:Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue station

Until 1950 the Far Rockaway Branch of the Long Island Rail Road was part of a loop that traveled along the existing route. The line diverges from the present-day Atlantic and Long Beach Branches east of Valley Stream station in Valley Stream, New York. Eastbound trains continued south then southwest, through Five Towns and the Rockaway Peninsula, and onto a trestle across Jamaica Bay through Queens where it reconnected with the Rockaway Beach Branch; westbound trains did the reverse, using the Rockaway Beach Branch to cross the trestle, go through the Rockaways and Five Towns, and continue northeast then north to join the westbound Atlantic Branch.

Far Rockaway station itself was originally built by the Far Rockaway Branch Railroad, a subsidiary of the South Side Railroad of Long Island. Construction on the line began in September 1868, and the station was opened on July 29, 1869.{{cite news|last1=Lucev|first1=Emil|title=Historical Views of the Rockaways: The old Far Rockaway Station Plaza, Mott and Central Avenues, 1922|url=http://www.rockawave.com/news/2010-06-18/Columnists/Historical_Views__of_the_Rockaways.html|work=The Wave|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=June 18, 2010|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701100052/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2010-06-18/Columnists/Historical_Views__of_the_Rockaways.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=A Fire Watch Transportation|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201972-1975%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201972-1975%2520-%25200863.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fe8d06ce54f1405287035a780c7b92ec8#page=1|access-date=August 17, 2016|work=Wave of Long Island|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=December 13, 1973|page=6|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042013/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201972-1975%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201972-1975%2520-%25200863.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fe8d06ce54f1405287035a780c7b92ec8#page=1|url-status=live}} The station was later converted into a freight house, when a second station was moved from Ocean Point Station (a.k.a. Cedarhurst Station), remodeled, and opened on October 1, 1881. The third depot opened on July 15, 1890, while the second depot was sold and moved to a private location in October 1890. The surface station featured a large plaza and depot, serving horse-drawn carriages, taxis, and surface trolleys.{{cite news|last1=Lucev|first1=Emil|title=Historical Views of the Rockaways: The LIRR Depot and Plaza Far Rockaway, New York ... 1912|url=http://www.rockawave.com/news/2010-10-08/Columnists/Historical_Views__of_the_Rockaways.html|work=The Wave|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=October 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701090338/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2010-10-08/Columnists/Historical_Views__of_the_Rockaways.html|archive-date=July 1, 2015|url-status=dead}} The Ocean Electric Railway terminated at the station between 1897 and September 2, 1926, and the station served as the headquarters for the Ocean Electric Railway.{{cite book | last=Meyers | first=S.L. | title=Lost Trolleys of Queens and Long Island | publisher=Arcadia Publishing | series=Images of Rail | year=2006 | isbn=978-1-4396-3386-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a_nD6GCh9c4C&pg=PT140 | access-date=July 16, 2016 | pages=139–140 | archive-date=February 3, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203073419/https://books.google.com/books?id=a_nD6GCh9c4C&pg=PT140 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | title=OCEAN ELECTRIC RAILROAD | website=LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD HISTORY, Online Museum of Long Island Rail Road and Photo Gallery | url=http://arrts-arrchives.com/oceanelectricry.html | language=en | access-date=July 16, 2016 | archive-date=October 16, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016062836/http://www.arrts-arrchives.com/oceanelectricry.html | url-status=live }}

