Beach 67th Street, sometimes referred as Beach 67th Street – Gaston Avenue, is a station on the IND Rockaway Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the A train at all times. The full time side of the station at the south end has four staircases, two to the street and one to each platform. The mezzanine layout gives evidence that there were originally separate turnstiles for entry and exit. The entry turnstiles are all on one side of the booth, while the exit turnstiles were on the opposite side. Since the elimination of a double fare control, steel gates have replaced the turnstiles. A sealed exit is at the north end of the Far Rockaway-bound platform and has a non-functional high wheel turnstile designed to collect single fares upon exiting. The extreme long length of this and other station platforms along the entire line is a legacy of its former use by the Long Island Rail Road, before it transferred ownership to New York City Transit Authority in the 1950s. [1][2]South platform looking eastLeaving the station northbound, trains reach the Hammels Wye, where it is possible to head north to Broad Channel (the usual service pattern) or to traverse a short single-track segment onto the southbound Rockaway Park-bound branch of the line. This connection is not currently used in revenue service.
The station was originally built as Arverne (LIRR station) in 1888 at Gaston Avenue. It had a large tower, was shaped like a Victorian hotel and had a connection to the Ocean Electric Railway. Due to a quarrel between the LIRR and a developer, another Arverne Station was built at Stration Avenue in 1892. From then on, it was known as Arverne – Gaston Avenue (LIRR station) to distinguish it from the Straiton Avenue station. Arverne station was rebuilt on a new site with a simpler structure in May 1912. Like all stations along the Rockaway Beach Branch, it was closed and replaced with the elevated Gaston Avenue (LIRR station) on April 10, 1942, only to be transferred to the New York City Transit Authority on October 3, 1955 and reopened as a subway station on June 28, 1956.[3] [3][4]Street stairThis historical station is located in a crime ridden area, and some riders have been subjected to muggings, beatings, and other violent crimes upon exiting the 67th Street Station during late night and early morning hours. The local police precinct, so far, have been unable to station officers here during the evening hours. The fight against crime at this station is part of an ongoing economic rebirth that is attempting to take hold in the local community of Arverne and Far Rockaway.[citation needed]