75 Street-Elderts Lane (J, Z, Z only Skip-Stop)

75 St-Elderts Lane has a slight identity crisis for which borough it is in. The platform is almost entirely in Queens except for probably about the westernmost 10 feet of which are in Brooklyn, because the platform crosses Elderts Lane before ending. The border between Brooklyn and Queens is Elderts Lane, which ends at Jamaica Avenue, the street the elevated runs above. According to Google the border continues following no real streets right through the parkland north of the subway station, looping around. There are no signs saying that Elderts Lane is the border, the only way to figure it out is the fact the numbering system of the houses changes at Elderts Lane from Brooklyn's conventional system of 1,2,3,4,5... to Queen's unusual 42-05 numbering system, where the first number is the nearest cross street/avenue and the second is the house number on that particular block.

The station's entrance is a block west of here at 75 Street and is most definitely in Queens. It has a simple unrenovated station house below the tracks. Streetstairs lead down to the SE corner of 75 Street and Jamaica Avenue, and one down to northside of Jamaica Avenue, directly across the street from here, since 75 Street ends at a T-intersection. There is a single staircase up to the eastern end of each of the side platforms on the el.

The station's name is also a bit confusing, most of the signs at the stop say 75 St-Elderts Lane, or simply Elderts Lane. On the subway map it simply says 75 St. The station once had a second exit at the western end of the platforms to Elderts Lane, but this exit was closed in the 1980s with the station house completely removed, the only remaining evidence is the roof of the former station house is visible underneath the elevated.
1-22: June 25, 2008; 23-40: July 26, 2013

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Still in Brooklyn looking up towards the elevated at 75 St-Elderts Lane. This street is the border between Brooklyn and Queens, notice how the very end of the elevated is at it, meaning the platform is technically in both boroughs

Looking across Jamaica Avenue at a staircase up to the elevated at 75 St-Elderts Lane.

Looking up an entrance staircase to the elevated at Elderts Lane.

An interior view of the small station house beneath the tracks at Elderts Lane after passing through fare control.

Looking across to the Manhattan-bound platform at Elderts Lane, with the one staircase to leave the subway visible.

The very end of the Manhattan-bound platform at Elderts Lane has a fairly simple wire-mesh fence

The very end of the Jamaica-bound platform at Elderts lane with a simple iron fence that could be easily jumped.

A decorative arrow on the boring metal accordion looking windscreen at Elderts Lane.

The times of service sign at Elderts Lane, J trains run local, PM rush hours take Z that skips 85 & 111 Sts.

Looking down the two track Elderts Lane Station with two side platforms and room for a third track between the two existing tracks.

A metal 75 St-Elderts Lane Station sign.

Fairly fresh spray paint along the old sandpaper-type warning strip at Elderts Lane saying R160, telling a contractor where to put up a new conductors stop board for the new R160s in service.

Looking across to a piece of wire mesh that is part of an Arts For Transit Installation at all the elevated stations along this portion of the Jamaica Avenue elevated.

Getting closer to Brooklyn and the western end of the platform at Elderts Lane.

Looking back towards the exit at Elderts Lane.

Perhaps I've now walked into Brooklyn. This is the extreme western end of the platform at Elderts Lane.

A Manhattan-bound R42 J train begins to enter 75 St-Elderts Lane.

R42 #4703 enters 75 St-Elderts Lane.

An eight car R42 J train has entered Brooklyn after stopping at 75 St-Elderts Lane.

R42 #4821 has left 75 St-Elderts lane.

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