Or, simply known as just “Union Turnpike” sometimes. Kew Gardens is an express stop served by the E and F in the namesake neighborhood of Kew Gardens, Queens. There’s also a few bus connections, but no LIRR connection (as it’s too far away to count). As with the likes of Forest Hills and 74th, it’s your standard IND station, complete with overbuilt mezzanine. Let’s look at it.
OH LAWD
The mezzanine is overbuilt, but has an OMNY machine, a station agent, faregates, elevator access, and the usual stuff. The platforms are also the same story, with benches and countdown clocks. At street level is Queens Boulevard, with the intersection at Kew Gardens Rd. and Union Turnpike being the main crossroads. As for street-level buses, you have the Q10 and Q80 to JFK, the Q60 to Jamaica and Midtown, and a few other local and express buses. As for the local neighborhood, it’s pretty wealthy. Yeah, it’s just a standard IND express station with not a lot to talk about.
The EThe F is local, but the E is express during weekdaysPlatform shot. The other side looks the same. Also, E/F meet!Tiling!Overbuilt mezzanine!Stairs!I can feel how hot it was just looking at this… (it was 90+ this day)Bus connection!
The good: It exists, serves the local neighborhood, and has plenty of local and express bus connections (ok but why would you use an express bus when the subway works as well???). It’s also accessible!
The bad: The area becomes rather suburban quickly once you go any deeper than the main roads around here. But, also, why is Queens Boulevard so bleepin’ wide?
Nearby points of interest: There’s a few shops and restaurants! There’s also a college nearby (Plaza College), along with the city clerk’s office and the borough’s criminal court. Also, weirdly, Jamaica Yard is closer to here than to Jamaica proper (or to Forest Hills), as it’s due north of the station.
Transit connections: MTA subway (Lines E, F) MTA bus (Q10, Q37, Q37B, Q45, Q46, Q48, Q60, Q80, QM18, QM21, QM63, QM64, QM65, QM68)
Overall, it works. There’s not really much of note here. Next!
Rector Street (or rather, the BMT version) is a station on the R and W lines of the NYC subway. It is also the W’s penultimate stop before it turns at Whitehall. Is it anything special? Let’s see.
Signage!
Located at the intersection of Rector Street and Trinity Place, this station is a local stop on the BMT’s Broadway subway in lower Manhattan. Although, given Broadway belongs to the 4/5 down here, to call it that may be a little misleading. But, I digress. Just like the stop on the #1 line, there’s only one way in and out for each platform: a set of stairs. That also means this station very much is not accessible. As for amenities here, it is staffed albeit on the Brooklyn-bound side, but there are OMNY machines. There’s also the usual platform-side amenities (countdown clocks, trash bins, benches, etc.). Not much else to say about this station.
Deep within the heart of lower Manhattan…Trinity Episcopal Church!One such entrance to the stationA passagewayOMNY machines! …and a MetroCard machine, too. (goes to show how long ago I was here)Looking uptown and to the other platformDowntown and towards the Montague Street tunnelEMERGENCY!This is a QUEEEENS-bound R train. the NEXT stop is: Cortlandt Street.
The good: It exists, I guess. Stop spacing is a bit of a problem when you have 3 competing systems in such a tight area. It’s got amenities and is staffed!
The bad: No free crossovers (duh), it’s inaccessible (Whitehall isn’t, either, and the World Trade Center is a bit of a maze), and I guess the proximity to the 1 and 4/5 might also be problematic.
Nearby points of interest: Trinity Episcopal Church is probably the big one here, but everything I’ve said the 1 line’s Rector St.’s entry also apply here, as do some of Broad St.’s local points of interest.
Transit connections: To take it from the #1 line’s post: BMT Broadway (Lines R, W) MTA bus (At Trinity Pl/Thames St.: M55, BxM18, QM25, QM65, SIM15) NJT bus (120, at Trinity & Thames)
Franklin Avenue on the IRT lines and the BMT shuttle’s Botanic Garden station may seem different on paper, but in practice it’s all one station. Why the different names for the different platforms in this day and age? I don’t know! Well, whatever. Here’s another stop on the Franklin shuttle and on the IRT lines. Welcome to …I guess, Franklin Ave.-Botanic Garden? I dunno.
BMT tiling!
