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So, you're in New York City from out of town and you have
some time to kill riding the subway. Here are some tips and some
subway fan's ideas for where to go and see the best sights.
Is it safe? Yes. You'll find the New York
subway is not what you're familiar with from seeing it on TV. It
isn't the crime ridden, graffiti infested thing it once was. Overall
crime rates are way down and the subway system's maintenance standards
are relatively high (certainly compared to the low point in the early
1980s).
What neighborhoods/stations should I avoid?
This is really a matter you need to answer for yourself depending on
how comfortable you are in different types of areas. Use common
sense. Keep your wallet put away and your camera close at hand. Don't
get in people's way. Don't bring anything with you that you don't
need. If you're traveling from overseas, find some other safe place
for your passport. If you look and act like you know you don't belong
somewhere, you're an easier target. While there is very little risk of
getting mugged, play it safe. As for what areas are safer than others,
chances are you are not going to be exiting the subway in those areas
and walking around anyway. All the trains are safe during "daytime"
hours (loosely defined, daytime is 5:00 am to midnight). There are
some areas that I feel wary leaving trains and milling around the
stations, most particularly the A, C, and G lines in Brooklyn. I feel
that the elevated stations seem more safe than the underground
stations.
The rule of thumb is: don't leave the
stations if you aren't familiar with the area! This is not to say that
exploring is inherently unsafe. Just use some common sense. After all,
late at night, when ridership and train frequency declines, you'll be
back in your hotel room anyway.
As you ride around, you'll undoubtedly need to stop off
for food and comfort breaks. I can personally vouch for the outer
terminals of the 1 (Van Cortlandt Park), 6 (Pelham Bay Park), 7
(Flushing Main Street), A (Rockaway Park), B/D/F/N (Stillwell Avenue),
B/D (205th Street), J/Z/E (Jamaica). These are safe areas with plenty
of food places to enjoy a mid-ride repast.
Before you embark on your journey, buy a Metrocard Fun
Pass (good for one person for boardings all day long), and familiarize
yourself with the map of the system so you have a rough idea of where
you're going and where you need to make transfers. This will avoid you
being caught without a fare or looking like you don't know where you
are or where you are going.
Itinerary contributed by David Pirmann
Here's a one-day itinerary that assumes you start very
early, and concentrates on some elevated lines. Pick a day with good
weather!
Assuming you are staying in a Midtown hotel, start from 34th
St. & 6th Avenue on the BMT Broadway Subway and
take the "Q" or "Q express" train to Brooklyn. Stay on the train all
the way to Prospect Park. Along the way you will have an express run
down Broadway then a ride across the Manhattan Bridge.
Heading down the BMT Brighton
Line, stop off at Prospect Park and ride the Franklin Shuttle to
Franklin Avenue and back. This line has recently been renovated
head-to-toe. The tunnel entrance on the way back is the site of the
Malbone Street Wreck.
Get back on the southbound D train (or Q, for a front-window
view), and keep your eyes open along the scenic Brighton Line.
At Coney Island-Stillwell
Avenue, watch the trains from the pedestrian overpass for a while
or perhaps stop at Nathan's (outside the station at the corner of
Stillwell and Surf Avenues) for an early lunch.
Then, take the "F" train northbound from Stillwell. Stop at
Smith/9th Street and enjoy the view there (the highest point
on the elevated system).
Get back on the "F" to Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. You could
take the "G" train instead but I think the "F" will be faster
even though it goes into Manhattan and back out. Transfer to
the #7 - IRT Flushing Line - toward Flushing
and get off at Willets Point/Shea Stadium. Walk toward the World's
Fairgrounds on the bridge and take a look at Corona Yard.
Ride the #7 back to Roosevelt. If you didn't have lunch yet,
there's lots of places for lunch right around Roosevelt
Ave. station. Switch to the "E" to Jamaica Center, and switch to a "J"
or "Z" train to Broadway/East New York. Take a look at the junctions
from the "L" train platform.
Go down to the "A" train platform and ride a Far Rockaway
train all the way out to Far Rockaway. (The ride out and back will
take almost two hours but the view is tremendous. Skip it if the
weather is not nice!)
Ride back on the "A" train all the way to Fulton Street,
Manhattan. Transfer at Fulton Street to the #4 or #5 uptown to
Brooklyn Bridge. Ride the original IRT line north to Grand Central.
Get off there for dinner in the new markets inside the terminal.
If you're still eager for more, ride the Shuttle across to
Times Square, then take a #1 train up to the north end of
Manhattan. The stations at 96th, 125th, 168th, 181st, Dyckman Streets
are particularly interesting all for different reasons.
Itinerary contributed by Mark Feinman
Favorite Lines:
The #7 line from 42nd St/Times Square to Main St, Flushing,
Queens. Try to time your trip where at least one leg is during rush
hour so you can enjoy the express ride from Queensboro Plaza to Main
St (or vice versa in the AM rush). If you're going to stop for photos,
consider Queensboro Plaza (multi-level elevated station transferring
with the N train), 111th St (junction with Willets Point Yard, express
track rises to a second level) and Willets Point/Shea Stadium (exit
train onto footbridge into Flushing Meadows Park and cross over
Willets Point Yard). The R-36 fleet has the accessible railfan
window.
