145th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)

145th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 145th Street and Lenox Avenue in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, it is served by the 3 train at all times.

This is one of only two stations on the 3 that is not served by another train service at any given time (the other being Harlem – 148th Street, which is the next station station north and where the 3 terminates).

Like the other stations on the original IRT subway, it was built for shorter trains. Eventually, all of the other stations were either lengthened or closed, leaving 145th Street as the only original IRT station that still cannot accommodate ten-car trains.

There are two tracks with two short side platforms that accommodate about 6 cars (only the first 5 cars open). There is no entrance from the street to the northbound platform, as both street staircases contain a high exit-only turnstile and emergency gate.

Directly north of the station is a diamond crossover for the approach to the northern terminal of the 3 train at Harlem – 148th Street. Directly south of the station is the 142nd Street Junction with the IRT White Plains Road Line. The proximity of the switches in either direction could be the reason why the station was not lengthened.

This station was intended to be closed in 1968 with the opening of Harlem–148th Street, but the plans were shelved due to protests from residents of a nearby apartment complex.

From 1995–2008, this station lacked full-time service, as 3 trains did not operate during late nights. Full-time service was restored on July 27, 2008.^[3]

The station has on the National Register of Historic Places since March 30, 2005.^[4]

References

External links

• nycsubway.org — IRT White Plains Road Line: 145th Street
• Station Reporter — 3 Train
• The Subway Nut — 145th Street Pictures
• 145th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View