rlrl Posted June 7, 2011 Share #1 Posted June 7, 2011 subway stations. my first ride on the subway independent of mom & dad came at 15 in 1977 with a friend. we took the AA train from WTC and decided to get out at 50th and 8th Ave. once out on the street i noticed how run down the area was (Worldwide Plz was not built yet). 2 years later a woman (I will not mention her name) was pushed onto the tracks at 50th/8th in June of 1979 by a criminal. she suffered a terrible injury from an E train that hit her but she survived. she was a music student. it was in the papers but has since been long forgotten. i don't think anybody in their 20's has heard about it 2 years later in 1981 i was with some friends in the 50th street and 8th Ave station waiting for a train when a crazy vagrant comes up to us and starts yelling profanities. i thought we were going to be pushed onto the tracks as had happened 2 years prior so what i want to know is was the 50th street and 8th avenue station always a dangerous station? i know the immediate area along 8th avenue south of the station was seedy and often had unsavory characters hanging around, but was the station bad as well? and was there always a 49th street exit prior to Worldwide Plz as there is now? my second question. in the late 70's (78-80) i used to commute into the Port Authority to visit a friend who lived on W 12th street and 6th Ave. Often coming in when it got dark, i would walk east on W 40th street , avoiding the 42 st/8 Av and Times Sq stations and instead take the train from 42 street and 6th Avenue(current the "Bryant Park" station), believing that since it was east of Times Sq, it was safer than the A, E, 1,2,3 stations at 7th and 8th Ave's. however, once inside the 42 st/6th Ave station even that one seemed creepy with lots of characters around(tho i do recall the entrances and platform being pretty clean) in fact when i told my dad i used that station he said "OH GOD". was the 42 street/6th avenue station any safer than the 2 stations to the west? i remember back in 1980 it seemed that the corner of 42 street and 6th Ave seemed almost as sleazy as 42nd and 7th of course, now i regularly use the 42 st and 8th Ave/Times Sq stations without a care in the world another question. were those generic clothes stores and jeans stores/barbershops are in the passageway under 8th Avenue that goes to 44th street, was that where the infamous penny arcades were back in the day? i also recall a gang rampage underneath 42 street and 8th Avenue in the fall of 1979 where a gang started robbing and assaulting passersby. i remember the channel 5 news guy ending with "the simple truth of the matter is that 42 street and 8th Avenue is a frightening place day or night" if anyone can provide a link to this event, please do thanks and it's great to be a new member!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadcruiser1 Posted June 7, 2011 Share #2 Posted June 7, 2011 Oh you haven't been to NYC since the 70's and 80's? It's actually much better now. The area is generally safe, and the subway is better now then from that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlrl Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted June 7, 2011 I live in Riverdale since 1991 The Bronx and use the trains all the time. I'm just inquiring about 2 TImes Sq area stations as to how they were before 1990. i know everything is good now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadcruiser1 Posted June 7, 2011 Share #4 Posted June 7, 2011 Oh then you just need to see this video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceya Posted June 8, 2011 Share #5 Posted June 8, 2011 The arcade, barbershop, pornshop, and shoe shine spot is gone. The new building got rid of it. Only a door shows the spot where the old "Iron Maiden" turnstile once stood that led you there and upstairs. They put Transit Police ( Now NYPD) there in the early 90 (about 93). All of those stations are changed. S/F, CEYA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlrl Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted June 8, 2011 7th Ave and 53rd street station on the D E and F lines where Brian Watkins was murdered in the late night/early AM hours by a gang that wanted $$$ to go to Roseland? I was totally shocked that such a conservative, touristy area like 7th Ave and 53rd street would have any problem down in the subway at any hour, even middle of the night. that was in 1990. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbirdbassist Posted June 9, 2011 Share #7 Posted June 9, 2011 The arcade, barbershop, pornshop, and shoe shine spot is gone. The new building got rid of it. Only a door shows the spot where the old "Iron Maiden" turnstile once stood that led you there and upstairs. They put Transit Police ( Now NYPD) there in the early 90 (about 93). All of those stations are changed. S/F, CEYA! Ceya! It's Basserius from the fixed gear forums, didn't know you were on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceya Posted June 10, 2011 Share #8 Posted June 10, 2011 Ceya! It's Basserius from the fixed gear forums, didn't know you were on here. Oh no! i've been caught! lol S/F, CEYA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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