50 Street
Uptown
Only
Only
The two directions of 50 Street have such different complicated designs and there is no free transfer between directions (the street is the only way to change directions) so each side deserves its own section. It is though the last stop before C and E trains diverge from each other so automated announcements say "Transfer is available to the Uptown C train." Reminding passengers who want to go between Upper Manhattan and Queens on the C and E trains they must ride one more stop south to 42 Street and double-back using the free crossover there.
The station has two levels and 6 total tracks. The Upper Level is for 8th Avenue Subway Trains has 4 tracks and two side platforms used by C trains (and skipped by A trains). The E train's two tracks and two side platforms are located on a lower level before E trains curve east to run under 53 Street towards Queens. These platforms for E trains run at angles to each other, this Uptown platform in particular is not at a straight beneath the street. Each E train platform has a track wall at their northern ends where the platforms become visible to each other. This unique level design is in preparation for the E train tracks arrival at a flying junction before 42 Street with equal access to both the Express and Local tracks. The southern end of the E train’s platforms are visible with vent opening above them by passing A and C trains before they enter 50 Street. One reason for the stops complex design is the fact originally E trains heading to the 53 Street tunnel were not supposed to have a station at 50 Street (53 Street-7 Avenue is only 3 blocks north and half a crosstown block west since it has an entrance from Broadway) but the local 50 Street Merchants’ Association protested while the subway was under construction and the lower-level platforms were built.
The two platform levels are staggard, with the E train platform running from 49 Street to 51 Street and C train platform from 50 Street to 52 Street. Both platforms have simple walls with blue background 50th St. name tablets and a no trimline just a line of 50s where the trimline should be. The track walls on the E platform level have just little 50s in them at regular intervals.
The uptown side is extremely simple with only two of currently open fare control areas, there were originally 4. The main one is situated along the upper level C platform at the rear of the train (with a few stairs up to it) and in the middle of the E train platform where the only open staircase connects down (with some bare incandescent lamps) to the E platform beneath. The turnstiles lead to a now unstaffed fare control area with the token both removed. Exits lead from this exit to within a storefront on the SE corner. It leads up to regular streetstair on the NE corner of 50 Street and 8 Avenue where half-way up the staircase a recently reopened passageway beneath 50 Street leads to Broadway and the fare control area of the downtown 1 train there. This means the stop is connected underground to the downtown side of the 1 train’s 50th Street station but not to the platform for service in the opposite direction!
In the middle of the upper level C platform there is a secondary exit with a single High Entrance/Exit Turnstile and a High Exit Turnstile and a black sealed indentation in the wall that was once the change/token booth that lead to a single street stair up to the NE corner of 51 Street and 8th Avenue. On the C platform by this entrance are two staircases currently enclosed by plywood that once led down to the front of the E train platform combining at an intermediate mezzanine before a passageway because of the angle of the E trains platforms combing closer to each other.
There are abandoned exits at each end of the platform. At 52 Street, along the C train platform there is a cream-colored partition closing it off but the name tablet at the very northern end of the platform still has an arrow beneath pointing towards it. At street level inside the building on the SW corner is a closed street stair gated off, an older era M beneath a red square hanging onto the side, a sign still visible for the station, with a circle clearly covering the former K train, and reading: Entrance Open 4:30am to 10:30pm daily Token required at all times Use Entrance at 50 St when closed. A neighborhood map at street level is also visible pre-the 63 Street Line and still having the K, but before Worldwide Plaza opened in 1989. It shows two additional street stairs down to this entrance from the NW corner, and streetcars to entrances on the downtown side of 52 Street.
At the southern end of the station, a one-block long passageway once led along, beyond the end of the upper level C train platform one block south to 49 Street. This led to a closed fare control area that once had a (now slabbed over staircase) up to the SE corner of 49 Street and 8 Avenue. After the now removed turnstiles there was another staircase (dividing into two staircases at a lower intermediate landing) down to the front of the E train platform.
Photos 1 & 2: June 10, 2004; 3-16: June 6, 2009; 17-18: June 22, 2009; 19-31: June 24, 2011; 32: October 31, 2012;
