Church Avenue (Church Ave and East 18^th St) Opened 8/23/1907 Station is open cut with tunnels at both ends, 4 tracks, 2 island platforms, 2 staircases; 1 to each stationhouse at both ends. Originally 2 tracks and 1 entrance, the Brighton line expanded to 4 tracks. It was one of the first stations in the entire system to be renovated and has no artwork. Full time side is at Church Ave at south end; the original stationhouse was demolished and replaced with new house having no character. Plain white tiles dot the current interior and exterior of this entrance. There are restrooms inside fare control to the right side. The Part time side is at the North end by Caton Ave and St. Pauls Place, the stationhouse’s exterior was preserved at least. This side originally had a Part time booth during the morning rush and had iron maiden entrance all other times. After the 1980’s renovation, the station was converted to booth operations from 7 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week. All of the platform columns were covered with steel supports during the renovation. Southbound side by conductors’ position at midpoint has abandoned exit to East 18^th Street, between Church and Caton Avenues. The exterior of the house was made with brick and stucco, suggesting that it was added to the existing station sometime in the 1960’s or early 70’s. The boarded up staircase still stands. Leaving Church Ave, about 150 feet to the south we see a clear difference in the concrete wall on both sides, at this exact point is where the Brighton line was converted from 2 tracks to 4 tracks. Recall how the original Brighton line ROW as first opened in 1907 it ran 2 tracks from Church Ave, to Prospect Park, and then along the current 2 track Franklin Ave Shuttle. South of this point the Brighton line opened up to 4 tracks and was express from Church Ave to Kings Highway. After the 1920 realignment of the Brighton line, which permitted direct thru access over the Manhattan Bridge, the entire line is now the present 4 track configuration to Brighton Beach.

As we leave Church Avenue, we go through a min-tunnel before seeing daylight again. The walls of the open cut area are different about 200 feet down, with an abandoned pedestrian overpass at Albemarle Road is still present.

Beverley Road Beverley Road between East 15^th and 16^th Streets) opened 8/23/1907 Station is spelled BeverLEY Road; the IRT counterpart at Nostrand Ave is spelled BeverLY Road. There are arguments for both spellings and this site will not use our bandwidth arguing over the name issue. Local stop, 4 tracks and 2 side platforms, a nice restored early 1900’s station house with fluorescent bulbs is the focus of the early 1990’s in-house renovation. Sitting on the open cut portion of the Brighton Line, another gentle curve to the right is at the far north end, along with platform extensions clearly visible, allowing plenty of train watching from Church Ave to Newkirk Ave. The stationhouse features artwork "Garden Stops" (1994) by Patsy Norvell which has etched images of leaves on the glass windows facing the south and inside fare control. The artwork can be seen from both inside the mezzanine and while standing on either platform to the south of the mezzanine. A very intriguing secret of this station is the emergency exit on the southbound platform; a small ladder leads to a manhole cover at sidewalk level across the street from the stationhouse. Colors at this station are green and beige.

Cortelyou Road (Cortelyou Road between East 15^th and 16^th Streets) opened 8/23/1907 You could say that Beverley and Cortelyou Road stations are like sisters, they are. The station layout, stationhouse, even the "emergency exit" secret are both the same. However the only differences are the following: Cortelyou Road has blue columns, while Beverley Road is green, there is a signal house on the north end, that replicates the stationhouse across the street, however it is for NYCT use only, and finally the location of the stationhouse in relation to the platforms, is slightly to the north than the same location at Beverley Road.

The stations from here to and including Kings Highway have  renovated by Granite Construction Northeast.  

Newkirk Avenue (Newkirk Plaza, East 16th Street between Newkirk and Foster Avenues) opened 8/23/1907 This station sits in the middle of an outdoor pedestrian mall, the station was renovated in 1986, while the mall sidewalks were renovated in Spring 2004. A few of the stores along the mall are still in existence for nearly 90 years; one of them, a hardware store pre-dates the opening of the current Brighton Line. Standing at any point inside the mall, you can see and imagine where the original Brighton line ran at grade level, before the 1907 reconfiguration. A 1907 plaque facing the east stationhouse wall commemorates the origin of the BRT’s roots as a rapid transit company and is titled "The Depression and Elevation of Grade Crossings…" supports further evidence of this. Station is 4 tracks along 2 island platforms, open cut configuration, and restored 1907 stationhouse (thankfully). The interior is modern, while the exterior is preserved as much as possible, including the bronze plaque. Artwork: "Transit Skylight" (1988) by David Wilson, uses Zinc-glazed polycarbonate to create geometrical design of squares fitted into a triangular window, and allowing natural sunlight to beam down inside the stationhouse. It is located in the rear of the mezzanine, behind a trio of benches. In the wintertime, there are heaters behind the benches for added comfort. On the platform, the extension appears to the north, while aluminum beams on the platform ceiling were removed in the late 1990’s because it posed a safety hazard to customers. Some TLC is needed on the station platform. Directional sign to Foster Ave and a bus symbol are present in the station. This lighted sign was added during the 1980’s renovation to quickly identify the location of the B8 bus line, which stops at the Foster Ave side of the Plaza.