The BMT section of the station is pretty normal, if short (owing to the shuttle’s rather anemically short consist). All the standard amenities you’d expect are present. As a fun aside, the tunnel heading north out of here is the oldest one in the entire subway system, dating back to the 1870s. Sweet! As for the IRT section of the station, it’s an express station with 2 islands/4 tracks, with the platforms having benches and all the amenities you’d expect. The mezzanine also has OMNY machines. Neat! Overall though, it’s standard and a mostly unremarkable station.
SEEIN’ DOUBLE!SF-signed trainTowards Prospect ParkTowards the C line (& the oldest tunnel in the system!)The passageway to the IRTThe IRT platformsIRT signage!A division new techs!EWWFaregates!
The good: It serves a few things nearby! I’ll talk about that a bit more below. This is also the last station before Rogers Junction and where the 2/5 split off from the 3/4, so it’s kinda important for the passengers that have to make the connection from points east to points south (e.g. Crown Heights to Brooklyn College). It’s also, obviously, a transfer point to the BMT shuttle and the fact it connects to the B, C, and Q lines. With that said…
The bad: It’s inaccessible, presently! There is work, however, to rectify this.
Nearby points of interest: Medgar Evers College, as named. There’s also the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. There’s also a few restaurants, particularly on Franklin Avenue. For the baseball history nerds reading this, Ebbets Field used to be around here too, so if you find a time machine, you can go back in time and enjoy a Dodgers game from before they moved to Los Angeles. Not that they were any good before the move vs. after. After all, the Dodgers are garbage regardless of where they reside. (disclosure, this is a bit closer to Prospect Park).
Transit connections: MTA subway (Lines #s 2, 3, 4, 5, FAS) MTA bus (B45, B48)
Overall, nothing offensive or special about it aside from that one tunnel.
Fox Chase is a station in northeastern Philadelphia in the namesake neighborhood of, well, Fox Chase. This station is in a rather residential neighborhood, though it’s at the bumper blocks that end at Rhawn Street. There’s also a Wawa here!
Station signage!
Fox Chase station has a relatively unusual layout, with 2 sides and an island platform. At the outer end of the platforms by the bumper blocks lie mini-highs for accessibility. However, trains don’t board here! There’s grade crossings for changing sides, and a sheltered waiting area. There’s also ticketing machines, but as is standard with SEPTA, they don’t dispense tickets. So, screw you if you need to buy a ticket before boarding. (although, to my knowledge, SEPTA doesn’t really charge a surcharge to the same extreme as the LIRR or Metro-North). There’s also departure boards, a decent amount of parking, and even bus connections to the route 18, 24, and 28 buses. Neat!
A tad bit narrow…..with GE JUNK!!!SEPTAvision?A departure board and a TVMTowards dow- er, Center City PhiladelphiaParking galore!THE TRAINS DON’T EVEN PLATFORM AT THE MINI-HIGH WTF SEPTABIG MEAN MOTHER BUMPERS!!! …and a former grade crossing.The old Newtown extension (hi, Honaj!)JUNK!!!Rare “head on with a Silverliner IV” without being in danger of struckBENDY BOIDA HOLY LAND!!! (as a Cumby’s enjoyer, I give Wawa the seal of approval)The Oxford Avenue bus loop
The good: It exists! It’s also technically accessible and, surprisingly, has a departure board! Also, the area around it is walkable to an extent. AND THERE’S A WAWA?! :O
The bad: Why the mini-highs? No full-level platforms? Furthermore, the bus connection locations are a mild mess, but whatever, not the end of the world. But seriously though, SEPTA, y’all got mini-highs, STOP AT THEM!
Nearby points of interest: Wawa! There’s some schools nearby, a lot of housing, green space at the Oxford Avenue loop, and a trail following the old Newtown Extension. Also, as an aside, the Oxford Avenue railroad crossing is NOT a quiet zone, so if you’re around here, and you want to railfan with horns, go there! (it is also an “OH LAWD!!!”-sized crossing).
Kew Gardens is a LIRR station in, well, Kew Gardens, Queens. Located on the LIRR mainline, this station is a stone’s throw from the subway, being half a mile out. The neighborhood, while upscale, isn’t to the same extreme as Forest Hills. With that in mind, let’s look at this station.
Signage!
