BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS POSTS)

This interesting 1993 photo shows one of the old overhead (illuminated) station signs at the abandoned "NINTH AVENUE" station, which had served BMT Culver shuttle trains until 1975.

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?7539

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

I wonder now how many BMT stations had illuminated signs like this; those I personally recall were several on the IRT, over 40 years ago...........

"NYO"

["CULVER L'C'L"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

61st Street/Woodside (#7), 1981.

Note the classic "bulb cluster" platform lights, then still in use..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?39061

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["7 TIMES SQUARE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

BMT's 8th Avenue (Manhattan) terminal in 1969 ("LL" line)

By this time, the platform was lit by florescent lighting, while the stairways were still illuminated by incandescent bulbs.

Note, also, the old, now-redundant incandescent fixture on the column, now devoid of bulbs..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6467

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["LL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling the once-commonplace "bulb cluster cage" platform light fixtures at 210th Street (3rd Avenue El, 1969).......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?114454

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?150953

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["SHUTTLE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

As we already know, the IND's Euclid Avenue station, when opened in 1948, had the distinction of being the first subway station in the city to be fully equipped with modern florescent lighting.

Indeed, the florescent lighting further enhanced the overall sleekness and the modernity of the IND in general.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?130985

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?58051

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?114036

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140146 *

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

"NYO"

*In this 2013 photo, note, hanging from one of the columns between the tracks, the "bulb series" work light fixture, at the ready; apparently, these work lights changed very little through the decades.

There is a photo in Brian J. Cudahy's "UNDER THE SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK", showing BRT workmen and officials posing with the wreckage of El car #100, after the infamous Malbone Street wreck of 1918.

On one of the support columns in the tunnel. a "bulb series" work light can be seen dangling, not all that much different than those used in later decades............

["EUCLID"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Came across this almost surreal photo of the platforms at ENY/Broadway Junction, taken back in 1979.

At the time of this photo, the platforms were still lit by incandescent bulbs.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?159503

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["EAST NY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This rare photo from 1951 depicts a serious accident at Van Siclen Avenue; note the work lights..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?58055

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["INDEPENDENT SUBWAY SYSTEM"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Into the 1990s, the now-demolished Stillwell Avenue station was indeed Coney Island's counterpart to the Chambers Street station in Manhattan, an echoing, dusty, vaulted, cavernous relic of a long-ago era.

Antiquated light fixtures (as well as ancient signage) remained in place for many decades.

Here, (in the following photos) not only notice the antiquated light fixtures, but also, the long-outdated (and truly historic) signage.

Note how the lettering for the BMT's Culver line was "erased", replaced by a simple "IND", when the IND began operating trains from the Bronx out to Coney, via the old BMT Culver line, in late 1954.

Your's Truly still recalls this echoing old structure well, brimming with the rich aura of rapid transit history; I truly felt as though I were indeed "communing" with all of the rich history still living within the time-scarred walls of this echoing, historic old station..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?87565

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?108970

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"PORTAL TO THE PAST" (Stillwell Avenue, 1990)................

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?109392

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["TRAINS TO BROOKLYN & MANHATTAN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Vintage "bulb cluster" lamp fixtures (w/"cages") abound at the BMT's 9th Avenue station (upper level) platforms, back in 1962.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?152497

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["B.M.T. LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a truly atmospheric and nostalgic scene depicting the lower level Culver Shuttle platforms at 9th Avenue, back in 1970.

Vintage incandescent fixtures abound; also, note that the ceiling-mounted "NINTH AVE" sign is also still illuminated (the only such signs I personally recall were on the IRT-these were at 34th Street/Penn Station, Grand Central, and, if memory serves me correctly, Park Place)

The only still-illuminated examples of these huge and historic signs that I can recall were at 34th Street/Penn Station, back in the early 1980s...............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4505

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["SS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are two particularly atmospheric (and nostalgic) photos taken at Union Turnpike, from back in 1980 (Your's Truly has an original "Eye-En-Dee" sign from this station!)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2501

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4699

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["E HUDSON TERMINAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This timeless scene from 1953 (IND, Fordham Road) indeed evokes images of how so many IND stations appeared for decades.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?138027

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["FORDM RD"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

!68th Street station (West Side IRT) boats perhaps not only the most unusual lighting in any "Noo Yawk" subway station, but also, the most unusual "platform transfer" arrangement.

The lofty, soaring ceiling also further adds to the distinctiveness of this station....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?77352

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?77351

*courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["TO ALL TRAINS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

To this very day, a sharp-eye transit historian can still spot the location of former incandescent lighting fixtures in many stations; Your's Truly once, back in the day, greatly enjoyed "scanning the scene" while on the subways, keeping my eyes peeled for the long-dormant remains of old incandescent light fixtures, historic relics of another time.

This particular one was at the old South Ferry loop........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?97700

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["1 SOUTH FERRY"]