Listed below are the steam railroads which were 
the predecessors of todays' New York City Subway 
B1 division (BMT).



Brighton Line - Originally the Brooklyn, Flatbush 
and Coney Island Railroad.  Opened in 1878 from 
the Brighton Hotel to Atlantic Avenue and Franklin 
Avenue connecting with the Long Island Railroad.  
In 1887 it became the Brooklyn and Brighton Beach 
Railway Company.  It merged with the Brooklyn 
Union Elevated Railroad Company (part of the 
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company) in 1900.

     Now covered by D and Q trains (6th Av) from
     Prospect Park to Coney Island


Canarsie Line - Originally the Brooklyn, Canarsie 
and Rockaway Beach.  Opened in 1865 from Atlantic 
Avenue and Fulton Street to the Canarsie shore and 
from there by ferry to Rockway Beach.  It became 
the Canarsie Railroad, was electrified and leased 
the the Brooklyn Union Elevated in 1906.  It 
became part of the New York Consolidated Railroad  
(also BRT) in 1912.  In the early 1920's the line 
was cut back to the Rockaway Parkway station and a 
trolley service (with free transfer) was 
inaugurated.  This service still exists but with 
buses using a unique entrance/exit gate system 
which allows the buses to go right up to the 
platform which is at street level.

     Now covered by the L (14th St)


Culver Line -  Originally the Prospect Park and 
Coney Island Railroad.  Opened in 1875 from the 
Culver Depot in Coney Island to 9th Avenue & 20th 
Street.  It was named after Andrew Culver (the 
founder).  It was purchased by the LIRR in 1892 
and leased to the BRT in 1893.  It became part of 
the BRT in 1909.

     Now covered from Ditmas Av to Coney Island by
     the F (6th Av)


Sea Beach Line - Originally the New York and Sea 
Beach Railroad.  Opened in 1879 from the ferry at 
61st Street and 1st Avenue (Brooklyn) to the Sea 
Beach Palace Hotel in Coney Island.  It became the 
Sea Beach Railway Company (part of the BRT) and in 
1912 merged with the Brooklyn Union Elevated 
Railroad (also part of the BRT) and the Canarsie 
Railroad (again part of the BRT) and the New York 
Cosolidated Rairoad was formed (BRT).

     Now covered by the N (Broadway)


West End Line - Originally the Brooklyn, Bath and 
Coney Island Railroad.  Opened in 1864 as a 
horsecar line and converted to steam.  The 
original route was from 25th Street and Fifth 
Avenue (Brooklyn) to an amusement park in the West 
End of Coney Island and was called the West End 
Line.  In 1885 it was renamed the Brooklyn, Bath
and West End Railroad.  It became part of the 
Nassau Electric system in 1898 and in 1899 part of 
the BRT.  This line ran at ground level until 1917 
when it was elevated.

     Now covered by the B (6th Av) and M (Nassau
     St)