View source for Pelham Bay Park station

{{Short description|New York City Subway station in the Bronx}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox NYCS
| name = Pelham Bay Park
| image = IRT Pelham Bay Park Station.jpg
| image_caption = 
| accessible = yes
| address = [[Bruckner Boulevard]] and [[Westchester Avenue]]<br/>Bronx, New York
| borough = [[The Bronx]]
| locale = [[Pelham Bay (neighborhood), Bronx|Pelham Bay]]
| coordinates = {{coord|40.852871|N|73.827138|W|display=inline,title}}
| division = IRT
| line = [[IRT Pelham Line]]
| service = Pelham north
| other = {{Unbulleted list
 | {{bus icon}} [[NYCT Bus]]: {{NYC bus link|Bx5|Bx12|Bx12 SBS|Bx24|Bx29}}
 | {{bus icon}} [[MTA Bus]]: {{NYC bus link|Bx23|Q50|BxM8}}
 | {{bus icon}} [[Bee-Line Bus]]: [[List of bus routes in Westchester County|45]]
 }}
| platforms = 1 [[island platform]] (in service)<br/>2 [[side platform]]s (presently used for offices and crew lockers)
| tracks = 2
| structure = Elevated
| former = Pelham Bay Parkway<ref name=nycs-name-changes>{{cite web |url=https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Notes_on_Station_Name_Changes |title=Notes on Station Name Changes |first=William |last=Zucker |website=nycsubway.org |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103023755/https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Notes_on_Station_Name_Changes |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=June 5, 2024}}</ref>
| opened = {{start date and age|1920|12|20}}
| services = {{Adjacent stations|system=New York City Subway
|line=Lexington local|right=Buhre Avenue|note-right={{NYCS Lexington local|time=1}}}}
| other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system=New York City Subway
|line=none|left=blank|right=Parkchester|note-right=''express''}}
| footnotes = {{NYCS infobox legend|alltimes}}{{NYCS infobox legend|rushpeak}}
| route_map = {{NYCS 3-tracked terminal station
|1 = Buhre Avenue
|2 = Parkchester
|ss = y
|inline = y
|dir = NW
|unused = y
|extra =
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uABZg+1!~uSTR~L\uSTR+c4!~uSTR~R
udSTR\uvÜSTr
udSHI2gl\udSHI2gl+r\udSHI2g+r
}}
}}

The '''Pelham Bay Park station''' is the northern [[terminal station]] of the [[IRT Pelham Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]]. Located across from [[Pelham Bay Park]], at the intersection of the [[Bruckner Expressway]] and [[Westchester Avenue]] in the [[Pelham Bay (neighborhood), Bronx|Pelham Bay]] neighborhood of [[the Bronx]], it is served by the [[6 (New York City Subway service)|6]] train at all times, except weekdays in the peak direction, when the [[6d (New York City Subway service)|&lt;6&gt;]] serves it.

== History ==
In 1913, New York City, the [[Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company]], and the [[Interborough Rapid Transit Company]] (IRT) reached an agreement, known as the [[Dual Contracts]], to drastically expand subway service across New York City. As part of Contract 3 of the agreement, between New York City and the IRT, the [[Early history of the IRT subway|original subway]] opened by the IRT in 1904 to [[City Hall station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)|City Hall]], was to be extended north from [[Grand Central–42nd Street station|Grand Central]] along [[Lexington Avenue]] into the Bronx, with a branch running northeast via 138th Street, Southern Boulevard and Westchester Avenue to Pelham Bay Park.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Dual System of Rapid Transit (1912)|url=http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/The_Dual_System_of_Rapid_Transit_(1912)|access-date=March 25, 2014|publisher=www.nycsubway.org}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes-618Miles-1913">{{cite news|date=August 3, 1913|title=618 Miles of Track In The Dual System; City Will Have Invested $226,000,000 When Rapid Transit Project Is Completed.|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/08/03/archives/618-miles-of-track-in-the-dual-system-city-will-have-invested.html|access-date=April 25, 2018}}</ref> The [[IRT Lexington Avenue Line]] opened on July 17, 1918, and the first section of the IRT Pelham Line opened to [[Third Avenue–138th Street (IRT Pelham Line)|Third Avenue–138th Street]] on August 1, 1918.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 1, 1918|title=Opening New Subway ''H'' Shortens Distance to A. & S.|page=8|newspaper=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/55625816/?terms=subway%2Bextension|access-date=January 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Cunningham|first1=Joseph|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fg4KAQAAMAAJ&q=177|title=A History of the New York City Subway System|last2=DeHart|first2=Leonard O.|date=1993|publisher=J. Schmidt, R. Giglio, and K. Lang|pages=48|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ob0JAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA372|title=Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac|date=1922|publisher=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|pages=372|language=en}}</ref>

