Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
A Tribute to a Train Car of the Past.....
The R-10s and the A - a match made in subway heaven.
They thundered. They blazed. They were tailor made for the Abbott. When they ruled, the CPW express run was a DASH and not a leisurely jog. When they bore down on 81st St. in full flight, you had the feeling that nothing could stop them. If you were standing on the platform at 81st, you got an earful as they ripped past.
The TA has made some blunders through the years, but putting the R-10s on the route they were tailor-made for was among the best moves - if not THE best move - ever made.
A combination of express runs and the speed capabilities of those cars. Now, I know that all SMEEs had the same operating characteristics in terms of acceleration and balancing speed, so in that regard the R-10s were no different than, say, the R-42s. Perhaps the fact that the R-10s were, shall we say, noisier than other SMEEs gave the perception of greater speed. Being that as it may, I enjoyed riding on them.
My very first CPW express dash was on a prewar D on November 24, 1967. Their bull and pinion gears wailed away at F# above middle C for most of that sprint.
The R-10s were an immortal fleet. I affectionately refer to then as the Thunderbirds. I still remember the racing stripe scheme they wore in the late 60s.
--Steve
They thundered. They blazed. They were tailor made for the Abbott. When they ruled, the CPW express run was a DASH and not a leisurely jog. When they bore down on 81st St. in full flight, you had the feeling that nothing could stop them. If you were standing on the platform at 81st, you got an earful as they ripped past.
The TA has made some blunders through the years, but putting the R-10s on the route they were tailor-made for was among the best moves - if not THE best move - ever made.
A combination of express runs and the speed capabilities of those cars. Now, I know that all SMEEs had the same operating characteristics in terms of acceleration and balancing speed, so in that regard the R-10s were no different than, say, the R-42s. Perhaps the fact that the R-10s were, shall we say, noisier than other SMEEs gave the perception of greater speed. Being that as it may, I enjoyed riding on them.
My very first CPW express dash was on a prewar D on November 24, 1967. Their bull and pinion gears wailed away at F# above middle C for most of that sprint.
The R-10s were an immortal fleet. I affectionately refer to then as the Thunderbirds. I still remember the racing stripe scheme they wore in the late 60s.
--Steve
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Impromptu Dance Party Breaks out on Subway Platform
Thank you nyctheblog, for this gem.
Here's an impromptu dance party that just apparently happened the other Saturday night.
It's not just hipster kids, look in the back for the older gentleman in the grey sweater, and the two little boys dancing on the right.
Was it the "supermoon" getting into our New York blood--even underground?
Here's an impromptu dance party that just apparently happened the other Saturday night.
It's not just hipster kids, look in the back for the older gentleman in the grey sweater, and the two little boys dancing on the right.
Was it the "supermoon" getting into our New York blood--even underground?
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Magic Trick about the A train
There are two magic tricks in this video. The first is a silly card trick.
The second is the Columbus Circle 59th St. Subway Station.
Best moment starts at minute 2:40.
From the 80's cult film "Brother from Another Planet"
If you know the Columbus Circle station, you may have seen this yourself....
(background: protagonist is a mute alien disguised as a human, and more than just a little freaked out by NYC.)
The second is the Columbus Circle 59th St. Subway Station.
Best moment starts at minute 2:40.
From the 80's cult film "Brother from Another Planet"
If you know the Columbus Circle station, you may have seen this yourself....
(background: protagonist is a mute alien disguised as a human, and more than just a little freaked out by NYC.)
Monday, March 21, 2011
Panhandler Ploy....
I went to get an E train at 5th Avenue & 53rd Street, and at the bottom of the stairs/escalators onto the Queens Bound platform there was a beggar asking for money. He was in a wheelchair with semmingly no legs and stubs. So I gave him a few bucks. I was younger like 16-18. Right after I put the $$ in his cup this cop came over, took the $$ out of the cup gave it to me, and said "watch" and he goes and grabs the guy barehanded under the guys armpits and I started getting upset at the guy's humiliation and getting upset with the cop, but within seconds the cop lifted the guy and the legs fell out from a secret compartment, I was speechless. The cop put the guy down on his legs and dude can stand! That now makes me never give $$. Boy did I apologize to that cop lol
-Arnine
-Arnine
Friday, March 18, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Happy St. Patrick's Day
Looking for good stories from people you see on the subway on St. Paddy's Day. Feel free to comment. You know you've seen some crazy leprechaun on the Lexington Avenue line....
