Avenue U (F) - The SubwayNut

The Avenue U Station has two side platforms on the local tracks of the three tracked line. The middle track has never been used in passenger service but is used by non-revenue trains that have terminated or will originate at Kings Highway and need to access the Coney Island yard that has yard lead tracks just after the Avenue X station (where the middle track ends). The station's platforms are windscreened, and canopied for their entire lengths except for a small section at their northern ends. The canopy is held up by small-cantilevered beams that are also windscreened. These are all painted green.

For exits, the station has two. The 24-hour booth exit is at the northern end of the station. A single staircase leads down from each platform to a small station house where the turnstiles are and the token booth faces them. Staircases lead out of the station house in opposite directions one to the NE corner of McDonald Avenue and Avenue U, and one to the NW corner of McDonald Avenue and Village Road North, since this station house is above a very short block of McDonald Avenue.

There is a secondary unstaffed exit at the southern end of the station where the station house was closed and is no longer in passenger usage around 2006. Here a single staircase leads down from each platform to a High Exit Turnstile from the Coney Island-platform (making this an exit only exit), and a single staircase is down to a High Entrance/Exit Turnstile from the Manhattan-bound platform. These in turn lead to staircases down to street level on eitherside of McDonald Avenue just south of Gravesend Neck Road (locally called and signed in the station just as Neck Road, the same street that runs to the Brighton Line station just called Neck Road).
Photo 1-26: August 4, 2009

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Looking down the Manhattan-bound platform at Avenue U as a train stops in the station.

A Manhattan-bound R46 F train leaves Avenue U.

Two R46 F trains pass each other at the northern end of the Avenue U Station. The train on the center track is bypassing the station because it's only running as far south as Avenue X. Only the Manhattan-bound track is being used to turn around trains there.

R46 #6092 begins to bypass the Avenue U station.

The single staircase down from the Manhattan-bound platform to the Avenue U exit of the station.

The northern end of the Avenue U Station platforms, there completely exposed to the elements with just a low fence.

R46 #5610 stops on the center track at Avenue U. It's waiting for its track to clear at Avenue X so it can go into the terminal station because of construction and turn around.

About to set down the staircase to the Avenue U exit.

Approaching the green doors into the Avenue U station house, from the Manhattan-bound platform.

Inside the station house at Avenue U. The Coney Island-bound platform has been taped off because it has been closed because of construction.

The token booth faces its turnstiles in the Avenue U station house.

Looking up at the Avenue U station house nestled beneath the tracks.

A Avenue U-F Station Entrance staircase. The sign is still in the old format.

Another view back at the small Avenue U Station house nestled beneath the tracks.

Looking down McDonald Avenue beneath the Avenue U Station, with it visible up in the air.

Approaching the Greavesend Neck Road secondary exit of Avenue U, the High Exit Turnstile from the Coney Island-bound platform is visible.

Looking up to the High Exit Turnstile that provides the only exit from the Coney Island-bound platform at Gravesneck Road end of Avenue U.

The bottom of the No Entry Staircase from the Coney Island-bound platform at Avenue U.

A no smoking sign painted onto the steps at one of the Avenue U entrance staircases.

The Avenue U Station entrance at the Gravesneck Road end of the station, with the sign saying its enter with or buy a MetroCard only.

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