59th Street was a local station on the demolished IRT Third Avenue Line. It was built on September 16, 1878, and had two levels. The lower level was served by local trains and had two tracks and two side platforms. It was built first. The upper level was built as part of the Dual Contracts and had one track for express trains. Due to its location along the east side of the headquarters for Bloomingdale's, the station was also known as "Bloomingdale's Station." The station was also the first rapid transit stop in the city to have an escalator, installed in September 1901. This station closed on May 12, 1955, with the ending of all service on the Third Avenue El south of 149th Street.