Comments on: 5 Abandoned Stations of the New York Subway System

By: Calvin

Calvin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:35:03 +0000

New York’s now-defunct Pneumatic Subway would make an interesting addition to your list, except that it’s no longer there. More detail here: http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=946

By: Estaciones de metro fantasmas de Nueva York (eng)

Estaciones de metro fantasmas de Nueva York (eng) — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:33:22 +0000

[...] Estaciones de metro fantasmas de Nueva York (eng) www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/abandoned-stations-ne… por cyrano2875 hace pocos segundos [...]

By: David

David — Mon, 25 May 2009 05:34:31 +0000

Very interesting site.
3. 18th Street station: its original length would not have been 6 m but 60 m, which is about 200 feet.

By: Rick Altabef

Rick Altabef — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:03:28 +0000

My guess is that the lower level of 42nd St-8th Av station was built as a temporary accommodation for the E train. It would have been useful for the years before the 6th Av line was built. For a period of time, all trains coming south from Columbus Circle travelled down the only completed IND line, the 8th Av line. Thus, for example, the entrances to the D-train stations in the Bronx still say “8th Av – Concourse Line.” Without a 6th Av line to receive the D and B trains, there would have been terrific crowding at the 42nd St juncture where, today, the E-train joins the C-train on the 8th Av local track. So it would have made sense to build a temporary terminal for the E-train at 42nd St to serve until the 6th Av line was completed. I have no idea whether it was ever actually used for that purpose. Also, you should realize that when the Independent (8th Av) subway was begun, the stated goal of the city was “unification” — i.e., eventually getting the IRT and BMT under city ownership. Therefore, it would have made no sense to build the lower level 42nd St-8th Av station just to frustrate westward expansion of the IRT. It was quite enough that the city was in the process of bankrupting the IRT by holding its fare to a nickel.

By: lew

lew — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:39:59 +0000

90th Street on the 1/2/3 line…

By: John

John — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:19:55 +0000

What about the Worth Street Station between City Hall and Canal on the 6? That station always intrigues me every time the train passes by… Any idea how long that station has been shuttered?

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:56:27 +0000

It’s actually okay to ride through the City Hall station on the 6 train. Some train operators may force you to get off, but the one time I did it, the operator could have cared less. I recommend riding through on a sunny day — you won’t see much, but if you have 20 minutes to kill it’s worth it. Just get on the downtown 6 train at the Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall stop.

By: Flooey

Flooey — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:45:52 +0000

A few corrections for the article:

The BRT and BMT were never in competition, as they’re basically the same company; BRT went bankrupt in the early 20s and was recreated as BMT.

You’re allowed to ride the loop on the 6 train through the abandoned City Hall station, which is pretty neat, though it’s not recommended if you have somewhere to be, as sometimes the trains stop in the tunnel for 15-20 minutes.

The 42nd Street shuttle doesn’t stop at 5th Avenue, just the 7 does.

Also, it should be noted that the lower level of the 42nd Street station is slated for demolition, as the extension of the 7 line to the west side will require tunneling right through it. (The 7 line does indeed end right against the eastern wall of that platform.)