BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Regarding "Eye-En-Dee" tilework/station design, etc.........

Recall, Euclid Avenue (1948) indeed was the hallmark of the IND, with its modern, sleek florescent lighting.

The station was "pure IND": modern, spacious, and stylish.

It would have been interesting, for certain, had the IND expanded during the 1950s with new underground routes.

It would have also been interesting, for certain, to see how the newest stations would have been designed and appointed.

Example:

Had the SAS opened as planned (replacing the 3rd Avenue El in Manhattan), I can see the new stations basically all being patterned after Euclid Avenue.

Recall, the handful of BUDD-built R-11s ordered were intended to be the prototype of the new rolling stock for the SAS.

But, alas, they spent most of their service lives as "orphans" in an increasingly "standardized" subway fleet.

Recall, also, the "Tee-Yay" retiring the "Multi-Sections" and the "Triplex" units, as they were deemed "non standard"...........

"NYO"

["IND LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Note the unusual (and stylish) "EUCLID" displayed on the columns of said station; this, indeed, would have seemed quite "modern", back in 1948.

Could the new SAS stations have featured similar tile column signs as well?

Of course, we'll never know.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?11678

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?943

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"GRAND AVENUE"...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?97212

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?97221

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["EXIT TO STREET"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

These historic (and magnificent!) "Eye-Are-Tee" signs reflect the long-ago era where "subway artwork" was indeed "ARTWORK" (not all of this "artsy-fartsy", often downright bizarre "artwork", seen in many stations today), not to mention painstaking, mmeticulous craftsmanship..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?7903

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?248

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?38

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["INTERBOROUGH RAPID TRANSIT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

95th Street/Fort Hamilton (BMT).............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4813

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1145

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1146

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1147

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["B.M.T. LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Note these unusual vintage "streamlined" electric station signs at the "FAIRMOUNT" station on Philadelphia's BSS; I can easily picture such "moderne" signs at "Eye-En-Dee" stations, especially Euclid Avenue.

Also, note the tilework..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?70190

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?17039

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["PTC"]

[traildriver]

Here's one of my all-time favorite signs...
It is, or is similar, to one that was above the kiosk stairway entrance to the Illinois Central Randolph Street Station. The stairway is located at the SW corner of Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue. The stairway entrance has been modernized, and is still one of the main entrances to Metra's and the South Shore's underground terminal, now known as Millenium Station.

Fortunately, the sign was saved and is displayed at the Illinois Railroad Museum at Union, IL.

https://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=86805a03-548f-49c8-8ffc-31de875e3360&gid=3

Here's an updated photo of the stairway....

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagorailfan.com%2Fstapran.html&psig=AOvVaw0qGA3wBwd-RmUnu5j-PZO5&ust=1714510879331000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCPjM9u-o6IUDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAm

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

I WELL recall that classic sign, on my last visit to Chicago in 1986; it was a CLASSIC even then!

I am now recalling the (much smaller) electric sign at the St. George terminal, directing passengers down to the SIRT concourse, mounted above the stairway.

I remember it reading: "RIDE THE RAPID" (I'm going back to the 60s, now!)

Mom and I familiar saw that sign too many times to count, when we used to take are frequent day trips to Staten Island, back in the 1960s!

Thanks for sharing the photo of that classic sign; if only the SIRT sign was saved..............

"NYO"

["RIDE THE RAPID"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The most iconic "underground" stations of all were, of course, the once-familiar IRT kiosks, the last of which disappeared (thanks to "progress"!) in the late 1960s.

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?32450

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

Nothing set the "tone" of a classic film or theatrical cartoon with a "Noo Yawk": setting than did the old "Eye-Are-Tee" kiosks.

Worthy of note:

In "UPTOWN, DOWN" (Fischler) and "UNDER THE SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK" (Cudahy) there are early photos of one of the kiosks at City Hall; mounted over the entrance is a large electric sign reading: "SUBWAY".

I am now wondering if any other IRT stations also featured electric sign boxes on the kiosks.........

"NYO"

["INTERBOROUGH SUBWAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Thankfully, one magnificent reproduction of an IRT kiosk stands at Astor Place, recalling what was once oh-so-commonplace in the city.

(two photos also feature an RTS in the background)............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?61

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?62

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115277

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115278

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ENTRANCE"}

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling vintage electric subway station signs*.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?38526

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?39096

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*There used to be a vintage illuminated "SUBWAY" sign mounted on the facade of the Rockaway Park (IND) station, but it, sadly, has since been removed.............

["SUBWAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is a photo of the IND Rockaway Park station house when the old 1950s- era electric "SUBWAY" sign was still intact, before it was foolishly removed (no regard for local history).......

https://subwaynut.com/ind/beach_116_rockaway_parks/beach_116_rockaway_parks1.jpg

["SAVE TIME! BUY EXTRA TOKENS TODAY!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This photo shows the Rockaway Park (IND) station house in 2009; look closely, and you can tell where the old electric "SUBWAY" sign had been mounted............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?107652

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["INDEPENDENT SUBWAY SYSTEM"]

[traildriver]

I used to like the distinctive art deco signs for the IND at the Rockefeller Center complex...they were distinctive from standard signs used elsewhere on the system. They were most likely provided by the Center...

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]