Check out “Subway” by Bruce Davidson. It’s an art photography book, the hardcover is a bit expensive, but you may be able to find his photos online. It’s definitely NYC in the 1980s. Davidson photographed the Guardian Angels on the trains, a private army of vigilantes that helped more than understaffed transit force and understaffed NYPD.

Commuters and 9-5ers, some bridge and tunnel still rode the trains but you had to be tough and probably would avoid going down into the underground lines at night. Above ground platforms could be dangerous at night too.

Edit: Regular fare was .90 cents in 1985, not $1.75 like i said before.

Thank you! I’ll take a look!

You’re welcome! If you want to get a feel for what Manhattan and Soho in general were like in 1985, watch Martin Scorsese’s “After Hours”. It might be on one of the streaming platforms. There’s one Subway station scene, but there are lots of characters up all night.

Perfect thank you! :)

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The subway fare was 90 cents in 85

https://www.6sqft.com/all-the-mta-fare-hikes-over-the-last-100-years-plus-a-video-of-when-it-cost-just-15-cents/

Sorry, i meant to say $1.50. It was .90 cents in 1985. You’re right, i was basing my information on that station agent scene in After Hours. It didn’t get up to $1.50 until 1995.