33rd Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)

Template:Short description Template:Distinguish {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox NYCS

The 33rd Street station is a local station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Park Avenue and 33rd Street in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, it is served by {{ #if: | 6 | 6 }}{{

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The 33rd Street station was constructed for the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) as part of the city's first subway line, which was approved in 1900. Construction of the line segment that includes the 33rd Street station started on September 12 of the same year. The station opened on October 27, 1904, as one of the original 28 stations of the New York City Subway. After the city's first subway line was split into multiple lines in 1918, there was a failed proposal in the 1920s to convert 33rd Street into an express station. The station's platforms were lengthened in the late 1940s.

The 33rd Street station contains two side platforms and four tracks; express trains use the inner two tracks to bypass the station. The station was built with tile and mosaic decorations, which are continued along the platform extensions. The platforms contain exits to 32nd Street to the south and 33rd Street to the north. The platforms are not connected to each other within fare control. The original station interior is a New York City designated landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

Construction and opening

Planning for a subway line in New York City dates to 1864.<ref name="Walker 1918" />Template:Rp However, development of what would become the city's first subway line did not start until 1894, when the New York State Legislature passed the Rapid Transit Act.<ref name="Walker 1918">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp The subway plans were drawn up by a team of engineers led by William Barclay Parsons, the Rapid Transit Commission's chief engineer. It called for a subway line from New York City Hall in lower Manhattan to the Upper West Side, where two branches would lead north into the Bronx.<ref name="NYCL-1096">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Rp A plan was formally adopted in 1897,<ref name="Walker 1918" />Template:Rp and all legal conflicts concerning the route alignment were resolved near the end of 1899.<ref name="Walker 1918" />Template:Rp The Rapid Transit Construction Company, organized by John B. McDonald and funded by August Belmont Jr., signed the initial Contract 1 with the Rapid Transit Commission in February 1900,<ref name="Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners 1905">Template:Cite book</ref> in which it would construct the subway and maintain a 50-year operating lease from the opening of the line.<ref name="Walker 1918" />Template:Rp In 1901, the firm of Heins & LaFarge was hired to design the underground stations.<ref name="NYCL-1096" />Template:Rp Belmont incorporated the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) in April 1902 to operate the subway.<ref name="Walker 1918" />Template:Rp

The 33rd Street station was constructed as part of the route segment from Great Jones Street to 41st Street. Construction on this section of the line began on September 12, 1900. The section from Great Jones Street to a point 100 feet (30 m) north of 33rd Street was awarded to Holbrook, Cabot & Daly Contracting Company, while the remaining section to 41st Street was done by Ira A. Shaler.<ref name="Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners 1905" /><ref name="Bulletin-1985-07" />Template:Rp The section between 33rd and 41st Streets was built as two double-track tunnels. To accommodate a never-built connection to the mainline platforms at Grand Central Terminal, the tunnel carrying northbound trains was shifted eastward (nearly touching the eastern curb line of Park Avenue). At the time, the railroads that operated the terminal had not agreed to the connection.<ref name="Bulletin-1985-07" />Template:Rp Property owners did not learn about the change until a series of accidents occurred along the excavation site in 1902.<ref name="Bulletin-1985-07" />Template:Rp A dynamite explosion near Park Avenue and 41st Street on January 27, 1902, killed five people,<ref name="n117946524">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="nyt-1902-01-29">Template:Cite news</ref> and several mansions on Park Avenue fell into the excavation site that March due to rockslides.<ref name="nyt-1902-03-22">Template:Cite news</ref> Shaler became known by the pejorative nickname of "hoodoo contractor" as a result.<ref name="nyt-2003-02-25">Template:Cite news</ref> After Shaler was killed by a rockslide in his own excavation site on June 17, 1902,<ref name="nyt-1902-06-30">Template:Cite news</ref> his estate completed the construction of the tunnel between 33rd and 41st Street.<ref name="Bulletin-1985-07" />Template:Rp

