The “Shoppers Special,” comprised of cars from the 1930s to the 1970s, a once-a-year holiday train courtesy of the MTA’s New York Transit Museum between Thanksgiving and Christmas,
Outside the holiday season, the vintage cars are on view at the Transit Museum.
Old Home Week for me! The subway care with the wicker seats in the still photo above was used from 1928 until the late 1950's on The Independent System (IND). The car with the round window at the end door was on the Interborough Rapid Transit System (IRT), the oldest system in new York City dating to 1904. However, this featured car was operated on the #7 Flushing Line commencing in 1953. It featured a blue-lavender color with cream interior and fluorescent lighting! The same car was entered into service on the "A" Train (known in song). The IND trains and the Brooklyn Manhattan Transit System trains (BMT) are wider than the IRT cars. They are also longer. The 1928 or later IND car with the wicker seats was so vandalized in the 1950's by people slashing the wicker that the cars were reupholstered in vinyl. That also got slashed. So, the subway cars were outfitted with hard fiberglass seats. In the late 1950's, the southbound "A" train would pull into the 59th Street - Columbus Circle stop. People would be changing form the "D' to the "A". The train was ten cars long. Every day during rush hour the transit workers on the platform would assist in cramming the cars by pushing the behinds of those who had boarded but whose behinds prevented the car doors from closing. In toto, each train would carry three-thousand people! I have plenty more memories whenever there is time. Thanks again for this presentation.
Old Home Week for me! The subway care with the wicker seats in the still photo above was used from 1928 until the late 1950's on The Independent System (IND). The car with the round window at the end door was on the Interborough Rapid Transit System (IRT), the oldest system in new York City dating to 1904. However, this featured car was operated on the #7 Flushing Line commencing in 1953. It featured a blue-lavender color with cream interior and fluorescent lighting! The same car was entered into service on the "A" Train (known in song). The IND trains and the Brooklyn Manhattan Transit System trains (BMT) are wider than the IRT cars. They are also longer. The 1928 or later IND car with the wicker seats was so vandalized in the 1950's by people slashing the wicker that the cars were reupholstered in vinyl. That also got slashed. So, the subway cars were outfitted with hard fiberglass seats. In the late 1950's, the southbound "A" train would pull into the 59th Street - Columbus Circle stop. People would be changing form the "D' to the "A". The train was ten cars long. Every day during rush hour the transit workers on the platform would assist in cramming the cars by pushing the behinds of those who had boarded but whose behinds prevented the car doors from closing. In toto, each train would carry three-thousand people! I have plenty more memories whenever there is time. Thanks again for this presentation.
ReplyDeletewell, it is so cool to share something that you're an expert in!
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