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New York Transit Museum

The New York Transit Museum is a unique museum devoted to the history of mass transit in New York.
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08/18/2024

The Rockaways have been a destination for warm weather activities since the 1880s when the New York, Woodhaven and Rockaway Railroad built a trestle over Jamaica Bay. However, it wasn’t until 1956 that Rockaway was connected to the .

This photograph shows an R-40 train on the IND Rockaway Line sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s. The front car is slanted, as it is one of the original R-40 cars which came to be known as “slants.” Slants had a sleek and futuristic look created by designer Raymond Loewy. The distinctive shape proved impractical, however, and all remaining R-40 cars on order were redesigned with a straight front end.

Have you been to the Rockaways yet this summer? Did you join us for our Nostalgia Ride to the Rockaways last weekend?

08/17/2024

Our "Reign of the Redbirds" exhibit closes at the end of next week! This is your last chance to learn all about these cars that captured the imaginations of millions.

Introduced at varying times and in various colors, the cars collectively came to be known as “Redbirds” because of the color they were painted from 1984 until the fleet’s retirement in 2003.

As iconic as the subway token, the Redbirds evoke expressions of admiration to this day. Boxy and industrial-looking, the cars that became the Redbirds arrived in at a time of great transition, and were in service for more than four decades.

The exhibit closes Sunday, August 25th. We are open Thursday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm. Plan your visit at nytransitmuseum.org/visit.

08/17/2024

Legendary actress Gena Rowlands passed away Wednesday at the age of 94. Rowlands starred in decades worth of theatre, film, and television, including the crime-thriller “Gloria” (1980). A collaboration with her husband John Cassavetes, the film takes place in and includes this classic scene. In it, Rowlands’ character Gloria Swenson is on the run from mobsters and successfully escapes them, saying “You let a woman beat ya, huh?!” Rowlands will be remembered for a long career that included playing many unconventional female roles.

08/16/2024

: 21 years ago, service was restored after the historic Northeast Blackout of 2003.

A cascade of power failures in the Midwest triggered North America’s biggest ever blackout on August 14, 2003, affecting more than 50 million people. With no advance warning, was thrust into transit chaos, and it happened just as the evening commute was beginning.

Electric-powered railroads and subways stopped. Without these vital systems, commuters turned to gas-powered vehicles, but traffic lights at the city's 11,600 intersections were dark. Busses were overcrowded and cars were gridlocked. Many found their own two feet to be the most reliable form of transportation and pedestrians streamed across bridges to get to other boroughs.

It took 29 hours to restore electricity, but, remarkably, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA had the subway up and running only 9 hours after that. These images from our digital exhibit at BringingBacktheCity.com show what the city looked like without electricity.

Where were you during the Blackout of 2003?

08/15/2024

: Filmed in a station and featuring subway cars that ran at the time, this scene from the 1990 film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” follows reporter April O’Neil, who is investigating a crime wave in . April heads down into the subway, where she attacked by the ninja foot clan. She is rescued by Raphael, one of four mutant turtles who live in the sewers below the city. He fights the clan and takes April to safety. Though it is labeled “City Hall,” this is not actually City Hall station. Do you know where it is? Can you also name the car model that passes through the station in the scene?

08/14/2024

that double-decker buses briefly ran on streets in the 1970s? This photograph shows a Leyland double-decker bus in Midtown . Though double-decker buses were common in the first half of the 20th century, they were retired from service in 1954. More than two decades later, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA pilot program sought to reintroduce them.

Eight Leyland Atlantean double-decker buses, manufactured in England, were purchased and tested beginning in 1976. However, they did not last long on city streets. The buses were too tall and sometimes bumped into tree branches and traffic lights. They also had mechanical issues and struggled to manage uneven pavement. After only two years, the buses were removed from service in 1978.

Are you joining us for 2024? It’s happening Sunday, September 8th Brooklyn Bridge Park's Emily Warren Roebling Plaza. The event is FREE and runs rain or shine, from 10am – 3:30pm. Bus Festival will feature selections from our vintage fleet representing more than 80 years of surface transit history, including "Betsy," our 1930s double-decker bus and the oldest bus in the Museum’s collection.

Learn more at nytransitmuseum.org/busfestival. RSVP for the chance to win a family membership!

