The 148th Street-Lenox Terminal station stands as the uptown terminus for the 3 train on the New York City Subway system. Situated at street level, nestled at the base of a slope, the station possesses a distinctive trench-like ambiance. As you arrive at this station, you are immediately aware of its unique position adjacent to the 3 train’s Lenox Yard, which is openly visible through a fenced perimeter topped with barbed wire on the platform’s northern edge. The entire station and yard are enclosed within what resembles a vast concrete structure, characterized by high ceilings and suspended lighting fixtures, a design necessitated by buildings constructed above on massive platforms. Immediately after departing the terminal, the 3 train navigates a curve onto what evolves into the northern segment of Malcom X Blvd (Lenox Avenue), offering a fleeting glimpse of the Harlem River before descending underground.
The station’s sole exit is positioned at the end of the tracks, where both revenue service and yard tracks meet. A brief staircase ascends to a compact head house situated at street level on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (7th Avenue), directly across from the T-intersection with 149th Street. It’s noteworthy that despite its proximity to 149th Street, the station is designated 148th Street-Lenox Terminal to prevent confusion with the 149th Street-Grand Concourse station in the Bronx, a primary stop for the 2 train. Inside the head house, you’ll find three turnstiles, a token booth, and windows that can be opened for ventilation, complete with doors facing both the street and station interiors.
Distinct from the majority of the Lenox Line, including the 145th Street station, 148th Street-Lenox Terminal is a more recent addition, inaugurated on May 13, 1968. The segment of the Lenox Avenue line from 145th Street to 96th Street, in contrast, commenced operations much earlier on November 23, 1904. Historically, the Lenox Avenue yard surrounding the station served as the IRT’s original train yard and primary maintenance facility, encompassing a significantly larger area than it does today. In the 1960s, coinciding with the construction of the current subway station on existing yard tracks, portions of the train yard were repurposed for the Esplanade Gardens Apartment Complex and a school, with the school’s parking deck now situated above the remaining train yard tracks.
Originally conceived as a replacement for the 145th Street station, the 148th Street-Lenox Terminal’s platform was intentionally designed to accommodate only six cars—and currently, only the front five cars facilitate passenger boarding. Despite plans for replacement, vehement protests from residents of an apartment building near the 145th Street station arose. These residents opposed the perceived inconvenience of walking approximately three blocks and a cross-town block—just over a quarter of a mile—to the new Lenox Terminal station. Another unusual element is the presence of 3 train service information signs, suspended from cables from the station’s exceptionally high ceiling, positioned at the typical train-level height.
Late Night Service Considerations: Since its inception, the 3 train has consistently operated between 148th Street-Lenox Avenue and Brooklyn, serving either New Lots Avenue or Flatbush Avenue (permanently to New Lots Avenue starting in 1983). The 4 train has always functioned as a local service, extending its reach to the 3 train’s terminal during late night hours when the 3 train is not running. This operational setup designates 148th Street and 145th Street as the only two stations exclusively served by the 3 train, without service adjustments involving other lines for late-night operations.
From the station’s opening in 1968 until 1995, a Shuttle train provided connectivity from this location to 135th Street, facilitating transfers to the 2 train. However, in 1990, the shuttle train service was discontinued, leading to the overnight closure of both this station and 145th Street. During these closures, passengers were directed to utilize the M7, M102, or free Shuttle Buses to 135th Street to connect with the 2 train. The Shuttle train was briefly reinstated from September 4, 1994, to September 10, 1995, before being discontinued again as a cost-saving measure. Twenty-four-hour subway service to the station was eventually restored on July 27, 2008, with a newly introduced late-night 3 service operating from this terminal to Times Square-42nd Street via the express tracks.
