Grant Layup is the unofficial name that graffiti writers placed on the provisional track space located between the Euclid and Grant avenue stations on the A line.
Kids have been exploring and painting subways here since the early 1970s. To quote Jack-1: “When I went to the Grant Avenue lay-up I took the A train heading towards Rockaway Beach. I would take the last car get off jump the tracks walk into the tunnel and find the stairs going straight to hell. “
Obviously, the layup tracks are a bit closer to Grant than Euclid (thus why it’s known as Grant layup). Moving West to East, there are ramps and provisions that serve two functions: one is to funnel trains into the nearby Pitkin Yard. The other is a provisional space where trains are often stored underground during non-peek hours. These tunnel tracks can also serve as a space where C trains (that end at Euclid) are pulled into the tunnel, with the train operator walking to the other end of the train and reversing out to the Manhattan bound track (though this can also happen on the yard lead tracks…).
Parked A train
Tracks
The wall at the end of the line
The provision, and the mysteries that surround it, are better documented in this post. For now, let’s focus on the trains.
The tunnel itself has 4 tracks. There are ladders connecting to tunnels leading in and out of Pitkin, as well as a very large emergency exit. This exit contained some historic graffiti right up until it was painted gray by the MTA around 2008.
The Exit in 2005
Overall, this is one of NYC’s more interesting layup tunnels. The labyrinth like feel of the exit and various ladders leading to other tunnels makes for an invigorating space to explore.
Just be sure to do the math about the risks inherit in entering such spaces…
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