Before the subway tunneled beneath Manhattan, New York’s transit network rose above it all — and in some places, it rose twice.\n\nIn this episode, we uncover the forgotten story of New York’s double-decker elevated railways — a system of stacked stations, two-tier junctions, and sky-high platforms that once ruled the city. From express trains thundering over locals, to ferry terminals connected directly to upper-level walkways, this system was nothing short of an engineering marvel.

But over time, these vertical giants became costly, outdated, and unloved. By 1973, the last double-deck El had vanished — leaving behind only fragments hidden in plain sight. Join us as we explore the strange rise and dramatic fall of a second city in the sky.