The station also served as the terminus of a Long Island Electric Railway trolley line leading to Jamaica, via New York Avenue (now Guy R. Brewer Boulevard). Following the end of trolley service in November 1933, the depot served buses from Green Bus Lines and Jamaica Buses; the former Jamaica trolley route became Jamaica Buses' Route B (now the {{NYC bus link|Q113}} and {{NYC bus link|Q114}} buses).{{cite news|title=Jamaica Buses To Inaugurate New Service: Ceremony Will Be Held Tomorrow in Opening Routes to Southeast|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/59977114/?terms=%22Jamaica%2BBuses%22|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=October 13, 2015|date=November 10, 1933|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002092227/https://www.newspapers.com/image/59977114/?terms=%22Jamaica%2BBuses%22|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Soto|first1=Juan|title=New Q114 bus line ready for first riders|url=http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2014/35/q114_tl2014_08_29_q.html|work=Times Ledger|access-date=October 12, 2015|date=August 29, 2014|archive-date=September 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926222309/http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2014/35/q114_tl2014_08_29_q.html|url-status=live}} Around noon on April 10, 1942, the surface station was closed, and a new elevated station on the current concrete trestle was opened as part of the Long Island Rail Road's grade crossing elimination project.{{cite web|title=Last Grade Crossing In Rockaways Ends|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/04/11/85529653.pdf|website=The New York Times|access-date=June 30, 2015|date=April 11, 1942|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042014/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/04/11/85529653.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Pushes Grade Separation|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/01/24/105771821.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 30, 2015|date=January 24, 1932|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042014/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/01/24/105771821.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}} This station had two low-level side platforms.{{cite journal|last1=Linder|first1=Bernard|title=Rockaway Line|journal=New York Division Bulletin|date=February 2006|volume=49|issue=2|pages=3–4|url=https://issuu.com/erausa/docs/2006-02-bulletin/3|access-date=August 27, 2016|publisher=Electric Railroader's Association|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002714/https://issuu.com/erausa/docs/2006-02-bulletin/3|url-status=live}}

File:Far Rockaway IND Street jeh.JPG

There were frequent fires and maintenance problems on the Jamaica Bay viaduct. The most notorious of these problems was a fire in May 1950 between The Raunt and Broad Channel Stations. After this fire, the LIRR abandoned the Jamaica Bay viaduct and the Queens portion of the Rockaway Beach/Far Rockaway route. On June 11, 1952, the city acquired all trackage west of Mott Avenue, incorporating it as part of the IND Rockaway Line.{{Cite journal|date=June 2006|title=Fifty Years of Subway Service to the Rockaways|url=https://issuu.com/erausa/docs/2006-06-bulletin|journal=New York Division Bulletin|publisher=New York Division, Electric Railroaders' Association|volume=49|issue=6|access-date=August 31, 2016|via=Issu|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022061408/https://issuu.com/erausa/docs/2006-06-bulletin|url-status=live}} Service provided by the A train over the line began in June 1956, with the full western spur to Rockaway Park operational. While the remainder of the line operated, with Beach 25th Street–Wavecrest serving as the eastern spur terminal,{{cite news|last1=Freeman|first1=Ira Henry|title=Rockaway Trains to Operate Today|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/06/28/84703811.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=June 28, 1956|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/06/28/84703811.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}} a new Far Rockaway subway station was constructed, opening on January 16, 1958.{{cite news|title=New Subway Unit Ready: Far Rockaway IND Terminal Will Be Opened Today|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1958/01/16/83388071.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=January 16, 1958|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1958/01/16/83388071.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=New Station Set At Howard Beach|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/11/11/84436091.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=November 11, 1954|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/11/11/84436091.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Far Rockaway Subway Station: Transit Authority Advances On Rockaway Frontier|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2520-%25200521.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fd0933267899032f07bd2030a69bac481#page=1|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=Wave of Long Island|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=October 24, 1957|page=1|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2520-%25200521.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fd0933267899032f07bd2030a69bac481#page=1|url-status=live}}

