Brooklyn Bridge to Pelham Bay Park
North refers to trains to Pelham Bay Park and South refers to trains to Brooklyn Bridge.
For photos please see www nycsubway.org
The first stop is the closed City Hall station (underneath City Hall Park) which opened on 10/27/1904 and closed on 12/31/1945. It is very ornate and has one track and a five car platform. It was closed for safety reasons. Please see www.nycsubway.org and Brennan’s page for more information on this station. Officially 6 trains are emptied at Brooklyn Bridge and run light through the loop and is part of the original IRT route from 1904. The original route ran from City Hall to North of 33rd Street, via today’ shuttle to Times Square and via the 1 train to 145th Street and Broadway.
Brooklyn Bridge (underneath City Hall Park at Park Row) opened on 10/27/1904 and is discussed on the complexes page.
Worth Street opened on10/27/1904 and closed on 09/01/1962. It was closed when Brooklyn Bridge was lengthened northward to allow abandonment t of the gap fillers at the south end of Brooklyn Bridge. It had two wall platforms holding five cars and four tracks.
Canal Street (on Lafayette Avenue at Canal Street) is described on the Complexes Page
Spring Street (on Lafayette Avenue at Spring Street) opened on 10/27/1904 and has four tracks and two wall platforms
Bleecker Street (on Lafayette Avenue at Bleecker Street) opened on 10/27/1904 and has four tracks and two wall platforms.
Astor Place (on Lafayette Avenue at Astor Place) opened on 10/27/1904 and has four tracks and two wall platforms which are offset. This is home of the beaver to commemorate John Jacob Astor who was a fur trader. This station has been renovated and features artwork by Milton Glasser, installed in 1986.. According to Joe Cunningham, this station had beavers all over the tile but were removed when customers though the beavers to be rats. This station has a secondary name of Cooper Union.
14th Street Union Square opened on 10/27/1904 and is described on the Complexes Page
18th Street opened on 10/27/1904 and has four tracks and two short five car wall platforms. It was closed 11/08/1948 to speed service since it is close to Union Square. For more information and photos see www.nycsubway.org and Brennan’s page.
23rd Street(on Park Avenue South at East 23rd Street) opened on 10/27/1904 and has four tracks and two wall platforms and has vent chambers. There is no crossover or crossunder. It is partially renovated with an ornate north end with tiled I-beams and low curtain walls between all tracks. The art is entitled “Long Division” by Valerie Jaudon installed in 1988
28th Street (on Park Avenue South at East 28th Street) opened on 10/27/1904 and has four tracks and two wall platforms and has no open crossover or crossunder but does have a sealed crossunder closed due to crime concerns. It has glass block walls at the north end on both platforms. There is a high ceiling in the center. Tablets spell out the name as Twenty-Eighth Street.
33rd Street (on Park Avenue at East 33rd Street)opened on 10/27/1904 and has four tracks and two wall platforms. It has been renovated and features a retro look. The eagle plaques are for the armory nearby. The local track is higher than the express tracks. The art is the seat loops by James Garvey. An was installed in 1996.
42nd Street Grand Central opened on 07/17/1918 and is described on the Complexes Page. Leaving here the line becomes two levels with the express on the lower level.
51st Street (on Lexington Avenue at East 51st Street) IRT opened on 07/27/1918 and is described on the Complexes Page.
59th Street (on Lexington Avenue at East 59th Street) local opened on 07/17/1918 and the express opened on 11/15/1962. It is described on the Complexes Page.
68th Street Hunter College (on Lexington Avenue at East 68th Street)opened on 07/27/1918 and has two tracks and two wall platforms along with emergency exits from the express underneath. The north end has a high ceiling. There is a crossover with windows allowing a view of the trains. This station needs TLC. And was possibly the very first station renovated in 1982. Stairs at south-west side blended in with one of the entrances to Hunter College upstairs, and was redone after the renovation.
