New York, Westchester and Boston Railway edit

The station opened on May 29, 1912 as a local station of the New York, Westchester and Boston Railway (NYW&B), a subsidiary of the New York, New Haven and Hartford.^[4] The line was designed for the weight of the heaviest mainline steam trains. The NYW&B offered frequent service between 138th Street in the South Bronx and White Plains and Port Chester in Westchester County. The White Plains and Port Chester branches diverged at Mount Vernon Junction near Columbus Avenue along the boundary between Mount Vernon and Pelham.

The two outer tracks at Morris Park were for trains that made local stops in the Bronx, and went to Port Chester. The two inner tracks were for express trains that made limited stops in the Bronx, and went to White Plains. The trains were powered by 11,000 Volt 25 Hz alternating current supplied from an overhead catenary. The cut-off stumps of the catenary bridges remain along the right of way and can be seen from the south ends of the platforms.

Service ended on December 12, 1937, following the bankruptcy of the NYW&B.^[5][6]

New York City Transit edit

The New York City Board of Transportation (BOT) bought the NYW&B within the Bronx north of East 180th Street in April 1940 for $1.8 million and rehabilitated the line.^{[7]: 59–60} On May 15, 1941, a shuttle service was implemented between Dyre Avenue and East 180th Street using IRT gate cars.^[8][9] The Dyre Avenue Line was connected directly to the White Plains Road Line north of East 180th Street for $3 million with a flying junction and through service began on May 6, 1957.^[10][11]

Between 1954 and 1961, ridership on the line increased by 100 percent, owing to the development of the northeast Bronx. On February 27, 1962, the New York City Transit Authority announced a $700,000 modernization plan of the Dyre Avenue Line. The plan included the reconstruction of the Dyre Avenue station, and the extension of the platforms of the other four stations on the line, including Morris Park, to 525 feet (160 m) to accommodate ten-car trains. At the time, the line was served by 9-car trains during the day, and 3-car shuttles overnight. ^[12][13]

The platforms at Morris Park were extended towards the south, requiring a reduction in the height of the outboard plate girders of the bridge over Colden Avenue so that the bottoms of the platforms would be above the tops of the girders. The massive overdesign of the bridge allowed ample margin for trimming the girders.

On November 24, 1979, an R22 car, #7602, was involved in a rear-ending accident here.

The Bronx-bound platform was closed for renovation from February 17, 1992 to August 31, 1992, earlier than its expected reopening in late fall 1992.^[14] As part of the project, the station received new benches, fluorescent lighting, an upgraded electrical system and stairway from the station building to Paulding Avenue. The station renovation was to be fully completed in November with repairs to the station building, including a new ceiling, a new clay-tile roof, and new windows and doors.^[15]

From the 1990s until the early 2000s the platform walls had a red and blue skyline design, before being painted beige. In the late 1990s, the original concrete exterior walls alongside the station platforms and the original roof that was supported on concrete columns and massive cantilevered timbers were replaced with steel bents supporting a clad metal wall system and a corrugated metal roof deck.

The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 6, 2005.

The station has two side platforms with four tracks (two center express tracks formerly used by the New York, Westchester and Boston Railway) and is partially underground and partially on an embankment. The underground portion is at the south end of a 4,000-foot (1,200 m) long, four-track tunnel under the Bronx and Pelham Parkway. This tunnel includes a four-track underground station, the Pelham Parkway station, about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of the Morris Park station. The heavy construction and high clearances greatly exceed the size and weight requirements of IRT subway cars. The station, served by the 5 train at all times,^[16] is between East 180th Street to the south and Pelham Parkway to the north.^[17]

The emblem of the NYW&B, was the caduceus, a staff entwined with serpents that has served as a symbol of commerce since Classical times. It is cast into several locations of the concrete facade facing the Esplanade.

Exit edit

The station's only entrance/exit is a head house at the southwest corner of Esplanade and Paulding Avenue.^[18] The head house is notable for its graceful Spanish Mission style architecture and robust reinforced concrete construction. The handsome exterior, with its tall arched windows and tiled roof, has been restored to good condition. It was designed by Alfred T. Fellheimer, who was the lead architect for Grand Central Terminal.^[19]

There was formerly an exit under the tracks with a waiting room that led to the north side of Colden Avenue near Lydig Avenue. It is now bricked over.^[20]: 15

• nycsubway.org – IRT White Plains Road Line: Morris Park
• Station Reporter — 5 Train
• The Subway Nut — Morris Park Pictures Archived July 6, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
• Stairway on Paulding Avenue leading to the entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Station house from Google Maps Street View
• Platforms from Google Maps Street View