The Far Rockaway LIRR station was moved to a grade-level station at Nameoke Street on February 21, 1958—two blocks from the original station and three blocks from the subway station—becoming the terminus of the Far Rockaway branch.{{cite news|title=Shop Center Due in Far Rockaway: Market and Big Parking Lot to Replace L.I. Station Being Moved 2 Blocks|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/07/06/305787872.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=July 6, 1956|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/07/06/305787872.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}} The original site of the LIRR's elevated station and the bus depot, located on the northeast side of Mott Avenue, were replaced with a shopping center and parking lot,{{cite news|title=Far Rockaway To Have $3 Million Shopping Center|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2520-%25200376.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F883c20e07b0608364b7cf8f788ab2885#page=1|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=Wave of Long Island|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 1, 1957|page=1|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042016/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2520-%25200376.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F883c20e07b0608364b7cf8f788ab2885#page=1|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=L.I.R.R. to Shift Station|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/04/05/90790306.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=April 5, 1957|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042016/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/04/05/90790306.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}} which began construction in 1960.{{cite news|title=Shopping Center Construction To Get Under Way In September|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201960%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201960%2520-%25200186.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F5ec243eff33b02b018e9f65525c50bbe#page=1|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=Wave of Long Island|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=May 12, 1960|page=1|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042016/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201960%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201960%2520-%25200186.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F5ec243eff33b02b018e9f65525c50bbe#page=1|url-status=live}} The Far Rockaway Shopping Center, as it was called, started undergoing redevelopment in 2017 as part of the Far Rockaway rezoning; it was proposed to replace the shopping center with affordable housing.{{cite news | title=Housing planned for blighted Queens shopping center | work=am New York | date=March 6, 2018 | url=https://www.amny.com/real-estate/far-rockaway-village-1.17162463 | access-date=November 12, 2018 | archive-date=November 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112101335/https://www.amny.com/real-estate/far-rockaway-village-1.17162463 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | title=New Life for Old Far Rockaway Shopping Center | work=Rockaway Times | date=October 25, 2018 | url=http://rockawaytimes.com/index.php/columns/3536-new-life-for-old-far-rockaway-shopping-center | access-date=November 12, 2018 | archive-date=November 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112101430/http://rockawaytimes.com/index.php/columns/3536-new-life-for-old-far-rockaway-shopping-center | url-status=live }}

In 1981, the MTA listed the Mott Avenue station among the 69 most deteriorated stations in the subway system, despite the fact that the station had become part of the subway system just two decades earlier.{{cite news|last1=Gargan|first1=Edward A.|title=Agency Lists Its 69 Most Deteriorated Subway Stations|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/11/nyregion/agency-lists-its-69-most-deteriorated-subway-stations.html|access-date=August 13, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=June 11, 1981|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204421/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/11/nyregion/agency-lists-its-69-most-deteriorated-subway-stations.html|url-status=live}} From 2009 to 2012, this and eight other stations were renovated for $117 million. At Far Rockaway, the 1950s design of the station house was replaced with metallic facades and a dome enclosure, and upgrading several features including staircases and employee areas. Elevators from the station house to the platforms were added, as were yellow tactile warning strips on the platform edges, making the station ADA-accessible. A glass artwork titled Respite was installed as part of the MTA's Arts for Transit program. The renovated station was unveiled on May 11, 2012.{{cite web|title=Far Rockaway-Mott Av. Station Rehabilitation Now Complete: Rockaway A Line Station Now ADA Compliant|url=http://www.mta.info/press-release/nyc-transit/far-rockaway-mott-av-station-rehabilitation-now-complete|website=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=May 11, 2012|archive-date=December 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226155830/http://www.mta.info/press-release/nyc-transit/far-rockaway-mott-av-station-rehabilitation-now-complete|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Rosenberg|first1=Miriam|title=Ribbon Cut On A Train Station|url=http://www.rockawave.com/news/2012-05-18/Community/Ribbon_Cut_On_A_Train_Station.html|work=The Wave|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=May 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701071157/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2012-05-18/Community/Ribbon_Cut_On_A_Train_Station.html|archive-date=July 1, 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Mott Avenue Subway Renovations Taking Shape|url=http://www.rockawave.com/news/2011-05-06/Community/Mott_Avenue_Subway_Renovations_Taking_Shape.html|work=The Wave|access-date=June 29, 2015|date=May 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701061344/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2011-05-06/Community/Mott_Avenue_Subway_Renovations_Taking_Shape.html|archive-date=July 1, 2015|url-status=dead}}