According to the MTA Web Site "...David Wilson- Transit Skylight, 1988,. Zinc-glazed polycarbonate skylight .David Wilson's skylight fills the waiting area of this Brooklyn subway station with bright, clear light. The panels are framed in blue and the pattern in the panes consists of black lines and solid panels in geometric form, that echoes the aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts movement and leaded glass work from that era, but with a more contemporary interpretation. In Wilson's words, "I had been interested in the use of plastics and the possibility of "leadlines" that are not feasible in glass - thus the diagonal "cuts" going to nowhere in the piece (i.e. stopping in the middle of a color). The project is a kind of architectural statement - a skylight set into a difficult environment (a steel I-beam divides the triangular window into two halves so that it is hard to read as a whole)."

Leaving Newkirk Ave, we rise above ground where it becomes the embankment portion of the Brighton Line. Until the 1920’s the Brighton shared space with the South Brooklyn Railway that ran to the east of the current Brighton from south of Avenue H and provided service to Manhattan Beach and Sheepshead Bay. There are still some footprints of this abandoned line in various parts of the Brighton,  

Avenue H (Avenue H at East 16^th Street) Opened 8/23/1907 A grand stationhouse, and is really the flagship stop for the Brighton Line. The original building was first a real estate office for Thomas Benton Ackerson, a real estate mogul in 1906, and a fixture for Brooklyn in the turn of the century. The Brighton line was running at grade at that time, since the 1880’s it was under the auspices of the Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Coney Island railroad. The building was sold to the Brooklyn Rapid Transit in 1907, and an embankment station opened. It is unique in its character as the city’s only shingled wooden cottage-turned transit station facility. The elements of stationhouse are preserved (the chimney, and the radiator inside fare control.). NYCT was planning to demolish this structure during the upcoming 2005 renovations being planned, because the wooden elements of the stationhouse posed a significant fire risk. However, the fate of the stationhouse was sealed for the good side, when on June 29, 2004, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Avenue H stationhouse (not the rest of the station), as a New York City landmark. Therefore, NYCT must preserve the Avenue H stationhouse, and any alterations to the stationhouse must be approved by the NYC LPC in advance. The rest of the station, including platforms, underpass, and staircases can be demolished and rebuilt during the renovation. The stationhouse sits at the S/W corner and has an adjoining business next door. The platform height is only 15 feet above sidewalk level and has a sidewalk underpass, both inside and outside fare control, the structure is too low for vehicles to run underneath the Brighton Line. When the MetroCard Vending Machine was installed at this station, the turnstiles were moved forward to the doorway inside the stationhouse. After entering fare control, you can go upstairs for the Manhattan-bound side, or use the underpass for the Coney Island bound side (each side has 1 stair to each platform.), a signal house sits to the left as you walk upstairs to the Manhattan-bound platform. Also on the Coney Island bound side is an exit only staircase to East 15^th Street and Avenue H, the appearance of this staircase looks like it was added sometime after the 1907 station opening. The platform extensions are clearly to the south end and extend over the South Brooklyn Railway freight line. This line (under LIRR control) had a separate ROW that ran south of this station, to Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach (in it’s heyday in the early 1900’s there was a racetrack in Manhattan Beach.) Because of the high corrugated fencing, I was unable to see any traces of the turn off from the ROW. However the good news is while we travel from here to Sheepshead Bay, we see plenty of evidence of the LIRR Bay Ridge line, including an abandoned station and several traces of the extended ROW. The line was 2 tracks running alongside the east side (Manhattan-bound side of today’s Brighton Line), and was partially lower in height than the elevation of the Brighton Line. It ran down to Manhattan Beach, with stations at Kings Highway, Neck Road (still present), and Sheepshead Bay, before veering off to Manhattan Beach. This area connected with the LIRR Bay Ridge (present ROW to the tracks alongside the Sea Beach line), or East New York (alongside today’s RR ROW to the L line at Van Sinderen Ave). In a twist of irony or fate, a street in Manhattan Beach (Corbin Place) near Oriental Blvd, was named in memory of Austin Corbin, who bought the Manhattan Beach freight RR and converted it into a passenger line. For more detailed information about the Manhattan Beach RR, please see the LIRR history page. Artwork is by Ed Kopel and is entitled Brooklyn Bucolic, 2012. It is Cast bronze

