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Above-Ground Subways

Fri., January 6, 2006

Although the phrase sounds to be an oxymoron, there are five above-ground subways stations in Manhattan, according to nycsubway.org.

  1. West 125th Street (1 line)
  2. Dyckman Street (1 line)
  3. West 207th Street (1 line)
  4. West 215th Street (1 line)
  5. East 148th Street (3 line)

They’re much more popular in the outer boroughs, but a rarity here in the city, where my home stop is one of them.

The downtown 1 train approaches the Dyckman Street stop.

As you’d expect, there are downsides to stations outdoors. Cold weather or precipitation are not fun when enclosures or overhead coverage are minimal. There are more stairs to climb, although straphangers using the West 125th Street station get off easy with a pair of tremendously tall and narrow escalators. And as with the University Circle stop on the Red Line of the Greater Cleveland RTA Rapid System, I am distressed when I can see myself miss a train from blocks away, although I’m not sure why; unlike in Cleveland, another train here will arrive quickly, typically within five minutes.

On the other hand, it’s relaxing to bask in the sun and fresh air of an outdoor station when the weather’s agreeable, instead of lurking about a dim, urine-scented vault. You can look out over your neighborhood or directly into adjoining top-story apartment windows, if you’re some sort of pervert. From my station, I can see the train approach from about three-quarters of a mile away. At night, I can spot whitish-blue sparks of light bounce off distant buildings when the train’s wheels scrape the tracks, just before it rumbles into view, like lightning preceding thunder.

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