08/13/2024

: on this unusual "Y" cut token from the . The "Y" on these classic tokens was supposed to be cut out between the letters "N" and "C" to spell out "NYC." The second photo shows a standard "Y" cut token. About 50 million "Y" cut tokens were minted. In this rare case, the token was mis-struck in the minting process, punching out the "Y" at a nearly 90-degree angle, creating a collector's oddity.

Do you have any subway tokens in your collection?

08/12/2024

On yesterday’s Nostalgia Ride, our vintage train passed an R-211 at Broad Channel station and riders cheered at the site of it! We know how excited you are by this new addition to the . Now you can conduct your very own R-211 on the Eighth Avenue Line with this new R-211 wooden train. Suitable for ages 3 and up.

Visit nytransitmuseumstore.com or shop in-store at the in Downtown Brooklyn, our Gallery & Store in Grand Central, or our Shop at 2 Broadway.

08/12/2024

In the hot days of August 1955, demolition began on the Third Avenue Elevated Line. Sid Kaplan, then 17 years old, knew he was witnessing history. He took out his camera, and, with that, launched a nearly 70-year career in photography.

The Third Avenue El had served Manhattan for 77 years since its first section was built in 1878. It was the last of Manhattan’s elevated lines or "els" to shut down. When it was gone, so too was the era of the els overhead.

From Kaplan’s perch on the roof of an apartment building, or leaning out the window of an office, he captured on film the removal of a hulking steel structure, the hard-working people who dismantled it, and the changing landscape of New York City.

These photographs, taken by Kaplan in 1955, show the demolition of the Third Avenue El underway. It took less than a year for the El to be completely removed from Manhattan. A portion of the line which served the Bronx remained open until 1973, when it was replaced by bus service.

08/11/2024

This 1980s photo shows the interior of an R-30 car after overhaul. R-30 cars were virtually identical to the R-27, and entered service with a military-esque olive green livery and accompanying salmon-colored fiberglass seats. R-30s were retired in 1993 for various reasons, not least of which was that installing air conditioning would add too much weight to each car. Most of the 320 R-30s were scrapped, but a few are still in use as Transit work cars, and car 8506 lives on at the .

Do you remember riding the R-30s?

08/10/2024

that the neighborhood of Marble Hill used to be part of the island of Manhattan? Though Marble Hill currently sits on the other side of the Harlem River, connected to the mainland and the , it wasn’t always that way. The old Spuyten Duyvil Creek once separated Marble Hill from the Bronx. The creek connected the Hudson and Harlem Rivers before a more direct path was created.

In 1817, a small canal was dug across the tip of Manhattan, cutting off Marble Hill and turning it into an island of its own. This waterway was expanded in 1895 to become the Harlem River Ship Canal. Construction involved cutting through the rock of Dyckman's Meadow to make the Harlem River head straight to the Hudson.

This photograph from 1906 shows the Harlem River Ship Canal Bridge which was built over the Harlem River Ship Canal, linking Marble Hill, now part of the Bronx, to Manhattan. The second image, from , shows a map of the area in 1911. Visible on the map are both the old Spuyten Duyvil Creek and the new Harlem River Ship Canal.

The old Spuyted Duyvil Creek was filled in by 1913 and Marble Hill was no longer an island. Bronx County was created the following year, but Marble Hill remained a neighborhood of New York County (also known as Manhattan).

When the IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit) subway began plans to extend trains north into the Bronx, it became necessary to replace the Harlem River Ship Canal Bridge, because it could not support an elevated subway. Instead, the Broadway Bridge now links Marble Hill with Manhattan, carrying the on its upper level.

08/09/2024

R32 Nostalgia Ride tickets are now on sale! Celebrate the Brightliners on Satuday, September 14th, the 60th anniversary of the fleet's debut in revenue service. Tickets are available for a morning ride at 10am and an afternoon ride at 2pm. The rides will begin and end at the 96th Street-Second Avenue station in Manhattan, including a turnaround through the Coney Island Yard with incredible views.

Don’t miss your opportunity to ride the Brightliners again! Visit nytransitmuseum.org/nostalgiarides to get tickets today.

08/09/2024

Keep the sun out of your eyes with this whimsical map bucket hat!

