New York, beneath the surface
NYC subway in 1940: Three operators become one city system
New York City took over the BMT on June 1 and the IRT on June 12, 1940, bringing them under public operation alongside the IND. Ownership changed before all of the physical connections between the systems did.
Explore the 1940 interactive map →
What this map represents
This year-end reconstruction contains 447 modeled stops across 4 boroughs and about 203 mapped miles. These are counts from this project’s model, not official historical station or track-mile totals. Modern route colors identify corridors, not the services running in 1940.
Selected events, 1937–1940
1940: Public ownership
The city took over the BMT on June 1 and the IRT on June 12, unifying ownership with the IND.
Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway (Unification)
1940: Sixth Avenue subway
The IND Sixth Avenue trunk opened in December, adding a new north–south route through Midtown.
Source: Wikipedia: History of the New York City Subway (Unification)
Sources and interpretation
Historical coverage and geometry are incomplete. Read the reconstruction method and limitations before interpreting station counts or route alignments.