we do only have one (and an 8th) lines though
Calling Miami’s train system an entire subway is…. Pushing it lol.
@@Qwerty0791 a subway system doesn’t start being a subway system at some point after the 3rd or 4th lines, so the point stands that Chicago is not the only US city with an elevated system.
@@Brigasimon 4 lines with less than 25 stops? 25 stops is less than 1 line in NYC or Chicago my dude. It’s not a question of semantics, but volume.
Try standing on one of those train platforms in 20 below weather.
Even the subway wants to leave Chicago
Part of the BQE is built where the NY Elevated ran, which is why it runs up high in the middle of the street. I believe that the former Railroad viaduct is part of the highway’s supporting structure, I might be mistaken though.
Chicago needs Elevated Trains they actually have a worse Rat problem than NYC 😮
Your right joe according too Google Chicago is the rattiest city in all the United States according too pest control company
“Orkin” - holy cannoli, I didn’t know - but do you know what this means @JoeHernandezjdez? Chicago needs there very own Rat Tsar, just like New York City does. But nonetheless when it comes too solving our nations rat problem exterminators/garbage collectors/and generally people who know how to prevent rats from taking over should be sought after and have their potential ideas/solutions implemented because mindlessly throwing money at problems doesn’t always work. Also rats are smart they take advantage of human failure/lack of cleanliness - last thing -you know those tiny bull terrier dogs they kill rats, the Irish doing it maybe we do it too.
They have that weird abandoned system of underground trains for freight etc.
Hey Joe Hernandez. Just saying hello buddy. Hope you’re day went well my friend.🤝
@@surfboard396 hey hope you are doing well. Thanks for the Hello 👍
I once lived within a five minute walk to NYC's elevated 7-train line
Fun fact: Chicago actually has a single subway line that runs underground. It goes North and South (duh) and looks like they built it in 1950 and never updated anything. Philadelphia's single line is more depressing but Chicago's was more frightening.
The red line only runs underground for a small portion (North/Clybourn to Roosevelt), whereas the red line runs above ground from Howard-fullerton and Cermak/Chinatown to 95th (with a planned extension to 132nd). That’s 3 miles N/S of subway, while the Howard-Fullerton stretch is 6.5 miles above ground, and the Cermak-95th stretch is 7 miles above ground.
In short, the portion of the red line that is subway is less than 1/4 of the line’s total length.
Still makes me wonder why these never made it to California. They look fantastic!
Cali has HSR project, but I don't know when it'll finish, it's already almost a decade but not even half gets build. Even a non-rich country like Indonesia can finish their HSR in just 7 years!
The 4 train also elevates for just a short run in the Bronx just after it comes from the underground tunnel and you used to catch a view of old Yankee Stadium from the outfield looking in n it would stop n let you out right outside n you’d take the steps down n in to the stadium- I always thought this was just about the coolest thing ever!!!
Nearly the entire 4 train in the Bronx is elevated. As well as the 6, 5, and 2 trains. The Bronx is the only place in the city where the majority of the lines are elevated.
Elevated is much more pleasant form the perspective of the rider - always something interesting out the window. Always.
always makes you think of the French connection gene Hackman driving like a madman great movie 🍿🍿🍿 PEACE Dublin Ireland
There's elevated lines all over NYC. The 1 the 9, 4, 5, 6, 7, those are just off the top of my head.
9?
He’s like “Boston, New York” and he couldn’t go any further south because Philly has an El too.
I'm from Miami and our entire Metro is elevated
Another reason why they were retained it has to do with the water table and depth issues around the downtown area since it's getting close to the Lake Michigan where parts of the water table is Shallow. If they want to make this a modern one they should be looking at London DLR and colonial Hong Kong MTR pre Chinese takeover elevated tracks which are actually made of prestressed concrete and steel unlike Chicago MTA NYS 1,2,4,5,6 7, A,B,D,F,J,L,M,N,Q,W & Z trains which are the 1890s style elevated.
Reminds me of when I was a boy in Liverpool. Home of the Beatles and the first overhead railway in the world 🌎.
This is still very much the thing in Bangkok. BTS Skytrain is very busy public transit system. They're actually still expanding the network.
Then again all the highways are elevated, too
The elevated ones in NYC have a very old style original New York City iron work. I love the touch of history but i always feel like I'm gonna hit a column when i drive under them. Stressful