Subway Technical FAQ

Please note, this FAQ and the documents within are scheduled for reorganization. Also, it does not address questions about how to travel on the subway, fare/Metrocard information, subway schedules, etc. A good place to look for this information is the MTA Website at http://www.mta.info.

The Most Frequently Asked Questions

1. [07/09/04] Facts & Figures
2. [02/23/07] Photography in the Subway
3. [07/17/07] Photography on Other Transit Systems

Part I - Overview

1. [02/23/07] Glossary of Subway Terminology and Abbreviations
2. [07/09/04] IRT - BMT - IND: A Brief History of the Subway
3. [07/09/04] IRT, BMT, IND: Which Are Which?
4. [07/09/04] Touring the Subway

Part IV - Day to Day Operations

1. [05/24/07] Train Number, Letter, and Color Code Systems
2. [07/09/04] A Day in the Life of a Transit Employee
3. [11/30/07] NYC Subway Accidents

Part V - Tracks & Connections

1. [07/09/04] Unused Subway Tunnels/Connections
2. [07/09/04] Unused Express Tracks
3. [07/09/04] Evidence of Demolished, Abandoned, and Unbuilt Lines
4. [07/09/04] Well Known "Non"-Connections
5. [07/09/04] Interconnections Between IRT and IND/BMT Divisions
6. [07/09/04] Elevated Portions of the Subway
7. [07/09/04] Three-Track portions of the subway

Part VI - Rolling Stock

1. [07/09/04] Line Assignments & Number of Trains for Rush Hour Service
2. [07/09/04] What is OPTO (One Person Train Operation)? What is ATO (Automatic Train Operation)?
3. [07/09/04] Train Marker Lights

Part VII - Misc.

1. [07/09/04] Radio Codes
2. [07/09/04] Index of NYC Subway Map Versions, 1963-present