Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (IRT East Side Line)
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Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Station · Opened 10/27/1904Express station with four tracks and two island platforms in use, two side platforms abandoned. The station has been recently renovated, with new tile (poorly approximating original IRT tile) and ADA-compliant elevator access.
Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall station is the southern terminal of the East Side IRT local service, assuming this role from the City Hall Loop station in 1945. South of the station, the downtown local track splits into three tracks. The right-most leads into the City Hall Loop (and thence returns to the uptown side of this station). The other two are layup tracks parallel to the downtown express track. Until the 1960s they merged into the downtown express track north of Fulton Street station but since then they are spurs ending a little ways north of Fulton St. Trains are occasionally stored there.
The Brooklyn Bridge station has a number of abandoned areas as construction and service patterns have required changes to be made to the station. In addition to the two existing island platforms, there are two short local platforms on the outer edges of the station. These local platforms were built to the 5-car length of original IRT local trains presumably to accommodate extra passenger volume. (Similar platforms were built at the express stations at 14th Street and 96th Street.)
These side platforms did not see much use as they were located at express stations that required transfer via the island plaforms, and, as the trains were lengthened to their current 10-car length it was impractical to lengthen both these small side platforms and the island platforms. They were closed in 1910 after only six years in operation and walled off along the platform edges.
The side platform on the southbound is now home to some electrical equipment and a backup control tower for the Brooklyn Bridge interlocking. This tower is functional but not normally used, because the Grand Central tower is the primary control point for the whole line. The interlocking board can be seen through a window along the wall along the southbound local trackway. The south end of the downtown side platform is still visible near the dispatcher's booth on the downtown island platform.
There are also some closed portions at the south ends of the existing express platforms. During the station lengthening projects it was easier to lengthen the express platforms to the north. The curves at the south end proved impossible to rework so the
station was lengthened northward (allowing Worth St. to be abandoned), and the curved southern ends of the express platforms closed. Gap fillers and original mosaic tiles remain in the closed ends.
The Open Portion
 (image 87662) (136k, 1024x768) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 4 Car: R62 (Kawasaki, 1983-1985) 1535 Photo by: Andrew Johnson Date: 7/10/2008 Viewed (this week/total): 124 / 124
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 (image 87152) (282k, 1044x788) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Photo by: Zach Summer Date: 6/28/2008 Notes: Station entrance. Viewed (this week/total): 39 / 303
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 (image 86772) (144k, 1044x788) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 4 Car: R142 1245 Photo by: Andrew Johnson Date: 5/7/2008 Viewed (this week/total): 24 / 287
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 (image 80803) (118k, 900x602) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 4 Car: R142A Photo by: Phillip Lee Date: 2/5/2008 Viewed (this week/total): 16 / 749
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 (image 79221) (178k, 864x562) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 4 Car: R142 1181 Photo by: Peter Ehrlich Date: 1/3/2008 Notes: Brooklyn Bridge. Line 4 southbound. Viewed (this week/total): 32 / 1236
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 (image 79258) (199k, 864x574) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 6 Car: R142A 7381 Photo by: Peter Ehrlich Date: 1/3/2008 Notes: Leaving Brooklyn Bridge inbound, trailing view from mezzanine. Viewed (this week/total): 21 / 981
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 (image 79259) (150k, 864x561) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 6 Car: R142A 7400 Photo by: Peter Ehrlich Date: 1/3/2008 Notes: Brooklyn Bridge inbound. Viewed (this week/total): 9 / 672
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 (image 75457) (166k, 1044x788) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 5 Car: R142 6755 Photo by: Danny Molina Date: 10/8/2007 Viewed (this week/total): 17 / 1203
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 (image 68447) (134k, 1044x788) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 6 Car: R142A 7611 Photo by: Michael Hodurski Date: 6/23/2007 Viewed (this week/total): 16 / 1371
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 (image 67834) (163k, 1044x788) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 6 Car: R142A 7570 Photo by: John Barnes Date: 6/21/2007 Viewed (this week/total): 17 / 1555
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 (image 85376) (157k, 1044x705) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Photo by: Filip Matuska Date: 6/13/2007 Viewed (this week/total): 9 / 133
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 (image 85375) (153k, 1044x705) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Photo by: Filip Matuska Date: 6/13/2007 Viewed (this week/total): 8 / 152
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 (image 66993) (183k, 1044x701) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 6 Car: R142A 7425 Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 6/9/2007 Viewed (this week/total): 11 / 1221
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 (image 66994) (138k, 1044x701) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 6/9/2007 Notes: Transfer corridor from north end of northbound IRT platform to BMT Chambers St. Viewed (this week/total): 16 / 1211