Our store offers a full collection of headwear for every season, with designs featuring the MetroCard, vintage Transit Authority logos, plus individual subway lines including some real, but rarely seen, route designations.

Find everything in our store at nytransitmuseumstore.com

08/08/2024

Do you love museums? We’re hiring! The is looking for creative, engaging and professional individuals to join our team in the positions of Museum Educator, Visitor Experience Facilitator, and Birthday Experience Facilitator. Visit nytransitmuseum.org/careers to view the available positions and apply.

08/08/2024

Happy from our favorite out there: Etti-Cat! In 1962, the Transit Authority introduced Etti-Cat to scold and cajole commuters into more courteous behavior. Posters featuring the superbly polite feline’s admonitions were placed in almost 3,000 cars.

The artist and writer of the campaign was Jo Mary McCormick. She signed her name “JOM,” and those initials appear bottom right of these posters. Inspired by and featuring the McCormick's feline friend Pipsqueak aka “Pippy,” Etti-Cat continues to enjoy a following today among cat people and visitors.

Etti-Cat posters are displayed in our vintage fleet of subway cars, and you can see them when you visit the Museum. We are open Thursday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm. Advanced tickets are encouraged, but not required. Plan your visit at nytransitmuseum.org/visit.

What’s your transit etiquette pet peeve?

08/07/2024

In a subway system as complex as New York City’s, there must be a way for trains to cross each other’s tracks without disrupting service. The Independent Subway System (IND) solved this problem by replacing grade-level crossings with what’s known as the flying junction or flyover system.

The flying junction is an elevated crossover that allows trains to pass each other without stopping. Flying junctions are often compared to highway overpasses and can vary in levels of complexity.

This diagram shows an intricate flying junction at 53rd Street in Manhattan, where the IND’s 6th Avenue line crosses the Queens and Washington Heights routes.

08/07/2024

Join us to ride the R-32s on September 14th! Tickets are on sale to Museum members today and to everyone Friday. Learn more at nytransitmuseum.org/nostalgiarides

08/07/2024

Today's your day, members! Tickets for our next round of behind-the-scenes tours and excursions go on sale exclusively to Museum members TODAY at 10am ET. This includes our very popular "Jewel in the Crown: Old City Hall Station" tour!

Please be aware that tickets sell out within minutes. Don’t forget to sign in at the upper right corner of the ticket pages! If you have any questions during the ticket purchase process, please ask in the comments below and we'll be glad to help. Learn more at nytransitmuseum.org/oldcityhall. View tour dates at nytransitmuseum.org/programs.

08/06/2024

Fall tours go on sale to Transit Museum members TOMORROW at 10am sharp! Do you want to visit Old City Hall Station or join us for a walking tour? These tickets are available exclusively for members and some tours sell out within minutes. Become a member now and then be ready to book tickets tomorrow morning!

Join, renew, or gift a membership today to receive information about upcoming tour dates and purchase tickets: nytransitmuseum.org/membership.

Photo by Chris Funfgeld

08/04/2024

Service designations—the fancy name for numbers or letters assigned to trains—are one of the more confusing parts of the system. For example, BMT lines had been numbered since 1924, but the IRT, which opened in 1904, also used numbers. In the 1950s, customers at Union Square might get on a train marked “4” and expect to go to Woodlawn (an IRT stop) but end up in Coney Island (a BMT stop).

To address these issues post-subway system unification in 1940, the Transit Authority implemented a new system of numbers and letters in 1960. From the , this "Know Trains at a Glance" sign helped commuters remember the changes. Do you use the old nomenclature to refer to lines or the system of numbers and letters introduced in the '60s?

08/03/2024

Color-coding of station entrance globes began in the early 1980s to help riders determine whether entrances were open or closed, and if a token booth was available. Green globes indicated a 24-hour token booth, yellow meant a part-time booth, and red meant the entrance was blocked or was exit only.

While most entrance globes today are green, you can still spot red globes in a few rare places, like these at the 24th Street exit of the 23rd Street Station on the IND Eighth Avenue Line. Have you seen a red entrance globe, and, if so, where was it?

