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Happy Birthday Washington Metro

Dpirmann — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:15:02 GMT

Today's the birthday of the Washington Metro. Construction on the Red Line began with a groundbreaking ceremony on December 9, 1969. The first part of the Red Line opened on March 27, 1976, between Farragut North and Rhode Island Avenue (5 stations opened on 4.6 miles of line). Passengers rode for free for the first two days of service.

Photos from the first month of Metro.

Happy 150th Birthday London Underground!

Dpirmann — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:46:58 GMT

The London Underground's first operation took place 150 years ago today, January 9th, 1863. Here are some interesting links about the anniversary.

Transport for London - 150th Anniversary page (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/25979.aspx)

London Science Museum - Photo Gallery (http://sciencemuseumdiscovery.com/blogs/collections/150-years-of-the-london-underground/)

The Guardian - History of the London Tube Poster (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/gallery/2013/jan/09/london-underground-design)

The Guardian - 150 Years of the Underground (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/series/150-years-of-the-underground)

London Transport Museum Shop -150th Anniversary gifts and swag (http://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk)

Shore Line Trolley Museum - Elevating the Collection Fund Drive

Dpirmann — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:45:06 GMT

The Shore Line Trolley Museum is one of the few organizations actively preserving the transit history of New York, and many contributors to nycsubway.org are members and volunteers. The Museum needs your help! The museum and its cars have been hard hit by hurricanes Irene and Sandy. So they have embarked on a campaign called Elevating the Collection, which intends to build new car barns above the 100-year flood line on their property. You can help by "Buying a Brick". When you buy a brick, your name or that of someone you choose to honor will be etched on a brick paver, and will display your support of the museum's collection in perpetuity. It will be a permanent legacy, reminding future generations of members and visitors at the Shore Line Trolley Museum of your dedication.

MTA Holiday Train

Dpirmann — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:00:41 GMT

The MTA Holiday Train is running again this year, each Sunday from now until December 30th, providing supplemental service on the "M" line between 2nd Avenue and Queens Plaza. Northbound trips depart 2nd Avenue at 10:01am, 11:31am, 1:01pm, 2:30pm, and 4:01pm. Southbound trips depart Queens Plaza at 10:44am, 12:14pm, 1:43pm, 3:14pm, and 4:44pm. (MTA Press Release http://www.mta.info/news/stories/?story=881) Photo by Nicholas Noel for nycsubway.org.

Some neat post-Sandy subway news articles...

Dpirmann — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:35:22 GMT

Some articles about the subway's recovery post-Hurricane Sandy:

NY Times: New York Subway Repairs Border ‘on the Edge of Magic’ (Thumbnail image from nytimes.com.)

Art in America: Doug and Mike Starn's South Ferry Mosaics Survive Sandy

Transportation Nation: How NY’s MTA Restored Service... to the Subway Map

TIME Magazine: New York Transit System’s Openness about Sandy Recovery Makes New Yorkers Hate Them Less

Second Avenue Sagas: Scenes from Sandy: The A line destruction in photos

More Sandy...

Dpirmann — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:12:53 GMT

Most subway service is getting back to normal (except: G, L, R, 1, N in Brooklyn, A to JFK/Rockaways). The MTA is trucking some venerable R-32 type cars to the Rockaway branch to operate a train shuttle service. PATH is coming back online slowly as well. Just in time for the next nor'easter! Reminder, check the MTA official site http://www.mta.info/ for up-to-date service changes and advisories. (Photo from MTA Flickr feed.)

Edited to add: G service has been restored with 12 minute headways.

The lines not operating as of mid-day November 7th are: 1 below Chambers St.; R between Canal Street and Borough Hall; N between 59th and Coney Island-Sea Beach Line; A to JFK/Rockaways; and the L between 8th Ave and Broadway Junction. Also, all services to Coney Island-Stillwell Ave. are cut back to convenient terminal points approaching Coney Island.

