7-Scape No.23 - Manhattan- and Flushing-bound 7 Trains at Queensboro Plaza

7-Scape No.23 - Manhattan- and Flushing-bound 7 Trains at Queensboro Plaza

The elevated Queensboro Plaza Station in Long Island City, Queens is one
of my very favorite spots for photographing New York City Subway trains. (*)

It is the only spot in the system where the smaller profile A-Division trains share platforms with the
larger and wider trains of the B-Division. In this case A-Division means the (IRT) 7 Trains of the
Flushing Line, and B-Division represents the N and W trains of the (BMT) Astoria Line.

The station also fascinates for the two track levels on which all of this happens.
The upper level platform handles N and W trains headed for the Ditmars Boulevard,
Astoria terminus on one side and Flushing-bound 7 Express and Local trains on the other.
The lower level handles Manhattan-bound trains of both services.

While the N and W trains approach and depart QBP on a straight course on a ramp alongside the
Queensboro Bridge to and from the 60th Street Tunnel connecting Queens with Midtown Manhattan,
the 7 Trains arrive and depart via the massive elevated structure seen here, as the tracks negotiate a
long curve, high above the street grid between here and Court Square, also in Long Island City. The
darker structure in foreground carries vehicular traffic.

In this photo, taken from street level, we have a Flushing-bound 7 on the upper level, curving its
way toward the upper platform at QBP; the 7-Train on the lower level has just left the lower level
platform and is bound for 34th St-Hudson Yards Station on Manhattan's far west side.

The photo was taken in late summer 2019 and makes its first appearance today.

©2021 Steve Ember
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