| This view of the Queensboro Plaza station was taken from the LI City municipal parking garage. The station here is unique in that it serves both incompatible divisions in the same structure. The IRT Flushing Line uses the south side of the station, and the BMT line to Ditmars Blvd the north side. The station is two levels, with the tracks for each line above each other: the northbound BMT track is above the southbound, likewise for the IRT. It is one of the few places trains can move from one division to the other, allowing otherwise captive Flushing trains to get on the rest of the system. This is not a problem for the IRT cars, since their 9 foot width allows them to go anywhere. The reverse is a problem, since IND and BMT cars are 10 feet wide, and wont fit the stations on the IRT, as well as some of the tunnels. The BMT line here now uses the 60th St tunnel to access the station from Manhattan. Trains started using the tunnel in the teens, but up til the early 1950s, trains also continued over the 59th St Bridge to reach the 2nd Av elevated line. There was one great thing about waiting for a train here. Up til shortly before this photo was taken, Silvercup Bakeries had a plant here, and the aroma of baking bread could be inhaled all around the area. I miss those round loaves!! |