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New York Transit Museum

@nytransitmuseum.bsky.social

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Telling the stories of New York’s public transportation and the people who make it possible. nytransitmuseum.org

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · Dec 12

Hello Bluesky! The #NYTransitMuseum is pleased to be here and is looking forward to sharing great content with you! We will be filling this space with fascinating transit history, images and objects from our collection, and info on upcoming Museum programs.

An R-40 "slant" on the IND Rockaway Line in the late 1970s/early 1980s.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 14h

R17 cars remained in service until February of 1988, when the remainder of the fleet was retired and scrapped.

📸:
1. R17 car on elevated tracks in The Bronx
2. R17 car at 42nd Street- Grand Central Station
3. R17 car delivery, crossing Avenue M on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn, 1955

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 14h

Manufactured by the St. Louis Car Company, the R17s represented a first in subway seat design, featuring foam-filled, red plastic bench cushions. The fleet of 400 new cars also included round porthole windows on car end doors and rounded rectangle windows on side doors.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 14h

#TodayinHistory: #OnThisDay in 1955, R17 cars entered service in the #NYCsubway system. Nearly identical to the R16 models placed in service on the BMT division the year before, the R17 was an economical purchase – interchangeability of parts between models saved greatly on repair and maintenance.

Car 6692. R17 car on elevated tracks in The Bronx.

R17 train on the 6 line pulls into Grand Central Station.

R17 subway cars 6501 and 6502 roll by under elevated subway tracks.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 19h

This image shows the new commuter rail map issued by the MTA this year. After decades of more geographically accurate maps, the streamlined look has returned. Which map do you prefer?

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 19h

Designed by Joan Charysyn as a counterpart to the Unimark “Vignelli” Subway Map of the same era, the guide takes liberties with geography in favor of clarity, using clean angles and uniform spacing.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 19h

This 1974 @MTA.info Commuter Rail System Map takes a broad look at the transit systems of the tri-state area, including MTA Long Island Rail Road, PATH, and other lines serving upstate New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut that today are operated by NJ Transit and MTA Metro-North.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 1d

“Working the A Train” (1981) took a behind-the-scenes look at the #NYCsubway system and showcased the work involved in running the city’s longest train line. At one time, the film played in the gallery of the New York State Museum, accompanying the exhibit of its R9 subway car #1801.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 2d

#OnThisDay last year, #StatenIsland's rapid transit got a major upgrade when the R211S entered service. The state-of-the-art cars now run on the SIR (Staten Island Railway).

These photos, from the inaugural ride, show the first R211S train to depart from St. George Terminal. 📷: @MTA.info

The inaugural R211S ride commences on the train platform in Staten Island, New York.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 3d

#OnThisDay in 1933, seven new stations opened on the IND Culver Line in Brooklyn (the F and G trains): Carroll Street, Smith-Ninth Street, Fourth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, 15th Street–Prospect Park, Fort Hamilton, and Church Avenue. These images show the line before, during, and after construction.

Control tower on the new F line in 1933.

Cut and cover subway construction along Smith Street in Carroll Gardens.

The downtown Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, with large street facing windows, a wide street, and brownstones.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 3d

Zabar’s remains one of the classic, most beloved gourmet food stores in the city. Generations of New Yorkers have lined up to get a taste of Zabar's appetizing and will continue to do so thanks to Saul Zabar. 🥯

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 3d

Because of its proximity to transit, Zabar’s appears in our Subway Construction Photograph Collection. This photo was taken as a survey image during a platform extension project at the 79 Street station on the IRT Broadway—Seventh Avenue Line (today’s 1 train).

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 3d

Today, Saul Zabar passed away. For more than 70 years, he was the principal owner of the legendary Zabar’s market in #NYC. This #NYTMCollection image captures the Zabar’s storefront in 1957, twenty-three years into its time in business and seven years into Saul Zabar’s tenure.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 4d

Which diamond services do you remember?

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 4d

A diamond service could have designated a weekday-only express service, special service, or rush-hour only service. Today's diamond routes include 6, 7, and, most recently, the F in 2019 for express service on the Culver Line, skipping all local stations between Church Av and Jay St-MetroTech.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 4d

#MysteryMonday: What do diamonds mean in the #NYCsubway? In use since the 1980s, the diamond route indicator is generally used to show that a train route’s service has been modified; regular service is marked with a circle.

A yellow diamond Q subway route indicator.

A pink diamond 7 subway route indicator.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 5d

Bus operators don’t just drive present-day buses at Bus Roadeos. Historic buses are also included. This 1993 #NYTMCollection photo shows a double-decker Fifth Avenue Coach Company bus, built in 1938. It appeared at the New York City Transit Authority Bus Roadeo at Steeplechase Park, in #ConeyIsland.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 5d

Have you ever been to a Bus Roadeo? The word “road” is intentionally used as a nod to surface transportation. Bus Roadeos happen all over the world and are hosted by local and regional transit companies to test bus operators on driving skills, safety regulations, equipment maintenance, and more.

Yellow and green double decker double-decker Fifth Avenue Coach Company bus #2124 appears at the 1993 New York City Transit Authority Bus Roadeo at Steeplechase Park, in #ConeyIsland. The red Parachute Jump is in the background.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 6d

🎳 Taken in 1957, these #NYTMCollection photos show a fascinating peek into the penny arcade culture of the time. These are survey images for a platform extension project on the 50 Street station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line, but they also capture an exciting slice of life above ground.

1957 photo of the exterior shop front of a penny arcade. The sign reads "Amusement Center, Rifle Shooting, Admission Free."

Inside of a penny arcade showing the many fun games and devices for having fun and play.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 7d

Do you remember the Myrtle Avenue El?

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 7d

These #NYTMCollection photographs shows the last day of service on the Myrtle Avenue El including emotional passengers gathered for the send-off. Do you remember the Myrtle Avenue El?

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 7d

When Myrtle Avenue El service ended, so did the era of wooden bodied cars in #NYC and beyond. The El’s Q-Cars — former wooden gate cars that had been modified and refurbished — were the last wooden passenger trains employed in regular service in North America.

A conductor looks out the window of a subway car.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 7d

“Old Myrt,” as it was known by many, was slated for demolition due the cost of improving its aging infrastructure, competition for riders with the Crosstown Line (today’s G train), and the rise of cars and highways.

View from the elevated Myrtle Avenue line facing Downtown Brooklyn.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 7d

#TodayInHistory: #OnThisDay in 1969, the last train departed for the final ride on the Myrtle Avenue Elevated Line. Running since 1888, the line provided an important connection between Downtown Brooklyn and Queens.

The last train departs for the final ride on the Myrtle Avenue Elevated Line in 1969.

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New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 8d

Very cool!

New York Transit Museum @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social · 8d

#TodayInHistory: #OnThisDay 51 years ago, the film “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” opened in theaters. The 1974 action crime caper flick includes footage filmed in the decommissioned Court Street Station, now known as the #NYTransitMuseum.

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