Memories of a Great Subway Conductor

In all likelihood, Harry Nugent was broken in by a real old timer named Abe (Al) Steinberg who retired sometime in the mid 1960s. When I was in high school from 1958 to 62, I would often ride his last trip out of Van Cortlandt after school and he made the most interesting announcements such as "Next stop good old 137 St, City College for better knowledge," 66 Street, the 99 upside down station," and "Times Square, change for the BMT if you want it." Abe was known at the time as the poet laureate of the subways and due to his public image had connections to obtain various types of theater tickets for any of his friends who wanted them.

Take the N,R,2,3,7 and Shuttle Trains to Will and Kate's Wedding

Or at least a live broadcast of it in Times Square.

It might almost feel as real as this cardboard cut out, which traveled over to these parts.

New York Subway - 42nd Street - 1986 - video footage

-- from Max

A Closer Look at New York Subway Preachers

From the New York Times:

Subway Preachers Speak of God

The graffiti has been replaced by advertising. The tokens have been replaced by MetroCards. But the subway preachers are a constant. They were there before I was born and will likely be there after I die — unless, of course, their occasional prophecy of the exact date that the world will end turns out to be accurate.

Some hand out leaflets quietly while others shout passages from the Bible. Some have a strict schedule; others show up whenever they are moved to do so. There seems to be little uncertainty of mission, no sign of existential angst. Most are Christian, servants of Jesus, but there is the occasional Hasidic Jew wandering the concourses. These proselytizers do not, generally, ask for much. You don’t have to give them money to buy a sandwich, and you’re not really obliged to feel guilty if you look away. If you take a tract or ask a question, you’ve gone well beyond your civic duty. Most riders ignore them. Over the past few months, I did not.

Read more: here

Remembering a Smile on the Subway

My best subway story is about my first time ever on the train - I was 16 and from a small New England town. I was smiling at everyone because I was so happy to be in NYC for the first time. I smiled at a Middle Eastern dude on the platform, and he smiled back. Two nights later, I was leaving Times Square after the ball dropped. It was 2 or 3 in the morning, and I hopped in a cab. The driver says "I know you - we smiled at each other on the subway two days ago!" Funny, serendipitous New York moment...
--WadeBlazingGame34

*******UPDATE************

on SUBWAY ART BLOG this morning, the posting was just too perfect to ignore.

Here's a picture courtesy of Subway Art Blog and Flickr's johnnieutah.