Sandy Roundup, Friday November 2

Dpirmann — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:15:52 GMT

Sandy Links Roundup

· MTA.INFO - Main MTA site for service advisories and updates (http://www.mta.info/)

· MTA Recovery Map (http://alert.mta.info/sites/default/files/pdf/hurricane_recovery_map_bw_Nov5midday_0.pdf) - Updated 11/5/2012

· MTA Flickr Photostream, with Sandy damage and recovery effort photos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/sets/)

· PATH Status (not much new info but look there for updates) (http://www.panynj.gov/path/alerts-advisories.html)

· NJ Transit Status (http://www.njtransit.com/sa/sa_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TravelAlertsTo)

· New York Times regional status updates handy links page (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/30/nyregion/storm-service-updates.html)

(Photo from MTA Flickr Photostream)

Sandy News

Dpirmann — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:59:22 GMT

Hello, I am sure some people are finding their way to nycsubway.org from Google etc looking for Hurricane Sandy updates. Please visit the MTA official site. http://www.mta.info. I would try to post more updates here but I have no power! Take care everyone!

Summer's Over...

Dpirmann — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:55:16 GMT

Summer's finally over and autumn is here. It's playoff baseball time and the 1920s Low-V cars came out to play for the Yankees home playoff games (photo at left by John Dooley). While you are riding the trains, here are some 1950s and 1960s NYCT Annual Reports for your reading pleasure. Put them on your mobile device!

Coming up this weekend is the 12th Annual Mass Transit Modeler's Convention, being held on Saturday, October 20, 2012, 9:30am to 5:00pm, at the Rutgers University Gym, 130 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Admission: $20. The Convention features model displays and vendors with a focus on mass transit- subways, streetcars, buses, etc.

The Shore Line Trolley Museum has several events posted for the autumn season, including Pumpkin Patch rides on October 20, 21, 27, and 28 from 11am to 4pm. Also, on the evening of November 3rd, they have a trolleys and astronomy program. Ride the old trolley cars and gaze at the stars. They are also continuing their Elevate the Collection fundraising drive with a "Buy A Brick" promotion. For a donation of $150 (and up) you can have your name or message engraved on a paver stone to be placed during construction of the new car barns.

Items of Note - September 10th

Dpirmann — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:46:14 GMT

Haven't made a blog post in a week or two, so here are some items of note that I have come across and I think everyone will be interested in. First, Cameron Booth's interesting blog about transit maps from around the world- why some maps work and some are just off the charts ugly. http://transitmaps.tumblr.com/ Next up is the "Aeracode.org" site which features some 3-D WebGL station maps and detailed track maps of the London Underground (and the software used to create the map is available too). http://www.aeracode.org/ Finally, MTA overhauling the remaining R-32 subway cars (Press release: http://www.mta.info/mta/news/releases/?en=120907-NYCT1, photos on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/sets/72157631457227900/ (Thumbnail photo from MTA Flickr.)

BMT Memoir by transit historian Brian J. Cudahy

Dpirmann — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:04:42 GMT

Noted transit historian (and frequent contributor of photos to this website) Brian J. Cudahy has contributed an article entitled Me and the BMT, A Memoir, illustrated with his own photographs. Brian is the author of several books of New York City rapid transit history, notably Under the Sidewalks of New York, A Century of Subways: Celebrating 100 Years of New York's Underground Railways, and a volume about the infamous Malbone Street Wreck. "Me and the BMT, A Memoir" is less scholarly and more his personal recollections of growing up riding the BMT in Brooklyn. Thanks go out to Brian for letting nycsubway.org host this work!