The landmarked Station House at Avenue H in Midwood, Brooklyn was originally built at the turn of the century as a real estate office for the surrounding community of Fiske Terrace, an early example of planned suburban development and a neighborhood which is graced by well-kept homes and landscaped streets. When the station was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2004, the Commission wrote that Avenue H is “the city’s only shingled wooden cottage turned transit station house". To celebrate this uniquely charming site, artist Ed Kopel animates the exterior of the building with his new piece, Brooklyn Bucolic, transforming an unused colonnade into an active community porch.

The artwork, along the north and east façades of the Station House, consists of casual groupings of cast bronze rocking chairs, anchored in place. The chairs are modeled upon rockers produced by the Shaker Community in Mount Lebanon, New York during last quarter of the 19th Century and the first quarter of the 20th – a timeframe contemporaneous with the development of Fiske Terrace from the establishment of the Brighton Line in 1878 to the completion of home construction in the 1920’s. Each has a unique patina treatment to make them more inviting and appropriate to a cozy porch setting.

the graciousness of front-porch society from days gone by. The chairs were fabricated by JP Parnas Woodworking and Polich Tallix.

Avenue J (Avenue J between East 15^th and 16^th Streets) opened 8/23/1907 Local stop, 4 tracks and 2 side platforms. The mezzanine is on the south side of Avenue J, while an abandoned staircase from the S/B side leads to street level across the street from the current street-level mezzanine. The area at the top of the closed staircase is laden with plants. Platform extensions are to the north end on both sides, note the underside of the platform floor from where you are standing on the opposite platform, a steel railing is found on the Coney Island bound side. Each platform has 2 staircases to mezzanine; one of the Coney Island staircases is double width with an alternate high wheel exit to street .Artwork is by Rita MacDonald and is entitled Bird Laid Bare, 2011. It is  Glass mosaic and tile

Avenue M Avenue M between East 15^th and 16^th Streets) opened 8/23/1907 Same setup at Avenue M, there is a closed staircase at S/B side, across the street from the active street level mezzanine. The prominence of this station in any photograph to identify is a smokestack to the north of the station and on the Coney Island bound side. Edward R. Murrow high school is on the opposite side of the smokestack. The platform extensions are on the north side and the Manhattan bound platform appears to be slightly narrower than the Coney Island bound platform. Avenue M was host to a nearby movie studio which produced some films in the area. For more information please see Larry Fendrick’s subway.com ru web site. Artwork is by Rita MacDonald and is entitled Hare Apparent, 2011. It is Glass mosaic and tile

Avenues J and M share this metaphoric motif. Avenue M features a rabbit design with rabbits leaping from the wall and hopping along the station stairs. Avenue J depicts birds who fan out from the pattered wall and seem to fly throughout the station. The creatures appear to have escaped from the old- fashioned wall pattern of the past to join us here in the present day station. The birds and rabbits add a sense of whimsy while at the same time engaging people who use their own forms of transportation. In an inspired flight of fancy, the animals travel to the neighboring stations: a bird is seen mixing it up with the rabbits at Avenue M and at Avenue J, a rabbit hops over to visit with the birds. 

