time and it stayed at 5 cents until 1939. In the earliest years, tickets were sold at stations and collected on the trains by conductors. After 1886, the tickets were dropped in collecting boxes. In 1892, a third track was added from 59th Street to 116th Street. On April 11, 1897, bicycle train service was inaugurated and operated each Sunday on the line from Rector Street to 155th Street. The South Ferry platforms were too congested to handle the service. Seats were removed on one side of cars and bicycle racks installed for 24" bikes. The fare was 15 cents for passenger and bike or 25 cents for two with a tandem. Thirty-five two car bicycle trains identified by signs on the front of the trains were run until the autumn, when they were discontinued permanently. Electric operation On February 18, 1903, electric operation began on the line from South Ferry to 155th Street. A 66th Street Local-Express powered by Locomotive #135 was the last steam operated passenger train on the line. A few steam locomotives remained in work train service for a number of years afterwards. On June 3, 1903, the 110th Street station opened, with four elevators to get passengers up from the street to the downtown platform and the mezzanine level for uptown trains. The station had to be built with elevators because it was 63 feet above street level, and was the highest station on the line. Some say that the tower which held the elevators lasted into the early 1970s. The Interborough Rapid Transit Company took over operation of the Ninth Avenue El and several other lines of the Manhattan Railway Company with a 99-year lease on April 1, 1903. On April 1, 1903, the entire Manhattan Elevated system was leased to the IRT Company for 999 years. Subway system construction was planned to connect with the els at various points. By June 25, 1903, the last steam-powered elevated train was operated in passenger service on the 9th Avenue El. In 1905, the storage yard built at 145th Street was replaced with 159th Street Yard and service facility which was north of the Polo Grounds. The rebuilding project was extended north to 116th Street and created Manhattan's first three-track elevated, although center-track express service did not begin until 1916. On September 15, 1904, the US Express Company began less-than-carload and package express service over the