On January 7, 1919, the Pelham Line was extended to [[Hunts Point Avenue (IRT Pelham Line)|Hunts Point Avenue]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":32" /> The extension was originally supposed to be finished by the end of 1918, but due to the difficulty in acquiring materials, the opening was delayed. In January 1919, the [[New York Public Service Commission|New York State Public Service Commission]] was acquiring property for a subway yard at Pelham Bay Park.<ref name="NYTimes Opening3">{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1919/01/05/102845664.pdf|title=New Lines In Bronx Coming This Year: Rays of Rapid Transit to be Let Into Dark Sections in the West and North|date=January 5, 1919|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 25, 2016}}</ref> On May 30, 1920, the Pelham Line was extended to East 177th Street.<ref name="NYTIMES">{{cite news|date=May 28, 1920|title=Bronx Subway Extension Opened|work=The New York Times|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/05/28/118322488.pdf|access-date=January 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":32" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xRzVAAAAMAAJ&q=may+30,+1920+pelham+line|title=Annual Report for the Year Ending June 30, 1920|date=1920|publisher=Interborough Rapid Transit Company|pages=5, 13|language=en}}</ref> Service between Hunts Point Avenue and East 177th Street was originally served by a shuttle service operating with elevated cars.<ref name=":1" /> On October 24 of the same year, it was extended to [[Westchester Square (IRT Pelham Line)|Westchester Square]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 22, 1920|title=Subway Extension Opens Sunday|work=The New York Times|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B0CE2DB1630E433A25751C2A9669D946195D6CF&legacy=true|access-date=December 14, 2016|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":32" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=plRNAAAAYAAJ&q=pelham+line+subway&pg=PA2389|title=Moodys Manual of Railroads and Corporation Securities|date=1922|publisher=Moody Manual Company|language=en}}</ref>{{Rp|2389}} The line was completed to Pelham Bay Park station on December 20, which became the new terminal of the line.<ref>{{Cite book|last=York|first=Bronx Board of Trade, New|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KO0rAQAAMAAJ&q=May+30|title=A Comprehensive General and Industrial Survey: The Bronx in the City of New York|date=1931|publisher=Bronx Board of Trade|pages=27|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":32" /><ref name=":4" /> Service to Pelham Bay Park was served by a mix of through and shuttle trains during the 1920s.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T1tLAQAAMAAJ&q=%22pelham+bay%22+%22shuttle%22&pg=PA73|title=Annual Report|date=1922|publisher=J.B. Lyon Company|language=en}}</ref>{{Rp|73–74}}

===Renovations===
As part of the 1968 [[Program for Action]], the Pelham Line would have been extended to a modern terminal nearby in the [[Co-op City, Bronx|Co-op City]] housing complex, and the Pelham Line would have been converted to [[B Division (New York City Subway)|B Division]] standards so lettered trains could use the line. As part of the plan, this station would no longer be the line's terminal.<ref name="int-arch2">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/metropolitantran00newy/mode/2up|title=Metropolitan transportation, a program for action. Report to Nelson A. Rockefeller, Governor of New York.|date=November 7, 1967|publisher=Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority|access-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Witkin|first1=Richard|title=$2.9-Billion Transit Plan For New York Area Links Subways, Rails, Airports; 2-Phase Proposal Program by Governor Calls for $1.6-Billion in First 10 Years 2-Phase Proposal For Transit Given|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/02/29/77174644.pdf|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 11, 2015|date=February 29, 1968}}</ref> Because of the [[1975 New York City fiscal crisis]], most of the remaining projects did not have funding, so they were declined.<ref name="Raskin-RoutesNotTaken-2013">{{Cite Routes Not Taken}}</ref> If built, the extension would have been completed by the mid-1970s or early 1980s.<ref name="NYTimes-QBLExpansion-1971">{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/02/21/91268536.pdf|title=New Line May Get Double Trackage: Transit Unit Shift on Queens Super-Express|last=Burks|first=Edward C.|date=February 21, 1971|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 26, 2015}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes-ArcherGrndbk-Oct1973">{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1973/10/24/80809618.pdf|title=Work Begun on Queens Subway Extension|date=October 24, 1973|work=The New York Times|last1=Burks|first1=Edward C.|access-date=September 26, 2015}}</ref>