Kings Highway (Kings Highway and East 16^th Street) Opened 8/23/1907 Express stop, 4 tracks, 2 island platforms on embankment, the station was renovated in the late 1980’s. There are 5 staircases on each platform, leading to 3 fare control areas, at street level. From north to south, the staircase locations are as follows: 1 staircase to N/S Kings Highway is 24/7 HEET access and ghost booth, the booth was closed in 2003. 2^nd and 3^rd staircases leads to Full time booth at the South side of Kings Highway, there is an exit only wheel, next to the mezzanine area for easier exit from S/B platform. The 4^th and 5^th staircases lead to Quentin Road and East 16^th St, it is open weekdays only. The Quentin Road mezzanine is interesting because the tiles and signs are 1950’s or 60’s style, suggesting the growth of Kings Highway mandated a 3^rd exit built at this station. Further confirmation of the newest entrance is the word "SUBWAY" used outside and to the sides, if it was an original entrance, the "BMT lines" would be used instead. Similar use of the word "Subway" is Rockaway Park  and Broad Channel stations (see H shuttle), while the Rockaway line was converted from LIRR to IND use in 1956. The yellow tiles are similar to the additional north entrance at DeKalb, this time they are yellow, and were left unchanged during the 1980’s renovation; other 2 mezzanines are fully renovated. Platform extensions are clearly to the north, you can see a "break" on the platform floors (steel plates are present) and the difference underneath the platform. Artwork at both Kings Highway mezzanines: "Kings Highway Hieroglyphs" (1987) by Rhoda Andors, made of porcelain enamel, details the people and trains at the station entrances. Both sets are the same inside fare control. During the 1990’s signal replacement on the Brighton Line, a new signal electrical tower was installed over the express tracks at the south end. The old tower about 150 feet south of this station and facing the South bound local track, is abandoned in favor of the new DeKalb master tower, which controls the interlocking switches and signals in this area. 

Avenue U (Avenue U between East 15^th and East 16^th Streets) opened 8/23/1907 Local stop, 4 tracks and 2 side platforms. The mezzanine is on the north side this time, while the closed staircase is on the south side of the Coney Island-bound platform. A high wheel exit replaces the gate that allowed PM rush hour crowds to exit the station more easily. This exit was manned during this time, until the replacement of the high-wheel. This is the busiest local stop on the Brighton line, and has seen tremendous growth in the 70’s and 80’s. In fact at one point in the late 1980’s, a second booth was inside the same mezzanine and was across the F/T booth, of course it is now a ghost booth. Artwork is  by Jason Middlebrook  and is entitled Brooklyn Seeds, 2011. It is Glass mosaic

Jason Middlebrook's mosaic installation, "Brooklyn Seeds," is a monumentally-scaled garden of wildflowers climbing up the stair wall extending from Avenue U to the elevated train platform. Created in glass mosaic, the choice of plants is based upon local wildflowers that grow in unlikely places, through cracks in the sidewalk, alleys, and walls. Middlebrook's work explores the place where the urban and manmade intersect with the natural to survive and flourish. These flowers, often weeds, include such local specimens as spotted knapweed, burdock, golden rod, aster, milkweed and daises. Above many of the mosaic plants are airborne seed pods floating away to germinate, on a journey of their own

Neck Road (Gravesend Neck Road at East 16th Street) opened 1907 Local stop, 4 tracks, 2 side platforms.  Biggest surprise is outside this station and directly to the east on same side at station entrance, the remains of the abandoned Neck Road station of the Manhattan Beach branch of the LIRR are located here.  As stated earlier, this line ran parallel to the current Brighton line ROW from south of Avenue H to Sheepshead Bay before veering off to Manhattan Beach. The abandoned station appears to be 2 tracks on 2 side platforms, the staircases are left intact. This is the only trace of an actual station; most of the other portions of the Manhattan Beach ROW are replaced with either brick houses or businesses. The exterior of the station was used as a backdrop for a couple of scenes in the Robert DeNiro film "A Bronx Tale" (1990), where a gang incident erupts out on the street. Artwork is by Mary Temple and is entitled West Wall, East Light, Morning, 2011. It is Ceramic mosaic

Mary Temple's artwork subtly shifts the commuter's perception of the subway station by creating a soft canopy of light and shade that floods the wall of the west stair leading up to the southbound platform. The standard wall tile has been tinted, transitioning from rectangular shapes to smaller angular shapes to form an elaborate fractured mosaic. Over the pattern of shapes, it appears that a shard of light and tree silhouettes illuminate the wall. On closer inspection viewers discover that the tiles are hand-painted in ceramic glazes. This slow reveal of the image was designed by the artist, to be discovered over time, on repeated viewing, as commuters catch a glimpse of perpetual morning light. As the artist reminds us, Henry David Thoreau said: "Vigorous thought keeps pace with the sun, the day is a perpetual morning". The artwork may not be immediately noticed as it subtly plays with the viewer's perception of the space, and will lead to ongoing discovery and enjoyment as its mysteries are revealed  this time they are yellow, and were left unchanged during the 1980’s renovation; other 2 mezzanines are fully renovated. Platform extensions are clearly to the north, you can see a "break" on the platform floors (steel plates are present) and the difference underneath the platform. Artwork at both Kings Highway mezzanines: "Kings Highway Hieroglyphs" (1987) by Rhoda Andors, made of porcelain enamel, details the people and trains at the station entrances. Both sets are the same inside fare control. During the 1990’s signal replacement on the Brighton Line, a new signal electrical tower was installed over the express tracks at the south end. The old tower about 150 feet south of this station and facing the Southbound local track, is abandoned in favor of the new DeKalb master tower, which controls the interlocking switches and signals in this area.

