Smith Street Substation
I finally decided to take a long look up at this building, the Smith Street Substation, located on the corner of smith and 2nd place. It’s got more going for it than just the big brick square it appears to be from a distance. The york street (f train) stop has some similar art-deco cement work above the entrance to the subway. Nice.
February 2nd, 2006 at 8:14 pm
What is a substation?
February 2nd, 2006 at 9:01 pm
The substation used to provide all the power for the subways.
The Transit Museum has a nice interactive piece with lots of images:
http://www.transitmuseumeducation.org/substations/projector.html
There’s also a book available on the subject:
http://www.urban-resources.net/pages/ny_substations.html
February 2nd, 2006 at 11:19 pm
P.S. to anyone who enjoys this sort of thing: the Transit Museum RULES.
February 3rd, 2006 at 7:14 pm
I have long dreamed of stealthily cutting out that metal grillwork in the middle of the night and putting it in front of my radiator.
February 9th, 2006 at 2:43 am
the 4th ave F stop has some similar touches - unfortunately its mostly hidden by paint, graphitti and a 2 huge billboards.