Ninth Avenue Elevated Line

Charles C. Harvey opened the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway, marking the debut of the Ninth Avenue Elevated (El) in New York City. This was an experimental single-track, cable-powered elevated railway, the first of its kind in the U.S. Though innovative, the cable system proved inefficient and was soon replaced by steam locomotives. Despite early technical issues, this railway laid the foundation for New York’s future elevated and subway systems.

The investors in the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway, unwilling to abandon their investment after the failure of the original cable-powered system, decided to salvage the project by converting it. They transitioned the line to steam power, which proved more reliable and effective. This adaptation ultimately helped ensure the line's survival and future development into New York’s elevated transit system. The Ninth Avenue El became a vital piece of the city’s transportation infrastructure.

The reorganization of the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway in early 1871 as the New York Elevated Railway Company marked a turning point for urban transit. Replacing the inefficient cable system with coal-powered steam locomotives, the company implemented a more dependable solution, echoing earlier proposals by James Swett. This upgrade made the Ninth Avenue El the first successful steam-powered elevated railway in New York City, laying the groundwork for future elevated and subway transit systems.