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Best METROCARD Art features JASON DAS
SWIPE AGAIN is an open exhibition of art--using metrocards as the medium.
The exhibition is starts this week, with a reception on Thursday, March 17 at the Sloane Fine Art Gallery at 128 Rivington. Works on metrocard are all for sale.
Check out the specific and personal drawings of Jason Das
The exhibition is starts this week, with a reception on Thursday, March 17 at the Sloane Fine Art Gallery at 128 Rivington. Works on metrocard are all for sale.
Check out the specific and personal drawings of Jason Das
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
House Above the Train
From somewhere like Fort Hamilton, on the N train, out in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. Can you imagine living on top of the subway like this? How would you cope with the noise? What stories do these people have about the subway?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Ten Year Old Loses Brother on Train
In the late 60’s / or early 70’s…either way, I was barely 10 years old…my brother (who is 12 years older than me) would take me to all the 4 major sports via the subway. We lived in Yonkers, so we would normally drive to the Bronx and pick it up there (238th on the #1, or Woodlawn on the #4). My brother would always drill into me about being safe on the subway…you know, what to do and what not to do. One particular important “plan” was that if I got on the subway but my brother didn’t, I was to ride to the next stop, get off, stay EXACTLY where I got off the subway and for him to arrive.
Sometimes we wouldn’t take the most direct route from point-a to point-b…we’d get a little creative so we could ride different lines. I think this may be where I became a NYC subway railfan…
We were again on our way to a Mets game, and I remember we were switching from the D at 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr, to the E or F out to Roosevelt Ave to switch to the Flushing line. I remember nearing the stairway down to the E/F platform and I could hear a train rolling in. I started to run because it could have been our train (c’mon, I didn’t want to miss Tommy Agee taking batting practice!).
Sure enough it was, I ran down the stairs, and hopped on to the again somewhat crowded train. Happy I made it, I turned around for my brother, and there he was standing on the platform…smiling, and waving to me as the doors closed! I panicked for a few seconds, but I remembered what he told me…so I turned back around to the rest of the car and all the people looking at me, and I remember saying, “It’s ok folks…I know what to do”. I got of at the next stop (5th Ave)…and didn’t BUDGE until the next subway arrived. Sure enough, there was my brother standing behind the door that stopped directly in front of me! Yeah, I was a bit scared…but I knew and trusted my brother so I knew he’d be there. I’m sure this is something you wouldn’t do to a 10-year-old THESE days!!
Sometimes we wouldn’t take the most direct route from point-a to point-b…we’d get a little creative so we could ride different lines. I think this may be where I became a NYC subway railfan…
We were again on our way to a Mets game, and I remember we were switching from the D at 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr, to the E or F out to Roosevelt Ave to switch to the Flushing line. I remember nearing the stairway down to the E/F platform and I could hear a train rolling in. I started to run because it could have been our train (c’mon, I didn’t want to miss Tommy Agee taking batting practice!).
Sure enough it was, I ran down the stairs, and hopped on to the again somewhat crowded train. Happy I made it, I turned around for my brother, and there he was standing on the platform…smiling, and waving to me as the doors closed! I panicked for a few seconds, but I remembered what he told me…so I turned back around to the rest of the car and all the people looking at me, and I remember saying, “It’s ok folks…I know what to do”. I got of at the next stop (5th Ave)…and didn’t BUDGE until the next subway arrived. Sure enough, there was my brother standing behind the door that stopped directly in front of me! Yeah, I was a bit scared…but I knew and trusted my brother so I knew he’d be there. I’m sure this is something you wouldn’t do to a 10-year-old THESE days!!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Man who Kisses Rats in Subway Bites them at Grand Central
see this fine gentleman making out with his rats on the subway on nyc the blog, here!
question: why do his teeth look bloody?
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