The station consists of two high-level platforms, long enough to platform 6 cars each. As for the surroundings, you have a shopping area above the station on an overpass, a trailer for a waiting room, ticketing machines, the usual amenities, and all that. I suspect the trailer, however, is because the actual waiting room was being renovated or something. There’s also bus connections to the Q10 to the E/F and to the JFK AirTrain. There’s also the Q80, which also goes to the AirTrain, but takes a more direct route. There’s also an express bus that runs to 6th Avenue from here. Overall, it’s really not that awful a station.
I do have to ask though, WHO THE HELL IS PAYING $7.25 TO TAKE AN EXPRESS BUS FROM HERE TO MIDTOWN?! Not to mention the LIRR runs on weekends! The QM18, as far as I understand, doesn’t! AND express buses aren’t subject to farecapping. You’d genuinely get more for your money by taking advantage of fare capping on the subway alongside a LIRR monthly, rather than just taking the QM18. I digress. This post is about Kew Gardens LIRR, not the QM18.
Ticketing machines!An overpassAn M7 trainsetAnother overpass shotA diesel train deadheading to JamaicaEMD DE30AC #405!oh my another M7The LIRR waiting trailerIt was actually kinda cozy, in a wayWHY DOES THIS STATION HAVE AN EXPRESS BUS CONNECTION?!
The good: It’s accessible, has a waiting room that’s cold, and all the usual LIRR amenities! There’s also the Q10 to the JFK AirTrain. It’s also in a rather upscale, but still somewhat walkable, neighborhood.
The bad: The platforms are way too short. I would presume it’s not pleasant at rush hour, and this station should be on the shortlist for platform extensions.
Nearby points of interest: There’s some shops on Lefferts Blvd. There’s also a school and a cemetery. Aside from that, housing.
Transit connections: LIRR (Hempstead, Ronkonkoma, Far Rockaway, Babylon, West Hempstead, Long Beach, Port Jefferson) MTA bus (Q10, Q37, Q80, QM18)
Overall, it’s not a bad station, but it really needs extensions. Yeah, sorry, I don’t have a lot to say, but the short platforms aren’t good this close to Penn Station.
Forest Hills, a stone’s throw from 71st/Continental Ave.’s, is a LIRR station along the mainline between Penn Station/Grand Central/L.I. City, and Jamaica. Let’s look.
Fancy!
The station is located on an overpass over 71st/Continental Avenue in, well, Forest Hills, Queens. Located 3ft from the EFMR, this station serves trains going to/from Midtown and LIC. The station will accessible by way of ramps (it was not when I visited), and as of writing this, the platforms are being extended to accommodate 10 car trains. At present, though, only the first 4 or so cars platform. The station also has benches, wastebaskets, departure boards, all that usual stuff. Overall, though, while fancy, there isn’t too much special other than appearances. The neighborhood is so upscale, though, that there aren’t even any local buses going down 71st Avenue past the station.
Overpass!EWW. HATE CHICKEN.Another overpass shot!Upscale!Stairs!Weird-looking signals, a hazy backdrop, and a broken departure boardTowards Jamaica!Another shot with bridgeplate provisionsAn M7!!! (this was during the tail end of the AM rush)And a train to MidtownDingy!
The good: It’s (I think?) accessible, as of writing this post. Also, the MTA is giving the station the care it needs. Furthermore, the connection with the EFMR and various local and express buses are valuable. Also, this section to Jamaica with the LIRR is redundant to the E specifically. As for the station itself, I kinda dig the upscale vibes of it and the neighborhood.
The bad: Why did it take this long for the station to get a platform extension? A station this important should also have an indoor waiting area. Kew Gardens has(/had) one, why not here? Also, surprisingly, no bus going down 71st Avenue itself.
Nearby points of interest: Forest Hills Stadium is the big one. Other than that, same stuff as the subway stop.
Transit connections: Same as the subway stop. But I’ll list ’em anyways: MTA subway (Lines E, F, M, R) LIRR (Hempstead, Ronkonkoma, Far Rockaway, Babylon, West Hempstead, Long Beach, Port Jefferson) MTA bus (Q23, Q60, Q64, Q74, QM4, QM11, QM12, QM18, QM42, QM44)
Overall, not a bad station, and rather upscale at that.