08/02/2024

Taken in August of 1957, this photograph captures a street-level view of the Ansonia, a legendary property and the inspiration for the television show “Only Murders in the Building.” Part of our Subway Construction Photograph Collection, this image was meant to document above-ground conditions during platform extensions inside the 72nd Street station on the IRT-Broadway Seventh Avenue Line. It also shows a slice of history, and for that reason, it is our First Friday feature for this month.

Located on Broadway between 73rd and 74th Streets, the Ansonia was designed as a deluxe apartment-hotel with never-before-seen amenities. Besides its elegant rooms and living spaces, the Ansonia’s interior included libraries, restaurants, ballrooms, Turkish baths, and, at the time it was built, the largest swimming pool in the world. In addition, the hotel also boasted a rooftop farm with ducks, chickens, goats, and a small bear when it first opened.

Conceived by real estate developer William Earl Dodge Stokes, the Ansonia was built between 1899 and 1904 and was completed just six months before NYC’s first subway line, the IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit), opened. Due to the Ansonia’s proximity to the 72nd Street station, its early guests and residents were some of the first Upper West Siders to have quick and easy access to Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. Its location remains appealing and convenient today.

Stokes passed away in 1926 and the Great Depression followed, sending the Ansonia into a long period of disrepair and decay. It was sold three times in the 1940s and by the time this photograph was taken, it was owned by Jacob Starr who further neglected the property. Suffering from a long list of violations and structural issues, the Ansonia needed income, so, in the late 1960s, Starr allowed the conversion of the basement pool into a gay bathhouse called the “Continental Baths.” The Continental Baths became a popular spot, attracting large crowds for musical entertainment, and launching the careers of Bette Midler and Barry Manilow.

The Ansonia was declared an NYC Landmark in 1972 and eventually converted to condominiums in 1992. The setting for “Only Murders in the Building” is a fictional apartment complex called the “Arconia,” but it is based on the Ansonia. The show itself is actually filmed several blocks north at The Belnord on 86th Street and Broadway.

Digitization of this and 9,000+ other images was made possible by a Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. View more on our website at nytransitmuseum.catalogaccess.com.

08/01/2024

Check out our upcoming programs for August:

Sunday, August 11 - NOSTALGIA RIDE: TO THE ROCKAWAYS BY RAIL
Ride our vintage 1930s R-1/9 trains from the Upper East Side to the Rockaways! Please note: this program is SOLD OUT.

Thursday, August 15 - METROCARD MOSAICS WITH NINA BOESCH
Turn Recycled MetroCards into mosaic artworks at this on-site program at the Museum in Downtown Brooklyn.

Friday, August 16 - ART TRACKS WITH NATALIA IRINA ROMAN
Learn about the creation of art in overlooked transit spaces in this free virtual program.

Saturday, August 24 - TRANSIT WALK: SECOND AVENUE’S ART AND TRANSIT HISTORY
Explore the Second Avenue Subway’s transit history, construction, and artwork on this guided walking tour.

Learn more and register for programs at nytransitmuseum.org/programs.

08/01/2024

Recognize this station? : in 1908, the Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street station opened on the IRT Broadway—Seventh Avenue Line. This photograph shows the station in 1925 and depicts an area transformed from what had been mostly undeveloped lots less than two decades prior.

With the subway extended this far north, New Yorkers could travel approximately twenty miles for a five-cent fare. IRT stations in the Bronx opened the area to so much new residential and commercial development that plans for platform extensions at Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street station were already set in motion within a year of the station being in service.

Designed by architects Heins and Lafarge, the Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street station has a control house which is particularly notable and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

07/31/2024

that double-lettered nomenclature was used in the subway system until 1985? The purpose of repeated letters was to denote that the train was running via the local line of its express counterpart, marked by the same single letter. The AA, CC, and EE were among these double-lettered local lines. Today, only the A/C/E remain and the original AA/CC/EE lines have been rerouted.

This photo shows an EE train in 1976. Originally, the EE ran via the Eighth Avenue local between Forest Hills–71st Avenue (known then as 71st–Continental Avenues station) and Chambers Street during off peak hours. This service was discontinued in 1940. In 1967, the EE’s route became the BMT Broadway Line between 71st–Continental Avenues and Whitehall Street. This service was completely replaced by the N in 1976.

Do you remember the EE?