Second Avenue Subway News, August 2012

Dpirmann — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:48:48 GMT

From the New York Times city blog, some items about a recent explosion accident on the 2nd Avenue Subway project: Steel Plate Above Subway Blast Site ‘Opened Up Like a Trapdoor’ and Blast on 2nd Ave. Subway Project Shatters Windows Above Ground; and two behind-the-scenes look at the construction: Below Ground, Blessing a Fresh Tunnel Where Diggers Risk Their Lives and Tunneling Below Second Avenue - Includes a slide show. (Thumbnail photo from New York Times)

News Articles - August 20th 2012

Dpirmann — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:58:50 GMT

Another excellent photo set from the MTA "Weekend at Work" series. Lots of track renewal going on. Also, a New York Times report on mixed up sign colors at Columbus Circle post-renovation. Kind of a puff piece but some will probably be interested. (Thumbnail photo from MTA Flickr feed.)

This Weekend - Guest Operator Program, Shore Line Trolley Museum

Dpirmann — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:44:55 GMT

Ever wanted to operate a trolley or subway car? The Guest Operator program at the Shore Line Trolley Museum will give you that oppportunity. "You'll be given an overview of operating principles by one of our instructors. Then it will be your turn to take the handles and operate solo! Don't worry, you won't have any regular passengers, just you, your instructor, and your invited guests." Fees start at $50, with discounts for existing members. There's still spaces open for this Saturday and Sunday (August 18th/19th). Future dates of the program are September 15th and 16th.

Also coming up is the 12th Annual Mass Transit Modeler's Convention, being held on Saturday, October 20, 2012, 9:30am to 5:00pm, at the Rutgers University Gym, 130 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Admission: $20. The Convention features model displays and vendors with a focus on mass transit- subways, streetcars, buses, etc.

Treasures of New York - Art Underground

Dpirmann — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:46:55 GMT

Treasures of New York - Art Underground has been airing on New York City-area PBS stations this month. I finally got a chance to see it this week. It's a great look at the MTA Arts for Transit program and new and old installations around the subway. There are interviews with Sandra Bloodworth (MTA Arts for Transit director), Bill Brand ("Masstransiscope"), Andrea Deszö ("Community Garden"), Elizabeth Murray ("Blooming"), and several others. It looks at how the MTA Arts for Transit program was instrumental in the station renovations of the 1980s, particularly featuring Milton Glaser's "Untitled" at Astor Place, and how his piece echos the design elements of Heins & LaFarge for the original IRT stations.

A long segment included a look at how artworks make their way from artist's concepts to installation, featuring Jason Middlebrook's "Brooklyn Seeds" in mosaic tile, Xin Song's "Tree of Life", photo artwork laminated in glass, and Andrea Deszö's "Nature Rail", in cut stainless steel. Another segment featured an interview with artist Tom Otterness and a close up look at his process for creating, and installation of, the well known "Life Underground".

Having been keeping track of artworks installed in the subway for some time, with help of the many photo contributors to this site, this was a great behind the scenes look at the artwork in the subway system.

Wiki-ized Main Page

Dpirmann — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:14:31 GMT

Welcome to the new "wiki-ized" version of the nycsubway.org home page. From feedback I have received, the new styling of the site seems to be well-received. I hope you all like it. There's still a few more articles that have to be converted but that process is almost complete.

(Edited to add: After posting this, I did get one anonymous feedback saying they didn't like the new main page and that one day wasn't enough research to decide whether people liked it. I was speaking of the entire site, which I started to convert in May, and there's been over 1,000,000 page views from the wiki since then. True, I didn't do any "research" but I did receive several positive feedbacks and no negative feedbacks. In this day when it is usually just the ones with complaints who speak up, I interpreted that as a pretty positive result. I will continue to tweak the Main Page to make it a little bit more friendly looking.)

Recent News Items

Dpirmann — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:44:43 GMT

I will also use this blog to mention interesting subway-related news items. For instance, this recent story in the New York Times: The Subway Map That Rattled New Yorkers, a retrospective of the 1972 subway map designed by Massimo Vignelli.

The New Blog

Dpirmann — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:13:23 GMT

Hello, this new blog pane on the home page will replace the infrequently updated "What's New" and "Upcoming Events" panes on the former non-wiki home page.

First Blog Entry

Dpirmann — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 23:20:10 GMT

This is the first blog entry on the nycsubway.org blog.