Wilson Avenue could easily win the award for most unusual subway stations. The two tracks for the station are stacked. The Canarsie-bound track is above the Manhattan-bound track. The Manhattan-bound track rests on ground level. This means that the Manhattan-bound station feels like, and has the design of an underground station, with a fully tiled platform wall, and one the most colorful Squire Vickers dual-contracts designs. In the station, most of the colors of the rainbow are used on the station name tablets and in the trim line that has W's at various intervals.
The upper-level Canarsie-bound platform is an elevated station that has seen better days. The station has a full-length concrete wall for a windscreen that has the platform's roof cantilevered off from it, this means the platform is free from any columns because of the canopy, except for the skeletal-looking pieces of steel that are helping to hold up the station's roof. This platform beyond a very high fence that's alongside the single track has a very nice view of the gravestones of Most Holy Trinity cemetery. This leaves us to the reason the station has such an unusual design. It had to be built in such a strange way to squeeze it between the New York Connecting Railway (that is between the station and the street), and this cemetery.
The station's only exit is from a passageway that cuts directly out from between the middle and eastern (back) end of the Manhattan-bound platform. This passageway immediately connects to two staircases that lead up in opposite directions to the Canarsie-bound platform, and continues for a bit of a distance, beneath the tracks of the NY Connecting Railway, to a small, slightly wider area where fare control is and than out to street level through a set of three doors.
The station's only entrance is raised about four steps above the ground, although if these steps were made into a ramp the Manhattan-bound platform would probably be completely accessible. From 2016 through 2018, this happened, the station underwent a renovation, including to a headhouse with passengers now having the option of going up five steps or a new ADA accessible ramp, that provides step-free, ADA accessible access to the Manhattan-bound platform, adding an elevator for continued access upstairs to the Brooklyn-bound outdoor platform didn't happen, this was seen as too costly. So this station is accessible for service in one direction only.
Photo 1-4: January 1, 2005; 5 & 6: December 2, 2005; 7-30: June 30, 2009; 31 November 16, 2011 (at the Transit Museum); 32-55: September 4, 2023;
Looking towards the western setting sun down the tactile warning strip at Wilson Avenue on the Canarsie-bound exposed outside platform.
Looking the other direction down the tactile warning strip at Wilson Avenue.
The Front Car of the R1-9s Museum train running on a fan trip towards Canarsie makes its way into Wilson Avenue to bypass it, the front sign of the train saying 16 (The old BMT Number)-Canarsie.
The back of the Museum train of R1-9s about to leave Wilson Avenue, the rear destination sign says LL-Special
A trian of R143s about to close its doors after stopping at Wilson Avenue.
A Canarsie R143 L train has left Wilson Avenue.
The back of a Canarsie-bound train of R143s stopped at Wilson Avenue.
Looking down the empty and desolate upper-level Canarsie-bound platform at Wilson Avenue, the graveyard adds to this ambience.
Another view of the Most Holy Trinity cemetery and the view of it from the Canarsie-bound platform.
A close up of a former incandescent light fixture that no longer has a light bulb in it on the Canarsie-bound platform at Wilson Avenue.
The 8 R143/R160 conductor's stopboard at Wilson Avenue, with an exit sign for one of the two staircases down to the exit passageway visible in the distance.
The only bench on the Canarsie-bound platform at Wilson Avenue, of the uncomfortable you have to lean on me design, and one of the two staircases down to the lower platform and exit. The only LED time to next train sign is also visible in this view.
Looking down one of two staircases down to the exit passageway and Manhattan-bound platform at Wilson Avenue, the staircase is relatively long.
The passageway that leads from the platforms to fare control and the street at Wilson Avenue.
Approaching the small fare control area at Wilson Avenue, and doors out to the street. Notice even the passageway has an extremely colorful trim-line running the top of it.
A view of the Wilson Avenue station entrance, that's up only a few steps, and the only steps up to the Manhattan-bound platform, so why isn't the station ADA?
A close up of the top of the doors into the Wilson Avenue Station that is above some translucent glass panels, and the three doors below.
A partially painted over mosaic sign for the now closed Women's room at Wilson Avenue.
The sign for the two staircases up to the Canarsie-bound platform at Wilson Avenue, with the Manhattan-bound platform straight ahead, and the staircases up to the Canarsie-bound platforms on either side at the end of the passageway from the station's entrance.
Last Updated: August 23, 2022
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