The Brighton Line (D/Q) into Coney Island, Brooklyn. If you
prefer an express ride in Brooklyn, use the Q train to Brighton Beach
and then cross the platform for a transfer to the Coney Island bound
D. The Brighton line has different types of running: over the
Manhattan Bridge (suspension bridge over the East River), tunnel, open
cut, elevated ROW, typical EL south of Neptune Ave into Coney
Island). The double-decked El structure between West 8th St and
Stillwell Ave has always been one of my favourites to photograph. The
R-68s that are used on the D line do not have the railfan window,
although sometimes the window into the train operator's cab is not
obstructed with a sign or jacket. Suggested photo locations include
Beverley Road from the Coney Island bound platform, Ave J for the
runbys, Brighton Beach, Ocean Pkwy (facing West 8th St), West 8th St
and Coney Island - Stillwell Ave. There's an overpass at Stillwell Ave
over all the lines that terminate thee (4 lines B/D/F/N, all
terminating at Island Platforms. Go to Nathan's for lunch - a Coney
Island institution for over 75 years. And take a walk on the Coney
Island Boardwalk (head East towards Brighton Beach). The return trip
from Coney Island can be up to you. If you like mostly open cut
running, use the N train. The N is running with a mix of equipment
right now, so if you have the time, wait for a train with the railfan
window (R-32, R-40 or R-42). If you like mostly elevated running,
return with the F (with a nice trip over the Smith ST viaduct, highest
point in the system not counting suspension bridges) but the F, like
the D/Q, does nothave the railfan window. You could also take the B
(which is my preference) with a winding route through Brooklyn and a
nice express run between 36th St and Pacific Street. And for the most
part, the equipment used (R-40, R-42) has the railfan window; if
you're doing this on a weekend, it might be harder to get a train with
a railfan window; R-68s are used.
Take the #2 train to 241 St / White Plains Road, Wakefield, the
Bronx. Nice long elevated stretch through the Bronx. Photo opportunity
at E 180 St. Overpass connecting Bronx and Manhattan bound platforms
at Southern end of station giving nice views of the El approaching
from the south. All stops between 149th St and 241 St, except for
180th and E Tremont Ave, are not recommended for photo stops. The
"endangered species" redbirds still make up this fleet so getting a
railfan window should not be a problem.
Runners Up: The J line from Broad/Wall Sts to
Parsons/Archer. Long El through Brooklyn and Queens. Also the spur
from Myrtle Ave to Metropolitan Ave along the M route. Lots of old El
structure to be seen, some dating back to the turn of the century. No
photo stops recommended here unless you're with someone who is
familiar with the system. The fleet on these lines consists mostly of
R-40s and R-42s, so, again, getting a railfan window should not be a
problem. The N train to Coney Island has some interesting views as it
goes right through the Coney Island Yard. That offers a view of a
facility normally not available to the public.
Also make the Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn a required
stop when you're here. No other place like it (other than the London
Underground museum at Covent Garden, London, England).
From some of the field trips I've taken previously, I'd
recommend the following stops:
Brooklyn
West 8th Street (D,F). Exit the station, proceed on the
overpass to the Boardwalk & Aquarium, stop about mid-way across
Surf Avenue. Also from Stillwell-Ave bound D/Q platform, there's
a good shot up the F-line looking towards Neptune Ave - Van Sicklen.
Stillwell Ave, anywhere. (Take a trip up the Astrotower for a
good view of the subway lines.) Also tops my list of where to go for a
quick bite with the world-famous Nathan's available to you across the
street from Stillwell Ave. Station.
Bway Jct - East New York (L,J,Z). Great shots available of the
massive above-ground junction and of the Easy NY yard. (A/C also stops
here in the subway.)
Queens
Queensboro Plaza (N,7). Anywhere near the station. Great
shots of N's rounding the curve from Queensboro Plaza hearing to
Astoria. Also, there's a parking garage near the station and if you
go to the top level of the garage, you're just about even with the
upper level of the station.
Astoria Blvd (Hoyt Ave) - wide open shot of virtually entire
station from the street and Ditmars Blvd - Astoria (both N line),
where the connection to the Hell Gate Bridge passes over the elevated
terminal.
111th St (7 line), express track runs above local platforms,
yard lead from east end of platform.
The Bronx
Some other highlights
- Marcy Avenue (J/M/Z) and Myrtle Avenue (J/M/Z)
- Anywhere on the Brighton Line (Cortelyou Road/Ave. H are nice)
- Whitlock Avenue (6)
- East 180th Street, Gun Hill Road (2/5)
- Dyre Avenue Line (5)
- 9th Avenue/36-38th St. Yard area (B/M)
- Williamsburg & Manhattan Bridge runs... (J/M/Z, and B/D/Q
respectively)
Some other highlights, off the subway:
Penn Station; west end of tracks 11 and 12 offers a good view of
trains coming from/going to New Jersey, with double ladder tracks on
each side.
Grand Central; labryinthine! Take a walk all around the various
platform levels; use the elevators to take you to other lesser known
areas.
PATH to Newark: Twisty-turny tunnels, two drawbridges, a long,
fast straightaway through the middle of freight and passenger rail
yards, and the 1930s WPA Newark Penn Station.
While in Newark, don't miss the Newark
City Subway, a trolley operation built in the right of way of a
former canal bed. Currently operated with PCC trolley cars; soon to be
replaced with modern LRV cars (early 2001?).
On the way back from Newark, stop at Exchange Place station and
take a ride on the Hudson-Bergen Light
Rail, the region's first new trolley line since the 1930s Newark
Subway!
At 97th Street & Park Ave. there is an overpass over the
Metro-North main line providing good spotting opportunities during
rush hour (less frequent service off peak).
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