Far Rockaway is the oldest currently operating New York City Subway station, having originally opened {{age|1869|07|29}} years ago, on July 29, 1869, as a Long Island Rail Road station. By contrast, the Gates Avenue station on the BMT Jamaica Line in Brooklyn is the oldest station to have been built specifically for rapid transit use, having opened in 1885 ({{age|1885|05|13}} years ago). The Gates Avenue station is also the oldest continuously operating station in the subway system.{{cite web|last1=Dembart|first1=Lee|title=A Sentimental Journey on the BMT...|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/09/09/75756028.pdf|website=The New York Times|access-date=July 2, 2015|date=September 9, 1977|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042017/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/09/09/75756028.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}} The Far Rockaway station was converted from LIRR to subway loading gauges in 1958 and has only operated for {{age|1958|01|16}} years in this capacity. Therefore, by that interpretation, Far Rockaway is actually the fifteenth newest station in the subway system (behind Grand Street;{{cite news|last1=Perlmutter|first1=Emanuel|title=Subway Changes to Speed Service: Major Alterations in Maps, Routes and Signs Will Take Effect Nov. 26|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1967/11/16/90418352.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 7, 2015|date=November 16, 1967|archive-date=October 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030145628/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1967/11/16/90418352.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}} Harlem–148th Street;{{cite news| title=IRT Passengers Get New 148th St. Station| work=The New York Times| date=May 14, 1968| page=95| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/05/14/archives/irt-passengers-get-new-148th-st-station.html| access-date=October 4, 2011| archive-date=December 21, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221185250/https://www.nytimes.com/1968/05/14/archives/irt-passengers-get-new-148th-st-station.html| url-status=live}} 57th Street;{{Cite Routes Not Taken}} the three Archer Avenue Line stations;{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Kirk|title=Big Changes For Subways Are to Begin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/09/nyregion/big-changes-for-subways-are-to-begin.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 14, 2015|date=December 9, 1988|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308122331/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/09/nyregion/big-changes-for-subways-are-to-begin.html|url-status=live}} the three IND 63rd Street Line stations;{{Cite news |first=Randy |last=Kennedy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/25/nyregion/panel-approves-new-v-train-but-shortens-g-line-to-make-room.html |title=Panel Approves New V Train but Shortens G Line to Make Room |work=The New York Times |date=May 25, 2001 |access-date=March 20, 2010 |archive-date=November 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126012438/http://nytimes.com/2001/05/25/nyregion/panel-approves-new-v-train-but-shortens-g-line-to-make-room.html |url-status=live }} the new South Ferry station;{{cite web|author1=NY1 News|author-link=NY1|title=South Ferry Station To Open Next Week|url=http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/95247/south-ferry-station-to-open-next-week/Default.aspx/|publisher=NY1|access-date=September 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311154515/http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/95247/south-ferry-station-to-open-next-week/Default.aspx|archive-date=March 11, 2009|url-status=dead |date=March 9, 2009}} 34th Street–Hudson Yards;{{cite web|last1=Fitzsimmons|first1=Emma G.|last2=Schweber|first2=Nate|title=Subway Station for 7 Line Opens on Far West Side|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/14/nyregion/no-7-subway-station-far-west-side-manhattan.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 26, 2015|date=September 13, 2015|archive-date=September 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914231924/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/14/nyregion/no-7-subway-station-far-west-side-manhattan.html|url-status=live}} and the three Second Avenue Subway stations{{cite web | last1=Fitzsimmons | first1=Emma G. | last2=Wolfe | first2=Jonathan | title=Second Avenue Subway Opening: What to Know | website=The New York Times | date=January 1, 2017 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/01/nyregion/second-avenue-subway-opening-upper-east-side-manhattan.html | access-date=January 1, 2017 | archive-date=January 1, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101195614/http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/01/nyregion/second-avenue-subway-opening-upper-east-side-manhattan.html | url-status=live }}).

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The Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue station, the Rockaway Line's eastern terminus, is built on a concrete viaduct and has two tracks and an island platform.{{NYCS const|trackref|tracks}} The tracks end at bumper blocks just beyond the northeast end of the platform.{{Cite web|url=http://www.subwaynut.com/ind/far_rockaway_motta/index.php|title=Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue (A) - The SubwayNut|last=Cox|first=Jeremiah|website=www.subwaynut.com|access-date=January 2, 2017|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706140035/http://www.subwaynut.com/ind/far_rockaway_motta/index.php|url-status=live}} The station is {{Show by date|2025|05|19|served by the Rockaway Park Shuttle at all times until May 2025, serving as the shuttle's eastern terminus. Under normal service patterns, it is}} served by the A train at all times{{NYCS const|timetable|a}} and is its southern terminus; the next stop to the west (railroad north) is Beach 25th Street.{{NYCS const|map}}

