103 Street (B,C,A-Late Nights Only)

103rd Street feels like a simple stacked IND Central Park West Line Stop in terms of the platforms. The two side platforms have the typical layout of all the local stops on Central Park West. The Uptown trains are on the upper level, the downtown ones on the lower, the platforms are stacked on top of each other. Although the local tracks are in the same configuration as the other 4 Central Park West local stops, at 103rd Street the express trains are still reconfiguring themselves along there express run (this is because the Uptown express and local tracks must cross one another to make the stacked express operation work). This means through the course of the station both express tracks are parallel to each other (not on top of each other) with uptown express trains gradually sloping down from the upper level to the lower level while passing through the station to allow uptown local trains to cross over those tracks just north of the station. The Downtown Express track stays put at the lower level, rising up to the upper level alongside the Downtown local track after the Uptown local track passes over all 3 tracks between 103 Street and 110 Street.

The name tablets are Blue with a black border and "103" tiling almost forming the stations trim although no trim tiling is present. The station only currently has one open exit to 103rd Street and Central Park West right in the middle of the platform; there is a single entrance and exit staircase to the NW corner of CPW and 103 Street. Just beyond the turnstiles on the upper level is the station's single open staircase down to the lower level.

When the station opened there were two additional exits at the southern and northern end of the platform, with evidence on both platforms of these closed exits. Two streetstairs led along the south side of 102 Street just off of Central Park West to a small fare control area on the Uptown platform with now closed staircase after fare control to the downtown platform. At the northern end of the uptown platform, another staircase once led down to the Downtown platform followed by streetstairs up to the NW and SW corners of 104 Street and Central Park West. There is also a small brick shack-looking building for 3rd Rail operations on the park side of the street at Central Park West and 104 Street, in this area the tracks of the 2 and 3 trains line to Lenox Avenue cross under the IND subway on their non-stop journey leading from 96 Street and Broadway to 110 Street-Central Park North under Lenox Avenue.
Photos 1-11: December 27, 2008; 12-20: May 26, 2010; 21-33: November 10, 2013

Page 2

A small shed like building for third rail operations at 104 Street and Central Park West. It has a brick facade that blends in perfectly with the stonewall surrounding Central Park. The grey roof blends in with the large rock behind it.

Looking across Central Park West to the single entrance to 103 Street.

The lone entrance to 103 Street Station on the gentle downward slope as West 103 Street approaches its end at Central Park West

The uptown platform just after entering the fare control area, a staircase down to the downtown platform is visible in this picture.

The two Downtown & Brooklyn sings as well as the train approaching monitor beeping and saying Downtown. This is the only staircase down to that platform at 103 Street.

A 103rd St name tablet with arrow text underneath it for the only exit at 103.

103rd Street has no trim line just 103 tiles at regular intervals towards the tops of the platform walls.

A name tablet at 103rd Street a metal exit sign has covered up the tiling that points towards the now removed and sealed exit to 104 Street.

Approaching the northern end of the uptown platform at 103 Street.

The northern end of the uptown platform at 103 Street. The newer white looking tiling and silver doors use the former area of the exit to 104 Street.

Looking out of the uptown platform at 103 Street towards the two express tracks that bypass the station. The downtown platform is beneath this one.

An exit sign has been uncovered revealing 102 beneath

This 102 has some new tiles, but not covering the 102 and the rust from the former exit sign covering the exit

The room that has been carved out of the former exit to 102 Street and staircase down to the lower-level downtown platform

This 104 is hard to read, covered by so long

A sign for the no longer existent and now abandoned exit to 104 Street

This 104 arrow tiling is extremely hard to read

A 103 Street name tablet and former tile for 104

Close-up of the partially colored 104

Page 2