By late 1903, the subway was nearly complete, but the IRT Powerhouse and the system's electrical substations were still under construction, delaying the system's opening.<ref name="Walker 1918" />Template:Rp<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 33rd Street station opened on October 27, 1904, as one of the original 28 stations of the New York City Subway from City Hall to 145th Street on the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line.<ref name="145th" /><ref name="Walker 1918" />Template:Rp Litigation over the IRT's Murray Hill tunnels continued for several years;<ref name="Bulletin-1985-07" />Template:Rp in 1905, a judge found that the city government was responsible for the January 1902 explosion.<ref name="nyt-1905-06-25">Template:Cite news</ref> In spite of this, the northbound tunnel was never relocated, as it had already been completed.<ref name="Bulletin-1985-07" />Template:Rp

Service changes and station renovations

33rd Street station in 1905

After the first subway line was completed in 1908,<ref name="242nd">Template:Cite news</ref> the station was served by local trains along both the West Side (now the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line to Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street) and East Side (now the Lenox Avenue Line). West Side local trains had their southern terminus at City Hall during rush hours and South Ferry at other times, and had their northern terminus at 242nd Street. East Side local trains ran from City Hall to Lenox Avenue (145th Street).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

To address overcrowding, in 1909, the New York Public Service Commission proposed lengthening the platforms at stations along the original IRT subway.<ref name="HAER Impact">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Rp As part of a modification to the IRT's construction contracts made on January 18, 1910, the company was to lengthen station platforms to accommodate ten-car express and six-car local trains. In addition to $1.5 million (equivalent to $Template:Inflation million in Template:Inflation/year) spent on platform lengthening, $500,000 (equivalent to $Template:Inflation million in Template:Inflation/year) was spent on building additional entrances and exits. It was anticipated that these improvements would increase capacity by 25 percent.<ref name="Report 1911">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Both platforms at the 33rd Street station was extended Template:Convert to the south. New "electric manholes", passageways leading to the equipment closets, were built at the southern ends of the platforms.<ref name="Report 1911"/>Template:Rp Six-car local trains began operating in October 1910.<ref name="HAER Impact" />Template:Rp The Lexington Avenue Line opened north of Grand Central–42nd Street in 1918, and the original line was divided into an H-shaped system. All local trains were sent via the Lexington Avenue Line, running along the Pelham Line in the Bronx.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In December 1922, the Transit Commission approved a proposal to convert the 33rd Street station into an express stop.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="p576721174">Template:Cite news</ref> It was estimated that the extra time spent by express trains at 33rd Street would be offset by the reduced dwell times at Grand Central.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Local business owners supported the proposal,<ref name="p103095323">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="p1114723855">Template:Cite news</ref> but the IRT opposed the plan, which would cost the company $750,000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="p1221762322">Template:Cite news</ref> In October 1923, the plan was postponed for a year due to a lack of funds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="p1237292904">Template:Cite news</ref> The Fifth Avenue Association requested in January 1924 that the Transit Commission again consider converting the 33rd Street station into an express stop, citing the fact that a 35-story structure was to be built immediately adjacent to the station.<ref name="p1222046870">Template:Cite news</ref> The express-stop proposal was postponed indefinitely in 1925.<ref name="p1111984236">Template:Cite news</ref> The Fifth Avenue Association requested in 1929 that the express-station proposal be reconsidered. The association said the conversion would "complete a quadrilateral of express stops" that included 34th Street–Penn Station, Times Square–42nd Street, and Grand Central–42nd Street.<ref name="p1111984236" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1928, to alleviate overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue Line, a consulting engineer for the New York State Transit Commission proposed the construction of "reservoir" stations at 33rd/34th and 42nd Streets.<ref name="nyt-1928-06-10">Template:Cite news</ref> The proposal entailed constructing a northbound-only tunnel under Lexington Avenue from 30th to 42nd Street, with stations at 34th and 42nd Streets, then converting the IRT tunnel under Park Avenue and the existing 33rd and 42nd Street stations to southbound-only use. The northbound and southbound stations at 33rd/34th and 42nd Streets would both have had two express tracks and one local track; the express tracks in either direction would have merged with each other north of 42nd Street and south of 30th Street.<ref name="nyt-1928-06-10" /> Although the "reservoir" plan was technically feasible, the $25 million projected cost was too high.<ref name="p1112019675">Template:Cite news</ref>