Sheepshead Bay (Sheepshead Bay Road and East 15^th Street)   Station was renovated by NYCT’s in-house MOW forces in 1997-98 and features some very nice artwork.  The main entrance has "Welcome to Sheepshead Bay" next to the entrance/exit doors, along with 2 circular windows that allow you to peek from the outside and see the mezzanine.  The mezzanine inside fare control has 3 pieces of artwork, all titled "Postcards from Sheepshead Bay" (1998) by Deborah Golez.  Made of ceramic tile, it draws the faces and life on the "Bay" (as Brooklynites call it short for the neighborhood called Sheepshead Bay.). Inside the mezzanine, there are 3 artwork designs, a diner, some people wearing 17^th century clothing near a boat dock, and a fisherman. A closer examination of the tile band at the mezzanine level has sea shells and Pisces fish. A bench sits facing fare control at Sheepshead Bay side and has 2 overhead heaters that provide comfort during the winter months. Although the main street serving the Full time booth at north end is Sheepshead Bay Road, the station was named for the area, rather than the street, (Same for our next and last stop, Brighton Beach, which the main avenue running underneath the station is Brighton Beach Ave.)   Platform curves to the west and makes for an interesting way to watch trains arriving, especially from the south end; it was extended to the north on both sides. Like Kings Highway station, there is clear evidence of the 1960’s platform extension.  This station originally was a terminal stop; the extension to Brighton Beach was not built until 1917, 10 years after the first elevated/embankment segment of the Brighton line opened.  Station has the usual 4 track, 2 island platform express configuration, 2 fare control areas, one at Sheepshead Bay with 2 stairs to each platform, and a Part time entrance at Voorhies Ave at the far south end, with 1 staircase. 

 The Voorhies Ave side has a booth that is open only during weekday mornings, most other times during the day there is HEET access.  At both mezzanine areas, BMT fax style directional mosaics tablets "To Manhattan" and "To Coney Island" were present.  Prior to the 1998 renovation, there was a small passageway behind the Full time booth area that led to a restaurant and small arcade of stores, it is now sealed. Outside and to the east of the Voorhies Ave side entrance, there is a pedestrian overpass running alongside the Manhattan-bound side of the Brighton line, it only crosses the Belt Parkway towards the opposite side. There seems to be some differences within Transit of the pronunciation of this station's name. Is it Sheep's Head (referring to a part of a sheep) or Sheep Shed (A place to store sheep)?  "Starbats1096" gave your webmaster an interesting fact: "This station, as well as the Sheepshead Bay area, is actually named after a species of fish! It's pronounced "Sheep's Head", by the way. I don't exactly remember why the fish was called that, but apparently the heavy fishing of it had an influence on naming the community. " Thank you "Starbats1096" for your answer!

Brighton Beach (Brighton Beach Ave between Brighton 7th and Brighton 5th Streets) Opened 4/22/1917: This is the final stop for B trains and has 4 tracks, 2 island platforms, and 2 fare control areas.  Full time side is at Brighton 7th St at east side of station (due north), while Part time side is 24/7 HEET access and ghost booth.  B trains use both express tracks for arrivals and departures, while Q local trains use the local tracks. An up escalators sits behind the north staircase at street level and appears to be installed in the 1960’s or early 70’s. Like, Sheepshead Bay, it was renovated in-house and has large retro look signs of "BRIGHTON BEACH" above the stairway entrances at street level. Artwork: "Mermaid/Dionysus and the Pirates" (1999) by Dan George, appears on the Manhattan-bound platform and is made of aluminum. It tells the story of Dionysus, an ancient mythical God who was captured by pirates. Dionysus breaks free and turns into other creatures, scaring the captors. They jump into the sea waters, transforming into dolphins in the process. Platform extends to the west (due south) and has a gentle curve. Just beyond this terminal station, lie 2 additional tracks that end at bumper block at Ocean Parkway station. Although this location is the only elevated section in the entire NYCT system to have 6 tracks, only 2 see active revenue use by Q trains. The other 4 tracks are used for storing B trains when necessary. We travel to Ocean Parkway from Brighton Beach with 6 tracks among us.  This section is the only outdoor area in the entire NYCT system to have 6 tracks.  We are in the outermost 2 local tracks while the 4 middle tracks are used for storing B trains during non-rush hours

