Train of Many Colors in 2017, led by Redbird Car. c/o New York Transit Museum.
After a 2-year hiatus, the MTA has brought back its annual tradition of Holiday Nostalgia Rides on the New York Transit Museum’s vintage fleet.
In honor of the museum’s Reign of the Redbirds exhibit, the Train of Many Colors will be traveling along the 1 line from Chambers Street to West 137th Street, making it easy for Upper West Siders to relive the glory days (or experience them for the first time).
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The Train of Many Colors includes a selection of cars manufactured in the 1960s: the R-33, R-33WF and R-36 cars. With “Tartar Red” and “Gunn Red” redbirds, Kale Green “Green Machines,” blue-and-silver “Platinum Mist,” and the striking two-tone robin’s egg blue and cream “Bluebird” paint schemes, the festive Holiday Nostalgia Train represents several different eras in New York City subway history.
The Bluebird Train Car, c/o New York Transit Museum.
The first Nostalgia Ride of the season took place on Sunday, November 27. Here are some photos taken by a straphanger who seems to have enjoyed the ride. And here’s a nice shot showing the cars of different colors.
The old train will be hitting the rails again on Sunday, December 4, 11 and 18 (from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). For more info and the full schedule, please visit nytransitmuseum.org/nostalgiarides.
I have been riding the nyc subway since the 1950s. I recall yellow wicker seats, white hangers to hold onto, ceiling fans and gum dispensing machines at many subway stations. Much cheaper to ride way back then. Not interested in that type of nostalgia these days. There were elevated platforms back then in some areas of the upper east side near where my father lived as I recall. There also were old streetcars in some areas of NYC way back then.
Do you really really wanna know what’s missing right now is the old 8 Third Ave Elevated line is definitely missing. The Thrid Avenue Elevated line shouldn’t been never been talking down in the first place. That was important line that got people from point A to point B and moved the whole entire community in south Bronx Clearmount Avenue Webster Ave Bronx. I understand that they had a low ridership. Adleast they would of definitely did a complete over hual inspections on the Thrid Avenue Elevated and the R62AS could of ran on the Thrid Avenue Elevated line today if they did not tair down this Thrid Avenue Elevated and the Ninth Ave Elevated line down. The 8 Thrid and the 2 5 lines has the same exact metal steel structures. South Bronx is definitely completely dead without the Third Ave Elevated line. Not only that south Bronx is definitely suffering without the Third Ave Elevated line right now and still processing about non stop. No matter how much they cover it up we miss the old Redbirds on all others lines