Brooklyn Bridge
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Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (IRT East Side Line)

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Transfer here to: BMT Nassau St./Jamaica Line

Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Station · Opened 10/27/1904

Express 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.

Detailed construction plan of the Brooklyn Bridge station as originally built, from the book The New York Subway: Its Construction and Equipment.

The Open Portion


(image 101198) (98k, 1024x768)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IRT East Side Line
Location: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall
Photo by: Robbie Rosenfeld
Date: 5/20/2009
Notes: Brooklyn Bridge tower. Track at right leads to City Hall loop.
Viewed (this week/total): 24 / 356


(image 97905) (190k, 1044x702)
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
Photo by: Richard Panse
Date: 3/17/2009
Viewed (this week/total): 13 / 457


(image 98353) (118k, 800x600)
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 1202
Photo by: Bill E.
Date: 3/14/2009
Viewed (this week/total): 7 / 366


(image 93157) (138k, 820x620)
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: 11/22/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 4 / 908


(image 89218) (217k, 1044x699)
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 7646
Photo by: John Barnes
Date: 7/27/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 8 / 646


(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): 7 / 1665


(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): 11 / 1537


(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): 13 / 1619


(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): 4 / 1704


(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): 19 / 2692


(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): 9 / 2168


(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): 6 / 1402


(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): 10 / 2376


(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): 14 / 2429


(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): 12 / 2659


(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): 5 / 699


(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): 4 / 790


(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): 7 / 1919


(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): 9 / 1985


(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): 5 / 1258


More Images: 1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-118

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): 11 / 6734


(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): 14 / 6263


(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): 6 / 4375


(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): 6 / 4293


(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 / 8274


(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): 8 / 3725


(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 / 6950


(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): 20 / 12220


(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): 3 / 1899


(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): 10 / 3288


(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): 14 / 2863

 

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): 20 / 2552


(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): 11 / 6462


(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 / 8101


(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): 28 / 14605


(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): 34 / 15919


(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): 2 / 4632

   

Artwork: Cable Crossing, Mark Gibian (1996)

Artwork: Buildings, Boats, and a Bridge, Students of PS 126 and PS 20

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?5:785. (Modified on Thu Dec 7 14:41:16 2006)
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