Woodside is one of four interchange points between the LIRR and the #7 subway line, and in terms of accessibility is arguably the best one. That doesn’t mean it’s good, however (I mean it is…), but it’s not bad by any means. With that, welcome to Woodside.
Signage for the #7 subway!
The #7 platforms have countdown clocks, signage, benches, wastebaskets, the usual affair you’d expect for an express station. I am not, however, factoring construction-related weirdness (the other island platform was shuttered due to structural work on the viaduct). However, the entire station was pretty much Oops! All Blue Construction Walls! once you got into the station concourse between the LIRR and the #7 line. However, down here, you have elevators up to the platforms, down to street level, OMNY machines, and LIRR ticketing machines. I think there may have also been a ticket office here, I’m not sure if the station is staffed both for the LIRR and the subway, or just the subway. Nevertheless, there is MTA personnel here as with most subway stations. The LIRR platforms have departure boards (there is also one in the station mezzanine), benches, the usual stuff. It’s also an actually pretty decent spot for railfanning the LIRR, if that’s your thing, especially at rush hour, as you have both Port Washington traffic, along with Main Line traffic and, at rush hour, traffic going in/out of Long Island City (& Hunterspoint Avenue). Overall though, not a bad station!
The #7 line!Construction!The LIRR mainline!Another shot of the tracks, looking towards Manhattan!Blue walls galore!Descending into the station mezzaninePerpetual construction!AND EVEN MORE CONSTRUCTIONConstruction passageway to the ticketing boothTicketing machinesThe LIRR mainline!An M9 set on the Port Washington LineThe #7 subway line from belowAn M7 setDM30AC #501 leading a Montauk train into Penn StationDM30AC #521 trailing behindAn M7 trainsetC3 cab car leading a Port Jeff train to L.I. City!DM30AC with a skyline (the East Side?)That same train curving away
The good: It serves both the #7 line and the LIRR pretty well, with a decent amount of electric service (every Port Washington train, plus about half of the trains between Jamaica and Midtown). There used to be a diesel train that stopped here (what is now train #44 to Speonk), but it became a Penn Station-Jamaica express back in 2023. There’s also the #7 line as redundancy for both the innermost section of the Port Washington Line, and for redundant service to Grand Central. It’s also accessible, and located pretty much in the heart of Woodside. Also, it’s staffed, which is rather rare for a LIRR station. (the only other staffed stations in the city are Atlantic Terminal, Jamaica, Penn Station, and Grand Central). There’s also a bus connection to LaGuardia via the Q70-SBS (which is functionally just a LaGuardia express bus)
The bad: The construction, mainly. That’s really it.
Nearby points of interest: Woodside, as a neighborhood, is mainly residential. However, your main commercial corridors are Woodside Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue. There’s the odd cafe, bar, and locally-owned restaurant on top of the likes of Jollibee and Baskin-Robbins. As with most of the #7 subway line and its reputation for being culturally diverse, you will probably be able to source a meal from different cultures pretty easily around here.
Transit connections: LIRR (Port Washington, Hempstead, West Hempstead, Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma, Far Rockaway, Babylon, Long Beach) MTA subway (Line #7) MTA bus (Q18, Q32, Q53-SBS, Q70-SBS)
Overall, it’s actually a pretty good station, even with construction everywhere. It’s also a useful connection between the LIRR and the subway, and in that regard easily one of the best stations for making that transfer. It’s also a good spot for railfanning, and shoutout to the Woodside live camera that questionably still exists.
Little Neck is a LIRR station located in the rather quiet Queens neigborhood bearing the same name. Located on the Port Washington Line, this station is a little unusual vs. all the others. Let’s look at it.
Signage!
First off, I have to give a shoutout to the ride out here. Beautiful ride, especially as the line curves around Little Neck Bay. As for the station itself, the station consists of two high-level platforms that are approximately 10 cars long. Rather unusually, the station is also located at a grade crossing, and one with extra protection at that (quad-gated!). Why? Well, my guess is that the neighbors complained enough to get the LIRR to get permission to protect the crossing enough and put up “NO TRAIN HORN” signage. The station house is nice, and was open when I was here (at around 11am on a weekday), however the HVAC was out of service. Not pleasant when it’s 100 degrees outside! As for outside, the inbound platform has a decent amount of shade. Outbound? Not so much. There’s also a pedestrian bridge that isn’t accessible. As for the amenities, you have your usual LIRR affair (shelter, ticket machines, benches, departure boards, etc.). There’s also a bus connection at 40th Avenue, being the Q36 to Jamaica via Bellerose and Hillside Avenue. That runs every 30 minutes or so on weekdays. Overall though, not a bad station.