07/30/2024

: Taken in 1930, this image documented the completion of excavation under the Queensboro Bridge in Long Island City, Queens. In the photograph, tunnel workers are shown gathered around the final load of dirt to be removed. At its inception, the early subway system was an engineering marvel, developed with some of the best equipment of the time. However, most progress still depended on a man with a simple shovel. Today as you ride the train, consider the early 20th century workers who made the development of your neighborhood and your commute possible.

07/29/2024

: A memorable scene in the 1978 film “The Wiz” features a haunted subway station which comes alive to attack the cast. In this moment, Dorothy (Diana Ross), watches in terror as the station’s columns detach and surround her. She is rescued by the Cowardly Lion (Theodore Ross Roberts). Earlier in the scene, the cast is chased from the station’s platform by giant puppets, after which the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell) is electrocuted by wires that follow him, and the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson) gets his arms caught in moving trash cans that have teeth. It all takes place in one station. Do you recognize the location where it was filmed?

07/29/2024

Pictured here, from , is an original inspection tour of the brand spanking new City Hall Station in 1904. Become a member to be eligible to inspect it yourself! Closed to the public since 1946, the elegant now "Old" City Hall Station is only accessible to members of the on one of our "Jewel in the Crown: Old City Hall Station” tours. Tickets to fall tours and excursions, including our tours of Old City Hall Station, go on sale TO MEMBERS ONLY on Wednesday, August 7 at 10am ET. Not a member? Join, renew, or gift a membership today to receive information about upcoming tour dates and purchase tickets: nytransitmuseum.org/membership.

Address

99 Schermerhorn Street
New York, NY
11201

Opening Hours

Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Website

https://linktr.ee/nytransitmuseum

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Legendary actress Gena Rowlands passed away Wednesday at the age of 94. Rowlands starred in decades worth of theatre, film, and television, including the crime-thriller “Gloria” (1980). A collaboration with her husband John Cassavetes, the film takes place in #NYC and includes this classic #NYCsubway scene. In it, Rowlands’ character Gloria Swenson is on the run from mobsters and successfully escapes them, saying “You let a woman beat ya, huh?!” Rowlands will be remembered for a long career that included playing many unconventional female roles.

#SubwaySleuths, our nationally-acclaimed program for students on the #autism spectrum, is now accepting applications for 2nd through 5th graders for fall 2024! Subway Sleuths is a 10-week program that uses a shared passion for trains as a means to encourage peer-to-peer interaction and develop social skills and confidence. Using a strength-based approach, participants explore our decommissioned subway station home, solving transit mysteries, becoming transit experts and sharing that enthusiasm with others. To learn more about Subway Sleuths or submit an application, visit nytransitmuseum.org/subwaysleuths or click the link in our bio.

#TransitTrivia: Filmed in a #NYCsubway station and featuring subway cars that ran at the time, this scene from the 1990 film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” follows reporter April O’Neil, who is investigating a crime wave in #NYC. April heads down into the subway, where she attacked by the ninja foot clan. She is rescued by Raphael, one of four mutant turtles who live in the sewers below the city. He fights the clan and takes April to safety. Though it is labeled “City Hall,” this is not actually City Hall station. Do you know where it is? Can you also name the car model that passes through the station in the scene?

All aboard! Our Nostalgia Train is headed to the Rockaways for a summertime vintage train excursion! Follow along in our stories to keep up with today’s trip and learn more about the transportation history of Rockaway!

#TransitTrivia: A memorable scene in the 1978 film “The Wiz” features a haunted subway station which comes alive to attack the cast. In this moment, Dorothy (Diana Ross), watches in terror as the station’s columns detach and surround her. She is rescued by the Cowardly Lion (Theodore Ross Roberts). Earlier in the scene, the cast is chased from the station’s platform by giant puppets, after which the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell) is electrocuted by wires that follow him, and the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson) gets his arms caught in moving trash cans that have teeth. It all takes place in one #NYCsubway station. Do you recognize the location where it was filmed?

#TransitTrivia: The #NYCsubway is featured in the film “Ghost,” which was released #OnThisDay in 1990. As the ghost of Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) follows his killer seeking answers, he leaps and floats through various subway cars and across moving trains. Do you recognize the station at the beginning of this clip or the car model he rides in this scene? Can you point out any transit continuity errors?