77th Street (on Lexington Avenue at East 77th Street) opened on 07/27/1918 and has two tracks and two wall platforms along with emergency exits from the express underneath. It is being renovated by NYCT in house contract. It has a crossover and has a secondary name of Lenox Hill Hospital. It has vent chambers. A newsstand is on the southbound platform.
86th Street (on Lexington Avenue at East 86th Street) opened on 07/27/1918 and has two tracks and two wall platforms on each level. It is being renovated by NYCT in house contract. There is no crossover or crossunder. Fare control is on the platform level.
96th Street (on Lexington Avenue at East 96th Street) opened on 07/27/1918 and has two tracks and two wall platforms along with emergency exits from the express underneath. There is a crossover featuring windows overlooking the tracks and an emergency exit from the express underneath on each platform, It has been renovated and features artwork by Laura Bradley entitled “City Suite” installed in 1994. The south end has a tube design due to hydraulic problems encountered during construction (SOURCE: Joe Cunningham).
103rd Street (on Lexington Avenue at East 103rd Street) opened on 07/27/1918 and has four tracks and two wall platforms and has no crossover or crossunder. It has been renovated and has art entitled “To Nitza “ by Neo Borikéo installed in 1990. Fare control is at platform level
110th Street (on Lexington Avenue at East 110th Street) opened on 07/27/1918 and has four tracks and two wall platforms and has no crossover or crossunder .Artwork is entitled “Sabado en La Ciento Diez” (Saturday on 110th Street) by Manuel Vega installed in 1997. Leaving here the express again descends.
116th Street (on Lexington Avenue at East 116th Street) opened on 07/27/1918 and has two tracks and two wall platforms along with emergency exits from the express underneath. This station is being renovated by NYCT in house contract and has no crossover or crossunder.
125th Street (on Lexington Avenue at East 125th Street) opened on 07/17/1918 has two tracks and an island platform on each level. This station is being renovated. The East track is used by the 6 train and the West track by the 4 train and the 5 train. The new art in the mezzanine has no plaque at this writing (August, 2004)
138th Street Third Avenue (on Alexander Avenue at Easy 138th Street) opened on 01/17/1919 and has three tracks and is fairly deep with a high ceiling. North exit with crossunder leads to 138th street and Alexander while the South exit leads to 138th Street and Third Avenue. The booth is at the North end. Both platforms have long closed stairways at the south end. The South mezzanine has new lights.
Brook Avenue (On East 138th Street at Brook Avenue) opened on 01/17/1919 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with no crossover or crossunder. The station has vent chambers. Booths are on the platform level of both platforms.
Cypress Avenue (on East 138th Street at Cypress Avenue) opened on 01/17/1919 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with no crossover or crossunder The station has vent chambers. Booths are on the platform level of both platforms.
East 143rd Street St Mary’s Street (on Southern Boulevard at East 143rd Street) opened on 01/17/1919 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with no crossover or crossunder. The station has vent chambers. Booths are on the platform level of both platforms.
East 149th Street (on Southern Boulevard at East 149th Street) opened on 01/17/1919 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with no crossover or crossunder. The station has vent chambers. Booths are on the platform level of both platforms.
Longwood Avenue (on Southern Boulevard at Longwood Avenue) opened on 01/17/1919 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with no crossover or crossunder. Booths are on the platform level of both platforms, Vent chambers are over the tracks. There is a possible closed exit at the South end southbound.
Hunts Point Avenue (On Southern Boulevard at Hunts Point Avenue) opened on 01/17/1919 and has three tracks and two island platforms there is a crossover at both ends there is an extra exit at the South end southbound leading to a high exit to the bus lanes. This is the last subway stop. We become an el. The exit at south end is new, was added sometime in the mid-1990s as an easier exit to board one of the 3 bus lines in the area. There never was a exit at the Manhattan-bound side.
Whitlock Avenue (On Westchester Avenue at Whitlock Avenue) opened 05/30/1920 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with a crossunder. Canopies are wood and the mezzanine has windows. Renovation is planned for the 2005-2009 capital Program. There is no windscreen at the ends. Leaving here there is a 25 mph curve.