The city government took over the IRT's operations on June 12, 1940.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="p1248134780">Template:Cite news</ref> In January 1947, the New York City Board of Transportation awarded a $4.003 million contract for the lengthening of platforms at the Template:Stn, Template:Stn, and 33rd Street stations.<ref name=nyt-1949-09-15>Template:Cite news</ref> The platform extensions at all three stations opened on April 13, 1948, after which they could accommodate ten-car trains.<ref name="BOT-1949">Template:Cite book</ref> On December 27, 1948, a new entrance to the station at 32nd Street opened for use.<ref name="BOT-1949" />

In 1979, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the space within the boundaries of the original station, excluding expansions made after 1904, as a city landmark.<ref name="NYCL-1096" /> The station was designated along with eleven others on the original IRT.<ref name="NYCL-1096" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The original interiors were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.<ref name="focus" />

Station layout

Template:NYCS Platform Layout IRT Lexington Avenue Line/Park Avenue South stations Like other local stations, 33rd Street has four tracks and two side platforms. The 6 stops here at all times,<ref name="tt6">Template:NYCS const</ref> rush-hour and midday <6> trains stop here in the peak direction;<ref name="tt6"/> and the 4 stops here during late nights.<ref name="tt4">Template:NYCS const</ref> The two express tracks are used by the 4 and 5 trains during daytime hours.<ref name="tracks">Template:NYCS const</ref> The station is between Template:Stl to the north and Template:Stl to the south.<ref name=submap>Template:NYCS const</ref> The platforms were originally Template:Convert long, like at other local stations on the original IRT,<ref name="NYCL-1096"/>Template:Rp<ref name="focus" />Template:Rp but later became Template:Convert long.<ref name="BOT-1949" /> The platform extensions are at the southern ends of the original platforms.<ref name="HAER Designs"/>Template:Rp Fixed platform barriers, which are intended to prevent commuters falling to the tracks, are positioned near the platform edges.<ref name=Wassef202507>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Russo-Lennon202507>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The express tracks stay level, while the local tracks slowly incline from south to north to allow for the easier deceleration of local trains. This results in a layout where the express tracks are at a lower elevation than the local tracks in the northern half of the station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> North of the station, the two pairs of tracks in each direction separate into different tunnels because of the presence of the Murray Hill Tunnel, which runs under the center of this section of Park Avenue.<ref name="tracks"/><ref name="Bulletin-1985-07">Template:Cite magazine</ref>Template:Rp As built, the tunnels were supposed to have been Template:Convert apart, but the northbound tunnel (to the east) was shifted eastward by another Template:Convert to accommodate a three-track connection from the original IRT subway north to the mainline Grand Central Terminal. There is a drainage pipe connecting the two tunnels between 37th and 38th Streets, as well as a cross-passage between 38th and 39th Streets.<ref name="Bulletin-1985-07" />Template:Rp