Ocean Parkway (Ocean Parkway at Brighton Beach Avenue) opened 4/22/1917  Station has 4 tracks, 2 island platforms, and 2 mezzanines.  It was renovated simultaneously with Brighton beach in the late 1990's, by NYCT's in-house forces.  Each of the 2 mezzanines has 2 street stairs and 1 stair to each platform. Full time side is at east side of Ocean Parkway, while the Part time side to the west of the parkway has ghost booth (closed during renovation, custom practice for NYCT to secretly close booths during renovations take place.)  There are interesting soccer sized lamps on both platforms facing Ocean Parkway below, some bulbs are missing.  Just to the west of the station are 2 additional tracks starting from bumper blocks.  The platform was extended in the 1960's to the north, if you stand at street level past the Full time staircases, you will see the 2 bumper block tracks actually extend past the platform underneath for about 100 feet inward. 

We gently ease to the left and merge with the express track, while we see abandoned trackage to the right side; we now become 2 tracks from here to the end of the line at Stillwell Ave/Coney Island. We ascend slightly and observe girders at both ends that meet with the Culver Line outside West 8^th Street. There were originally the tracks that ran straight to the lower level at West 8th Street from Ocean Parkway, before the Culver line was extended.  Had the original 1917 track configuration remained untouched, we would've arrived at West 8^th Street on the lower level (currently used by F trains); while a train on the Brighton express track would use the upper level. 

West 8^th Street /NY Aquarium (West 8th St, north of Surf Avenue) opened on both levels 5/30/1919.   Culver connection to lower level opened 5/1/1920.  This station has 2 platform levels and a mezzanine below it and has been renovated by NYCT's in-house forces and is among the most visually pleasing in the entire subway system. Each level has 2 tracks and 2 side platforms; the lower level is for Culver F trains while we use the upper level.  Full time mezzanine is at West 8th Street with an outdoor ramp that goes over Surf Avenue and onto Coney Island's Rigelman Boardwalk.  The NY Aquarium is directly across the street from the station entrance and has a staircase down to the Aquarium's parking lot in front.  There is another staircase below the boardwalk ramp to Surf Ave and a second staircase opposite the ramp's side within the mezzanine.  Near the Surf Ave staircase and pedestrian bridge to the NY Aquarium and Boardwalk, is a sealed ramp to inside the F train level at the Manhattan-bound side only. This area appears to be closed some time ago, also raising the possibility that a ghost booth may have existed here. The closed area is preserved during the renovation process so far. The second staircase inside the opposite end of the mezzanine, leads down to West 8th Street. The Part time side at West 6th Street has now a ghost booth (was targeted in 2003 for booth closure) and is expected to have 24/7 HEET access when opened.  There are escalators from the part time mezzanine directly to our upper level.  The staircases from both levels to mezzanine are totally redesigned and have more open air space than before the renovation. 

We leave West 8^th Street station and are treated to a nice backdrop on the south side to the playground we call Coney Island.  As we are leaving, we see the world famous Cyclone roller coaster, the former Astroland Amusement Park, and before we turn off to enter Stillwell Avenue terminal, we see Nathan’s restaurant at the comer of Surf and Stillwell Avenues. Also before we enter Stillwell, there are switches to Tracks #1 and #2 on the D line, while we enter into Track #3 (our other Track #4, does not have any direct switches to Tracks 1 and 2.  This is only used for non-revenue moves, the last time this track saw active revenue service was in 1967, when the short lived NX special rush hour express service operated.  The N train would start at Brighton Beach on the South bound side, travel to West 8th Street, then use this track to arrive at Track #2, before departing nonstop from here to 59th Street/4th Ave along the Sea Beach express tracks, then onto to midtown Manhattan via the N line

Stillwell Ave-Coney Island is discussed on the complexes page