#TransitTrivia: In this clip from the 1981 film “Nighthawks,” two police officers, played by Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams, chase after international terrorist Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer), first aboard an #NYCsubway, and then through a station. The station signs say “42nd Street,” but the scene was not actually filmed there. Do you know where it was filmed? Bonus points if you can name the train car model they are riding.

Incoming! The #NYTransitMuseum welcomes back R1-9 cars 100, 484, and 1575! Here they are being escorted by our R11 car into to the Museum in Downtown Brooklyn. These cars will replace our R10 and R16 cars and will be with us until fall. Built between 1930 and 1940 for the IND (Independent Subway System), and inspiring Billy Strayhorn’s “Take the A Train,” over one thousand nearly identical subway cars were delivered under the designations R1, R4, R6, R7 and R9. These cars were modern for their time, fitting in nicely with the IND’s Depression-era Art Deco aesthetic. They feature rattan seats, paddle ceiling fans, incandescent light bulbs, and roll signs for passenger information – all pre-WWII #NYCsubway staples. Come take a look for yourself! Tour these beautiful vintage subway cars at the New York Transit Museum Thursday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm. Advance tickets are encouraged, but not required. Plan your visit at nytransitmuseum.org/visit.

#TransitTrivia: In this clip from the 1971 film “The French Connection,” Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) attempts to capture a criminal mastermind (Fernando Rey). The two engage in a game of cat and mouse, getting on and off the Shuttle at Grand Central Terminal. Can you name the train’s car model? Do you love spotting the subway in films? Join us for "Underground Cinema: the Subway on Screen," Thursday, June 6th at 6pm. In this on-site program, historian Cosmo Bjorkenheim will explore the many portrayals of the #NYCsubway on screen, revealing the history of the transit system's role in the popular imagination. Tickets are $15/$10 for members. Learn more at nytransitmuseum.org/undergroundcinema.

#TransitTrivia: In this clip from the 1957 I Love Lucy episode “Lucy and the Loving Cup,” Lucille Ball rides the #NYCsubway with a trophy stuck on her head. Unable to see, she gets herself into several awkward situations. The episode was filmed on a set designed to look like a subway car that was running at the time. Do you know the car model?

Applications for the New York Transit Museum’s “Transit Quest” are now open! This week-long summer program will immerse students ages 14 to 17 who identify as #neurodivergent in #NYTransitMuseum content and provide exciting opportunities to engage with fellow transit fans. Participants build lasting friendships based on a shared love for all things buses, trains, and subways. Students will get the opportunity to hear guest speakers from the Museum and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA, plus exclusive museum experiences and offsite excursions in our transit system. The program will run from August 19 to the 23rd. We can’t wait to see you there! The application deadline is June 4! Learn more and apply at nytransitmuseum.org/accessprograms.

Warning! This jingle will be stuck in your head all day! #TodayInHistory: #OnThisDay in 1964, the World’s Fair opened in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in #Queens. This 1964 television commercial from the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) shows happy passengers traveling to the World’s Fair on brand new R-33WF “Bluebird” subway cars. R-33WF cars ran on the IRT Flushing Line (today’s 7 train), and went straight to Willets Point station from Times Square and Grand Central. Known as the “Subway Special,” this direct service was speedy, making sure passengers were “safely at the fair in less than 20 minutes.”

#TransitTrivia: In this clip from the 1974 film "Death Wish," actor Charles Bronson takes a late night ride through #Manhattan on the #NYCsubway. The train is marked "AA," which was the route designation for local service on the Eighth Avenue Line. Can you name the subway car model used in this scene? Bonus points if you can name the station the train passes through.

#TransitTrivia: This clip from the final scene of the 1986 film "Crocodile Dundee" shows a game of "telephone" taking place between actors Linda Kozlowski and Paul Hogan in what is supposed to be the 59th Street–Columbus Circle station in #Manhattan. Do you know where it was actually filmed? Hint: The station is not even in the same borough as 59th Street–Columbus Circle.

#TransitTrivia: This clip from the opening credits of the 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever" begins with a shot of an #NYCsubway train on elevated tracks in #Brooklyn. Can you name the car model? Bonus points if you can name the station it is pulling into. Hint: Though the train is labeled "B," this station is now served by the D train.