In 1981, the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] listed the station among the 69 most deteriorated stations in the subway system.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/11/nyregion/agency-lists-its-69-most-deteriorated-subway-stations.html|title=Agency Lists Its 69 Most Deteriorated Subway Stations|last1=Gargan|first1=Edward A.|date=June 11, 1981|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 13, 2016}}</ref>

The station's elevators were installed in December 1989, making the station one of the earliest to comply with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]]. The elevators were renovated from June 8, 2015 to April 2016, three months after work was expected to be completed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/PelhamBayParkElevatorClosure_May2015.htm|title=Station Information|website=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528200309/http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/PelhamBayParkElevatorClosure_May2015.htm|archive-date=May 28, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2016}}</ref>

==Station layout==
{{NYCS Platform Layout Terminal Station/elevated Spanish solution|access=yes|color=green|track1=West track|track2=East track}}

[[File:Pelham Bay Pk IRT jeh.JPG|thumb|left|220px|Pedestrian overpass and headhouse pictured in 2008]]

This is an elevated station which has two tracks, one [[island platform]] and two disused [[side platform]]s. The tracks end at [[bumper block]]s at the north end of the platforms. The station was formerly set up as a [[Spanish solution]] with alighting passengers using the side platforms and boarding passengers using the island platform. Now all passengers use the island platform.<ref name="tracks2">{{NYCS const|trackref|trackbook3}}</ref> The [[6 (New York City Subway service)|6]] local train serves the station at all times except rush hours in the peak direction, when the [[6d (New York City Subway service)|&lt;6&gt;]] express train serves the station instead.<ref name=tt6>{{NYCS const|timetable|6}}</ref> The station is the northern terminus for all service; the next stop to the south is [[Buhre Avenue station|Buhre Avenue]].<ref name=submap>{{NYCS const|map}}</ref>

During 2005, rooms were located on the side platforms for temporary crew use while the crew quarters at the north end of the station was rebuilt. At the south end is a staff-only crossover bridge between the center and west side platform. It also used to connect to the east side platform but that portion has been removed. There is also a tower and crew facilities at the south end. There are old style signs which are covered over on the main platform.

Pelham Bay Park is the only [[New York City Subway]] terminal that does not use numerical track labels, but rather track labels based on compass directions (i.e. East track, West track).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tricarico|first1=Michael|title=Track labels with service sign and 6 train on East track|url=http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?29223|website=www.nycsubway.org|access-date=July 27, 2016|location=Pelham Bay Park|date=April 12, 2004}}</ref> Punch boxes exist, however, at the south end of the island platform where the corresponding track numbers (Track 1 and 2) are used.

===Exits===
[[Fare control]] is in the [[mezzanine (architecture)|mezzanine]] below the platforms. There are two staircases, an escalator, and an elevator that lead to Westchester Avenue. There is also a pedestrian bridge from the station entrance that crosses the Bruckner Expressway and leads to [[Pelham Bay Park]].<ref name=maps>{{cite web|title=MTA Neighborhood Maps: Pelham Bay|url=http://web.mta.info/maps/neighborhoods/bx/BX6_PelhamBay_2015.pdf|website=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=July 20, 2016|date=2015|archive-date=June 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605043820/http://web.mta.info/maps/neighborhoods/bx/BX6_PelhamBay_2015.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{clear left}}