There is no track connection to the current LIRR's Far Rockaway station, and transferring requires a walk of three blocks. A NYCDOT municipal parking facility lies just east of the station between Beach 22nd and Beach 21st Streets, adjacent to the bus loop formerly used by the {{NYC bus link|Q22|QM17}}, and n33 services that used to terminate at the station.{{cite web|title=Municipal Parking Facilities|url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/parkinglist.shtml|publisher=New York City Department of Transportation|access-date=August 16, 2016|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503001143/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/parkinglist.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=MTA Bus Time: Q22 Rockaway Beach Blvd - Beach Channel Dr|url=http://bustime.mta.info/#q22|website=mta.info|publisher=MTA Bus Time|access-date=August 16, 2016|archive-date=November 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107093818/http://bustime.mta.info/#q22|url-status=live}}

{{anchor|Exit|Exits}} The doors at the northeast end of the platform lead to stairs down to the street level fare control area. A tower and crew offices are at the southwest end. Two elevators and several staircases inside the station house lead to the platform level. A bodega called the "A Line Deli", previously called the "Last Stop Deli", is attached to the station entrance. It was originally a cafe, having been built along with the station in the 1950s.{{cite news|last=Newman|first=Andy|title=The Curious World of the Last Stop|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/nyregion/24laststop.html|work=The New York Times|date=August 22, 2008|access-date=December 12, 2010|archive-date=February 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225060926/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/nyregion/24laststop.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author1=New York City Transit Authority|author-link=New York City Transit Authority|title=Restaurant Attached to Far Rockaway Station: IND Rockaway Line|url=http://nytm.pastperfectonline.com/photo/0A086F81-39FB-4E3C-A1A5-162436884451|publisher=New York Transit Museum|access-date=August 25, 2016|date=June 12, 1958|archive-date=August 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828070703/http://nytm.pastperfectonline.com/photo/0A086F81-39FB-4E3C-A1A5-162436884451|url-status=live}}

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File:Rohlf RW 637T (7178214124).jpg|Jason Rohlf's Respite piece in the station

File:Far Rockaway IND Platform jeh.JPG|On the platform

File:JayWalderGreetsEvacuees.jpg|Jay Walder, then-chairman of the MTA, greets Hurricane Irene evacuees

File:Far Rockaway–Mott Av td 06 - Bus Terminal.jpg|The former bus terminal and parking lot adjacent to the station

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Far Rockaway – Mott Avenue (IND Rockaway Line)}}

• {{NYCS ref|http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/IND_Rockaway_Line#Mott_Avenue-Far_Rockaway|IND Rockaway|Mott Avenue/Far Rockaway}}
• Station Reporter — [https://web.archive.org/web/20150113023917/http://www.stationreporter.net/arock.htm A Rockaway]
• The Subway Nut — [http://www.subwaynut.com/ind/far_rockaway_motta/index.php Far Rockaway – Mott Avenue Pictures]
• Trains Are Fun — [https://web.archive.org/web/20121006180703/http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/FarRockaway/farrockaway.htm Former Far Rockaway LIRR Station]
• [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&q=Far+Rockaway+New+York&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.847644,76.552734&hnear=Far+Rockaway,+Queens,+New+York&ll=40.60474,-73.753892&spn=0.003788,0.013433&z=17&lci=transit&layer=c&cbll=40.604779,-73.753989&panoid=6EjqTNl6OixaKUiH5S6dpw&cbp=12,230.86,,0,4.57 Mott Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View]
• [https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6041374,-73.7550583,3a,75y,107.44h,92.36t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s-5-XSj0F5G1U%2FWHltCtI7skI%2FAAAAAAAAa5E%2FHvZEZdsA9P8lVeQhu-vMmwGnx9uAhecmACLIB!2e4!3e11!6s%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2F-5-XSj0F5G1U%2FWHltCtI7skI%2FAAAAAAAAa5E%2FHvZEZdsA9P8lVeQhu-vMmwGnx9uAhecmACLIB%2Fw203-h100-p-k-no%2F!7i8000!8i4000!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1!6m1!1e1 Platform from Google Maps Street View]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Far Rockaway - Mott Avenue (Ind Rockaway Line)}}

Category:IND Rockaway Line stations

Category:Rockaway, Queens

Category:Former Long Island Rail Road stations in New York City

Category:New York City Subway stations in Queens, New York

Category:New York City Subway terminals

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1869

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1958

Category:1869 establishments in New York (state)

Category:1958 establishments in New York City