Did your holiday season pass without a visit to our Holiday Train Show? No problem! It's still up at our Grand Central Terminal Gallery through February 25 and admission is FREE. Come to Holiday Train Show and keep that holiday spirit going! Enjoy the magic of miniature trains! The Museum’s collection of Lionel model trains includes Metro-North, Polar Express, and vintage subway trains. Our trains travel along a 34’ long, two-level, “O” gauge model train layout, and follow a route that departs from a miniature replica of Grand Central Terminal, passes through many recognizable New York City sights, and goes on to the North Pole. The trains also have realistic lights and sounds! Find the Holiday Train Show at the #NYTransitMuseum's Grand Central Gallery, open 7 days a week, in the Main Concourse next to the Station Master’s Office. Find out more information at nytransitmuseum.org/visit.

Born in Antigua, Sir Rupert Philo, better known as “The Mighty Swallow” or “King Swallow,” was an international star. His festive soca and calypso music was especially loved by the Caribbean community in Brooklyn. The song “Subway Jam” from his 1981 album “Subway Jam, Pace Yourself” was one of his biggest hits and brought soca and calypso music to new audiences. It references multiple subway lines, stations, and boroughs, and portrays a variety of immigrants from different Caribbean countries all hanging out and having a party in the subway. The album’s cover photograph was shot on a crowded IRT platform. Swallow was the first calypso artist to ever perform at Radio City Music Hall. He passed away in 2020, a legend, with a 50-year career in music.

Holiday Nostalgia Rides begin this Saturday! This holiday season, we continue the annual tradition of vintage train rides on our 1930s R1/9 train cars. Making stops between 2nd Avenue station on the F line and 145th Street station on the D line, the Holiday Nostalgia Train will transport straphangers back in time every Saturday in December from 10am to 5:30pm. Don’t miss your chance to travel through time – for just the cost of a MetroCard swipe or OMNY tap. Hop aboard and celebrate the magic of New York City during the holidays! View full route and schedule at nytransitmuseum.org/holidaynostalgiarides.

Holiday Nostalgia Rides begin this Saturday!

#DidYouKnow that autumn leaves are a major cause of train delays? Good thing MTA Metro-North Railroad has the #LaserTrain! Its high-intensity lasers remove layers of “slimy leaf sludge,” a contaminant which builds up on rails at this time of year. The sludge causes tracks to become slippery, which can damage the wheels of trains and take them out of service for repairs. The laser train was first used in 2017 by the Long Island Rail Road and was added to Metro-North’s operations last fall for pilot testing. The laser train was so successful that it resulted in a 40% reduction in slip/slide events and Metro-North received the Rail Safety Gold Award from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). This year, the laser train returns, and it has a bold new design, making it fun and easy to spot. Metro-North's operations, safety and asset management teams collaborated to create the retro-futuristic look of the train, which sports a font inspired by NASA’s 1970s “worm” logo, and features the shapes of several familiar fall leaves from our area. Have you spotted the laser train?

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About the New York Transit Museum

Found in 1976, the New York Transit Museum is one of only a few museums in the world dedicated to telling the story of urban public transportation. The Museum collects, exhibits, interprets, and preserves the history, sociology, and technology of public transportation systems in the New York metropolitan region, and conducts research and educational programs that make our extensive collections accessible and meaningful to a broad audience.

The Transit Museum is committed to preserving the stories of the people behind transportation – the extraordinary engineers, the workers who labored in the tunnels over 100 years ago, the communities that were drastically transformed, and the ever-evolving technology, design, and ridership of a system that runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Housed underground in an authentic 1936 subway station in Downtown Brooklyn, the Transit Museum’s main location spans a full city block, with a working platform that is home to a rotating selection of twenty vintage subway and elevated cars dating back to the early 1900s. Between our main location and our Gallery at Grand Central Terminal, the Transit Museum welcomes more than half a million visitors every year.

Transit Museum visitors can explore the vintage cars, sit at the wheel of a city bus, step through a time tunnel of turnstiles, and explore changing exhibits that highlight the cultural, social and technological history — and future — of mass transit.