==''The Taking of Pelham One Two Three'' superstition==
In the novel ''[[The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (novel)|The Taking of Pelham One Two Three]]'' by [[Morton Freedgood]] and its film adaptations (the [[The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974 film)|1974 original]] and the [[The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1998 film)|1998]] and [[The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009 film)|2009]] remakes), the train that's hijacked leaves the Pelham Bay Park station at 1:23&nbsp;pm, whence the [[call sign|callsign]]. After the 1974 film's release, the [[New York City Transit Authority]] banned any schedule of a train leaving this station at 1:23 am or 1:23 pm, realizing that it would become too much of a reminder to the public. Eventually this policy was rescinded, but due to the [[superstition]]s involved, dispatchers have continued to avoid scheduling a Manhattan-bound train to leave at 1:23.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dwyer |first=Jim |title=Subway lives : 24 hours in the life of the New York City subway |year=1991 |publisher=Crown |location=New York |isbn=0-517-58445-X |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/subwaylives24hou00dwye }}</ref>

== Nearby points of interest ==
* [[Pelham Bay Park]]<ref name=mta-map>{{cite NYC neighborhood map|Pelham Bay}}</ref>
** [[Bartow-Pell Mansion]]
** [[Hunter Island (Bronx)|Hunter Island]]
** [[Orchard Beach (Bronx)|Orchard Beach]]
* [[City Island, Bronx|City Island]]<ref name=mta-map/>
* [[Co-op City, Bronx|Co-op City]]<ref name=mta-map/>
** [[Bay Plaza Shopping Center]]

In the early 1960s, the Pelham Bay Park station was the closest station to the defunct [[Freedomland U.S.A.]] amusement park, now the site of Co-op City.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/05/26/archives/big-exhibit-park-planned-in-bronx-206acre-freedomland-will-have.html|title=Big Exhibit Park Planned In Bronx; 206-Acre Freedomland Will Have Mock Cities and Trips by Wagon and Steamer|last=Fowle|first=Farnsworth|date=May 26, 1959|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 6, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Pelham Bay Park (IRT Pelham Line)}}
* {{NYCS ref|http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?201:2281|IRT Pelham Line|Pelham Bay Park}}
* Station Reporter — [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204052106/http://www.stationreporter.net/6train.htm 6 Train]
* The Subway Nut — [http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/pelhambayparkn6/index.html Pelham Bay Park Pictures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222132331/http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/pelhambayparkn6/index.html |date=February 22, 2020 }}
* [https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=40.853055,-73.827271&panoid=v2RBA2JAwIolP2O7t2HhIA&cbp=12,101.25,,0,4.95&ll=40.853147,-73.827237&spn=0,0.002406&z=19 Burr Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View]
* [https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=40.852836,-73.826812&panoid=f71PyAGolYxo4InsuOoAog&cbp=12,281.06,,0,5.02&ll=40.852743,-73.826843&spn=0,0.002406&z=19 Bruckner Boulevard entrance from Google Maps Street View]
*[https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/103237729589375373179/photos/@40.8525467,-73.8279419,3a,75y,148h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAF1QipNWY5-RMkk7peiMLPElj00_C_-dxzYaCXt7k53t!2e10!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNWY5-RMkk7peiMLPElj00_C_-dxzYaCXt7k53t%3Dw203-h100-p-k-no!7i8704!8i4352!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1 Platforms from Google Maps Street View (Daytime)]
* [https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8523293,-73.8283768,3a,75y,45.55h,91.43t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s-_PBNJ1dBGbU%2FWTuECYzo0TI%2FAAAAAAAAFKM%2Ff13RhSdpc7YnR_zWOdXYVOqXpeReUayygCLIB!2e4!3e11!6s%2F%2Flh6.googleusercontent.com%2F-_PBNJ1dBGbU%2FWTuECYzo0TI%2FAAAAAAAAFKM%2Ff13RhSdpc7YnR_zWOdXYVOqXpeReUayygCLIB%2Fw203-h100-k-no-pi0-ya349.49997-ro-0-fo100%2F!7i8704!8i4352!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x89c28ca7971d571b:0xe42a36fad44fc220!2sPelham+Bay+Park+Station!8m2!3d40.852933!4d-73.8270897!3m4!1s0x89c28ca7971d571b:0xe42a36fad44fc220!8m2!3d40.852933!4d-73.8270897 Platforms from Google Maps Street View (Night)]

{{NYCS stations navbox by service|l6=y|l6x=y}}
{{NYCS stations navbox by line|pelham=yes}}

[[Category:IRT Pelham Line stations]]
[[Category:New York City Subway stations in the Bronx]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1920]]
[[Category:1920 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:New York City Subway terminals]]