Design

As with other stations built as part of the original IRT, the station was constructed using a cut-and-cover method.<ref name="HAER CE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Rp The tunnel is covered by a U-shaped trough that contains utility pipes and wires. The bottom of this trough contains a foundation of concrete no less than Template:Convert thick.<ref name="focus" />Template:Rp<ref name="HAER Designs"/>Template:Rp Each platform consists of Template:Convert concrete slabs, beneath which are drainage basins. The original platforms contain I-beam columns spaced every Template:Convert, while the platform extensions contain columns with white glazed tiles. Additional columns between the tracks, spaced every Template:Convert, support the jack-arched concrete station roofs.<ref name="focus" />Template:Rp<ref name="NYCL-1096" />Template:Rp<ref name="HAER Designs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Rp The ceiling height varies, being about Template:Convert above platform level near the northern fare control areas, and lower in other portions of the station.<ref name="focus"/>Template:Rp There is a Template:Convert gap between the trough wall and the platform walls, which are made of Template:Convert-thick brick covered over by a tiled finish.<ref name="focus" />Template:Rp<ref name="HAER Designs"/>Template:Rp

The fare control areas are at platform level, and there is no crossover or crossunder between the platforms.<ref name="focus" />Template:Rp The walls along the platforms near the fare control areas consist of a brick wainscoting on the lowest part of the wall, with bronze air vents along the wainscoting, and white glass tiles above. The platform walls are divided at Template:Convert intervals by buff and green mosaic tile pilasters, or vertical bands. In the original portion of the station, each pilaster is topped by green faience plaques depicting eagles, an allusion to the former 71st Regiment Armory at Park Avenue and 33rd Street; the eagles hold blue and white shields containing the number "33". A cornice with yellow and brown vine and fretwork patterns runs atop these walls.<ref name="focus">Template:Cite archive</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="NYCL-1096"/>Template:Rp The platform extensions contain tiles with the number "33" atop the pilasters. Mosaic plaques with the words "33rd St." are also spaced at various intervals on the walls.<ref name="focus"/>Template:Rp The mosaic tiles at all original IRT stations were manufactured by the American Encaustic Tile Company, which subcontracted the installations at each station.<ref name="HAER Designs"/>Template:Rp The decorative work was performed by tile contractor John H. Parry and faience contractor Grueby Faience Company.<ref name="HAER Designs"/>Template:Rp The ceilings of the northern fare control areas contain plaster molding.<ref name="focus" />Template:Rp<ref name="HAER Designs"/>Template:Rp

The 1997 artwork at this station is Lariat Seat Loops by James Garvey. These are composed of fourteen bronze loops surrounding the I-beam columns near the northern fare control areas, which are designed as handholds or seat rests.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="MTA Lariat Seat Loops" /><ref name="Rosenfeld Harrison 2013 p. 144">Template:Cite book</ref>

A single Lariat Seat Loop

According to Garvey, "the thick bronze bar ... resembles the lasso demonstration in a Will Rogers film clip".<ref name="MTA Lariat Seat Loops">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Garvey subsequently designed Lariat Tapers, a similar artwork at the Wall Street station, in 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Midtown Manhattan subway cross section

Exits

Southbound street stairs

Each platform has exits to both 32nd and 33rd Streets. The northbound platform's exits are on the eastern side of Park Avenue while the southbound platform's exits are on the western side.<ref name="focus" />Template:Rp<ref name=maps/> The street staircases contain relatively simple, modern steel railings like those seen at most New York City Subway stations.<ref name="focus"/>Template:Rp

At 33rd Street, each control area contains two exits, one each to the north and south sides of 33rd Street. These exits are directly outside 4 Park Avenue to the northwest, 2 Park Avenue to the southwest, 3 Park Avenue to the northeast, and 1 Park Avenue to the southeast.<ref name=maps/> At 32nd Street, each control area contains two exits to the south side of that street.<ref name="focus" />Template:Rp<ref name=maps>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Further reading

• Lee Stokey. Subway Ceramics: A History and Iconography. 1994. Template:ISBN

External links

• Template:NYCS ref
• Station Reporter — 4 Train
• Station Reporter — 6 Train
• Forgotten NY — Original 28 - NYC's First 28 Subway Stations
• MTA's Arts For Transit — 33rd Street (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)
• 32nd Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• 33rd Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• downtown platform from Google Maps Street View