As we leave Whitlock and the curve, we see railroad tracks below Westchester Avenue and next to the Sheridan Expressway. These tracks are for Amtrak trains heading to/from Westchester County and points North. There was a station outside the Amtrak tracks near Westchester Avenue. It was abandoned a long time ago
Elder Avenue (On Westchester Avenue at Elder Avenue)opened 05/30/1920 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with a crossunder Canopies are wood and the mezzanine has windows. Renovation is planned for the 2005-2009 capital Program. There is no windscreen at the ends.
Morrison- Soundview Avenues (On Westchester Avenue at Morrison Avenue) opened 05/30/1920 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with a crossunder Canopies are wood and the mezzanine has windows. Renovation is planned for the 2005-2009 capital Program. There is no windscreen at the ends.
St Lawrence Avenue (on Westchester Avenue at Saint Lawrence Avenue) opened 05/30/1920 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with a crossunder Canopies are wood and the mezzanine has windows. Renovation is planned for the 2005-2009 capital Program. There is no windscreen at the ends.
Parkchester East 177th Street (on Hugh J. Grant Circle/ Westchester Avenue , one block East of White Plains Road) opened 05/30/1920 and has three tracks and two island platforms with a crossunder. Fare control is at street level In a massive stucco station house. The station also has an upper mezzanine which has been reduced in size. Canopies are wood. Renovation is planned for the 2005-2009 capital Program The station has a grand stairway to the upper mezzanine and Is slated for ADA access, along with the proposed renovation. The station signs and map now read “Parkchester”, the East 177th Street was dropped not too long ago. East 177th Street was the cross street before the Cross-Bronx Expressway was built in the 1950’s. It is home to the city’s first private housing community, Parkchester Apartment Complex, first opened in 1940.
Castle Hill Avenue (on Westchester Avenue at Castle Hill Avenue) opened on 10/24/1920 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with a crossunder. At the North end there is a sharp 20 mph curve. Renovation is planned for the 2005-2009 Capital Program. There is no windscreen at the ends. The mezzanine is wood and has windows
Zerega Avenue (on Westchester Avenue at Zerega Avenue) opened on 10/24/1920 and has opened on 12/20/1920 and three tracks and two wall platforms with a crossunder. Renovation is planned for the 2005-2009 Capital Program. The mezzanine is wood and has windows.
Westchester Square East Tremont Avenue (on Westchester Avenue at East Tremont Avenue) opened on 10/24/1920 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with a crossunder. It offers a view of the Bronx Whitestone Bridge to our East. Canopies are metal and has been renovated The windscreen has some glass block walls and is also broken up by mesh panels. This station is very nice. There is no windscreen at the ends.
Between Westchester Square and Middletown Road, there is the Westchester subway yard. It houses all 6 trains stored in this yard. A flyover is on the s/b local track and meets up with the yard track.
Middletown Road (on Westchester Avenue at Middletown Road) opened on 12/20/1920 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with a crossunder. The station has just had new lights installed. Canopies are wood as is the mezzanine. Renovation is planned for the 2005-2009 Capital Program
Buhre Avenue (on Westchester Avenue at Buhre Avenue) opened on 12/20/1920 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with a crossunder. To answer a question that is often asked, the name rhymes with “pure”. The station has new sodium lights and now windscreen at the ends. Canopies and mezzanine are wood. Renovation is planned for the 2005-2009 Capital Program.
Pelham Bay Park (on Westchester Avenue at Pelham Bay Park) opened on 12/20/1920 and has two tracks, two closed wall platforms and an island platform Canopies are wood, as is the mezzanine which has a crossover at the north end. The station has full ADA, which the mezzanine also was renovated at the same time when the elevator to Buckner Boulevard was built. It is a major bus transfer point as buses to Co-op City and Orchard Beach (Summer only) stop outside this station.
Rating: 4 stars. The underground stations are dreary. The elevated section has nice curves and water views.