Little Neck Bay!The station!Train meet!An M9!Looking towards Port Washington!The shelter on the other sideThe pedestrian overpassParking!The rather toasty station house (on a 100 degree day no less…)The restroom! Yes, there’s one here!The neighborhood!
The good: It exists, and serves the local neighborhood and eastern Queens (which is surprisingly rather car-centric!). It’s also accessible and has an open station house, and even a bus connection.
The bad: The damn gates (do NOT try beating the gates!). Also, the pedestrian bridge being inaccessible is a tad annoying.
Nearby points of interest: By and large, housing. I guess there’s a water treatment plant nearby too? The main commercial strip is Northern Boulevard, which is a bit of a hike away.
Transit connections: LIRR (Port Washington) MTA bus (Q36)
Overall, it’s not a bad station. It’s a bit unusual, but not in a bad way. Also, shoutout to the video Sammymarrco made of this place. Strongly suggest giving it a watch.
Alrighty, after a one month hiatus from the blog to recover from burnout and life circumstances, I have finally returned. And with that, is Franklin Ave. & Fulton Street. Sweet! Located questionably in Crown Heights (this is disputed), this local station serves both an IND line (the C) and the BMT shuttle.
Shuttle platform signage
The shuttle platform has a countdown clock, canopy, and the usual amenities. Not a lot to say, it’s short (2 cars). Gets the job done, and it’s accessible. It’s also above street level on an embankment, and as such there’s a walkway connecting to the IND section of the station.
YOU BIG MEAN MOTHER BUMPER!!!The coveted grey S. (it is not, in fact, coveted)PassagewayThat’s quite a way downElevator!Fulton Street! (not the Manhattan one)And looking the other wayStairs to the Manhattan-bound C platform (& elevator)
The mezzanine is nothing to remark about, with the usual amenities and whatnot. The IND platforms are also pretty standard, with the C stopping here whenever it’s running, and the A taking its stead overnights. However, there’s something different about these platforms! Above the IND tiling are stickers that resemble standard MTA signage, reading “Respect”. So, what the hell does this have anything to do with this (or Franklin St. on the #1 line, for that matter)?
Well, I’ll tell you what: it actually comes back to late Aretha Franklin, known as the “Queen of Soul”. The story goes that passengers and members of the community put up makeshift memorials on the walls of these two stations honoring the then-ill singer in 2018, only for the MTA to then remove it. Presumably, after facing backlash from the community, the MTA then turned around and put up stickers memorializing Franklin in the stations resembling actual MTA signage. Now, I don’t know entirely how “Respect” ties into it as I’m not familiar with her works, but nevertheless, it remains a notable part of the subway.
Now, with that in mind, is there anything else notable about the station that I overlooked? Not really. Overall, not an awful station, and it’s a bit unique in a way, owing to the memorializing of Franklin.
Stairs!The C on the other sideRESPECT.An R211!
The good: It’s accessible and has connections to both the shuttle and the IND! Furthermore, the fact there’s something memorializing Aretha Franklin is cool. Also, the skyline view of downtown Brooklyn from the overpass is cool, too.
The bad: The transfer between the C and shuttle is a bit lengthy, but whatever.
Nearby points of interest: A few playgrounds, a supermarket, a mosque, a church, and a few restaurants and bars. Fulton Street itself is a bit of a commercial corridor.
Transit connections: MTA subway (Lines C, FAS) MTA bus (B25, B48)
Overall, it’s not a bad station, and is a little unique among the others.
Riverfront Stadium was a baseball stadium built for Newark’s Atlantic League baseball team. Unfortunately, it was torn down in 2019, and there lies absolutely NOTHING here.
Signage
The station consists of a hunk of concrete, a sign, another sign that tells you HOW to pay your fare (yikes!), and an emergency call point. That’s it. That’s the whole station. At this point, just walk to Broad Street. There isn’t even a saving grace for this sorry excuse of a station.
Where’s the station?Oh…I’m almost certain this was taken at Broad Street instead of Riverfront Stadium, but I have to pad out the photo count somehow.