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 (image 80899) (125k, 1044x704) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 6 Car: R142A 7320 Photo by: Filip Matuska Date: 6/6/2007 Viewed (this week/total): 11 / 514
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 (image 65798) (122k, 820x622) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Photo by: Bill E. Date: 5/6/2007 Notes: Station entrance. Viewed (this week/total): 20 / 2023
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 (image 57532) (98k, 820x620) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Route: 6 Car: R142A 7501 Photo by: Aliandro Brathwaite Date: 12/26/2006 Viewed (this week/total): 11 / 1868
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 (image 54282) (103k, 820x615) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Photo by: Steffen Petrasch Date: 9/18/2006 Notes: Name tablet. Viewed (this week/total): 6 / 1548
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 (image 53346) (210k, 1044x788) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Photo by: Roy Freeman Date: 9/8/2006 Notes: Station entrance - elevator, Centre St. s. of Chambers facing north. Viewed (this week/total): 15 / 2504
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 (image 53347) (226k, 1044x788) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Photo by: Roy Freeman Date: 9/8/2006 Notes: Station entrance, Centre St. s. of Chambers facing north. Viewed (this week/total): 10 / 2649
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More Images: 1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-112
Closed Local Platforms
 (image 80) (67k, 734x491) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: Adam Weiss Date: 10/1995 Notes: Side platform wall and view of Brooklyn Bridge eagle plaque Viewed (this week/total): 15 / 5628
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 (image 81) (66k, 734x491) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: Adam Weiss Date: 10/1995 Notes: Brooklyn Bridge mosaic in abandoned side platform Viewed (this week/total): 15 / 5368
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 (image 82) (74k, 734x488) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: Adam Weiss Date: 10/1995 Notes: Detail of Brooklyn Bridge mosaic Viewed (this week/total): 10 / 3692
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 (image 86) (65k, 520x359) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: Jason R. DeCesare Date: 10/1995 Notes: Another view of eagle plaque Viewed (this week/total): 10 / 3601
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 (image 79) (204k, 1044x710) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 9/24/1995 Notes: Closed off local platform view from top of stairs Viewed (this week/total): 13 / 7074
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 (image 83) (243k, 702x1044) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 9/24/1995 Notes: Closeup of Brooklyn Bridge eagle plaque Viewed (this week/total): 11 / 3164
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 (image 84) (261k, 1044x700) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 9/24/1995 Notes: Brooklyn Bridge mosaic; the door to the left leads to the tower Viewed (this week/total): 12 / 5931
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 (image 85) (209k, 1044x706) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 9/24/1995 Notes: Brooklyn Bridge backup interlocking tower showing City Hall loop Viewed (this week/total): 30 / 10147
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 (image 44165) (226k, 1044x699) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 9/24/1995 Viewed (this week/total): 7 / 1373
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 (image 44181) (203k, 699x1044) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 9/24/1995 Notes: South end of southbound side local platform at Brooklyn Bridge is now utility space (view across trackway from southbound island platform). Viewed (this week/total): 11 / 2417
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 (image 44180) (242k, 703x1045) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Side Platform) Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 9/24/1995 Notes: Slightly vandalized Brooklyn Bridge eagle plaque. Viewed (this week/total): 10 / 1937
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Closed Express Platforms
 (image 80898) (118k, 704x1044) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Express Platform) Photo by: Filip Matuska Date: 6/6/2007 Notes: View south down express trackway showing closed end of express platform. Viewed (this week/total): 23 / 1077
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 (image 74) (25k, 422x676) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Express Platform) Photo by: Peter Dougherty Date: 10/1995 Notes: Close up on the gap fillers Viewed (this week/total): 21 / 5593
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 (image 75) (50k, 497x749) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Express Platform) Photo by: Peter Dougherty Date: 10/1995 Notes: View down the abandoned south end platforms, southbound side Viewed (this week/total): 17 / 6939
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 (image 76) (63k, 785x533) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Express Platform) Photo by: Peter Dougherty Date: 10/1995 Notes: Abandoned south end platforms, close up on wall mosaics Viewed (this week/total): 27 / 12327
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 (image 77) (69k, 785x519) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Express Platform) Photo by: Peter Dougherty Date: 10/1995 Notes: View across the tracks to the northbound platform Viewed (this week/total): 31 / 13562
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 (image 78) (185k, 1044x683) Country: United States City: New York System: New York City Transit Line: IRT East Side Line Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (Closed Express Platform) Photo by: David Pirmann Date: 9/24/1995 Notes: BB tile- south end of abandoned express platform areas Viewed (this week/total): 12 / 3880
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Artwork: Cable Crossing, Mark Gibian (1996) Artwork: Buildings, Boats, and a Bridge, Students of PS 126 and PS 20
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