You’re standing on the platform. The screech of an A train echoes through the cavernous space. But if you look across the tracks, you see something eerie. A whole other platform, dimly lit, covered in dust, and completely empty. No commuters. No trash cans. Just a ghost station hiding in plain sight.
This is Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts. If you live in Brooklyn, you've probably transferred here a thousand times between the A, C, and G lines. It’s a massive transit hub, yet half of it is essentially a time capsule from 1936.
Honestly, it’s one of the strangest spots in the entire New York City subway system. Most stations are either fully alive or completely shuttered (like the famous City Hall loop). Hoyt-Schermerhorn is a hybrid. It’s a "living" station that shares a wall with a "dead" one.
The Secret Platforms of Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts
Why on earth does a station need six tracks and four platforms? Basically, it was built during the "Golden Age" of the Independent Subway System (IND). The planners had massive egos and even bigger dreams. They envisioned Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts as the ultimate gateway to Brooklyn.
In the original 1930s layout, the station was meant to handle a complex dance of local and express trains. The two outermost platforms—the ones that look like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie—were built for the HH shuttle. This shuttle ran to the Court Street station, which is just a few blocks away.
Here’s the thing: nobody used it.
The Court Street station was so close to other stops that the shuttle was a total flop. It shut down in 1946. Since then, those outer platforms at Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts have been sitting there, gathering grime and legend.
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If you ever visit the New York Transit Museum, you’re actually standing in that "failed" Court Street station. The tracks still connect to Hoyt-Schermerhorn. Sometimes, when the museum moves vintage train cars in or out, they roll right through those "abandoned" tracks while you’re waiting for your morning commute. It’s pretty wild to see a 1920s R1 car suddenly materialize next to a modern G train.
Where Michael Jackson Found His "Bad"
If the tiles and the lighting look familiar, there’s a reason. This station is Hollywood’s favorite "fake" subway. Because the MTA can shut down the abandoned platforms without disrupting actual service, it’s the go-to filming location for basically every gritty NYC subway scene.
The biggest claim to fame? Michael Jackson’s "Bad" music video.
In 1986, Martin Scorsese (yeah, that Scorsese) spent six weeks underground here. He transformed the mezzanine and the platforms into the setting for MJ’s iconic dance-off with Wesley Snipes.
You can still see the blue and yellow tiles from the video today. After Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, there was actually a huge push by fans and local politicians to rename the station after him. The MTA shot it down, though. They argued that changing the name would confuse riders.
But talk to any local, and they’ll tell you: this is the Michael Jackson station.
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Beyond MJ, Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts has been a backdrop for:
- The Warriors (1979) – It stood in for the 96th Street and Union Square stops.
- The Taking of Pelham 123 – Both the original and the remake used these tracks.
- Coming to America – Eddie Murphy’s Prince Akeem wandered these halls.
- The Wiz – Another MJ connection, though he was playing the Scarecrow then.
The Weird "L" Tiles and a Lost Empire
Ever noticed those ceramic tiles with a giant "L" on the mezzanine level? It’s not for the L train. That would be too logical for New York.
The "L" stands for Loeser’s.
Frederick Loeser & Co. was once the Macy’s of Brooklyn. It was a gargantuan department store that took up an entire city block at Fulton and Livingston. Back in 1938, the store actually paid to have a direct entrance built from the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts mezzanine straight into their basement.
The store went belly-up in 1952, but the tiles stayed. It’s a tiny, colorful reminder of a time when Downtown Brooklyn was the glitziest shopping district in the world. Nowadays, you’ll mostly find a NYPD transit precinct and some commuter foot traffic where shoppers once scurried to buy silk hats.
Why It Still Matters Today
Despite the ghost platforms and the Hollywood history, Hoyt-Schermerhorn remains a vital (and sometimes frustrating) part of the daily grind.
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If you’re a G train rider, you know the "Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sprint." It’s that desperate dash from the G platform to the A/C tracks when you see the blue lights of a Manhattan-bound express train pulling in. Because of the station's massive width—about 143 feet across—that sprint is basically a workout.
There’s also a lot of talk lately about the station’s future. In 2021, the MTA started building walls to block off the view of the abandoned platforms. Some say it's for safety; others think it’s to stop urban explorers from hopping the tracks to take photos. It’s a bit of a bummer for the atmosphere, but the "station within a station" vibe is still there if you know where to look.
How to see the "Hidden" Hoyt-Schermerhorn
- Look Across: When you’re on the Manhattan-bound A/C platform, look through the columns to the far right. You’ll see the darkened, dusty platforms of the old shuttle line.
- Find the L: Wander the mezzanine (upper level) and look for the blue and yellow "L" mosaics. They’re near the exits toward Bond Street.
- The Transit Museum Connection: If you want to see where those "ghost" tracks lead, take a 10-minute walk to the New York Transit Museum. It's the only way to legally stand on the other end of the line.
- Spot the NYPD: This station houses Transit District 30. It’s one of the most heavily policed stations in the borough, so keep that in mind before you try anything "adventurous" with your camera.
Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts isn't just a place to switch trains. It's a layers-of-the-earth situation where 1930s ambition, 1950s commerce, and 1980s pop culture all smashed into each other. Next time your G train is delayed for "train traffic ahead," take a second to look at the tiles. You're standing in a museum that's still moving.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning a visit or just curious about the history of the NYC subway, your best move is to head over to the New York Transit Museum located at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street. Since it's housed in the actual Court Street station that was once served by the Hoyt-Schermerhorn shuttle, you can walk the platforms that were "abandoned" in 1946. It’s the only way to get a clear, lit-up view of the architecture that mirrors what you see through the shadows at the active station.
Alternatively, if you're a film buff, watch the full 18-minute version of Michael Jackson's "Bad" directed by Martin Scorsese. Almost the entire video was shot on the mezzanine and platforms you walk through every day, and it gives a crystal-clear look at what the station looked like before decades of grime and "MTA beige" paint took over.