After 10 days in stasis, Harlem’s 110th Street-Central Park North Station was finally returned to service this week. Back in March, it was partially gutted by a roaring blaze:
The flames consumed the platform, communication cables, the tunnel, and a couple of parked 2 Train cars. According to the Daily News, the MTA needed to replace 360 sq ft of tunnel wall; 3,000 ft of fiber optic cables; 1,200 ft of antenna cables; and most of the platform tiles. When finished, crews power-washed the station to temper the stench of smoke.
But what couldn’t be recouped was life. Garret Goble, the motorman who guided the burnt train into the station, perished:
https://www.notesonnewyork.net/2020/03/28/a-day-in-the-life-of-new-york-11/
Speaking about him at a press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio said:
[Goble] worked to get everyone else to safety first and then got off the train and passed away immediately after. [He] leaves behind two young sons in his family. So sad. And someone who, again, was right there at the moment, his last moments of his life, protecting others, serving others, saving others.
The NYPD declared his death a homicide, and have been hunting for the arsonist who sparked the fire:
So far the cops have questioned a “person of interest;” but, sadly, no arrests have been made. In the meantime, one of the city’s graffiti writers elected to honor Mr. Goble in the most New York way imaginable:
As this 4 Train left Norwood’s Woodlawn Station in the Bronx early last Thursday, it unveiled a 3 x 18 ft banner asserting “Rest In Peace.” Unfortunately, a few stops later, the car was discovered. It was sent off to the shop to be scrubbed, but not before an equally anonymous photog could snap and distribute this shot. Now anyone who sees it will immediately learn: Mr. Goble lives on. His story is legend.
Credits:
(1) Photo by Marc A. Hermann. 110 Street-Central Park North Subway Station. Courtesy of the MTA’s Flickr. March 27, 2020.
(2) Poster courtesy of Rodney Harrison’s Twitter. Mr. Harrison is the NYPD’s Chief of Detectives. March 27, 2020.
(3) Photo by Unknown. 4 Train leaving the Woodlawn Subway Station. Courtesy of ny1.com. April 3, 2020.