Get aboard for a trip back in time, on a vintage NYC subway train. The annual and popular MTA Holiday Nostalgia Train rides again for 2017, with vintage R 1/9 cars that were in service 1932 to 1977.
You might remember light bulbs, woven wicker seats, ceiling fans and windows you could open before air conditioning. And straps to hang on to - the reason NYC subway riders are called “straphangers”.
Ride the vintage trains for the cost of a MetroCard swipe, on five consecutive Sundays, starting this Thanksgiving weekend.
Catch the 2017 Holiday Nostalgia Train on Sunday, November 26th, December 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th.
Nostalgia Train Schedule
In celebration of the one year anniversary of the Second Avenue Subway, this year’s Holiday Nostalgia Train will run along the F line, between 2nd Avenue and Lexington Avenue / 63rd Street, and via the Q line between Lexington Avenue / 63rd Street and 96th Street on the Upper East Side. making all regular stops.
The Holiday Nostalgia Train departs from the 2nd Avenue subway station on the F line at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm, and from the 96th Street subway station on the Q line at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm.
The MTA briefly renamed the Holiday Nostalgia Train as the “Shopper’s Special”, in the hopes passengers would ride it to shop and eat, along the route, especially at locally-owned stores and restaurants. But it turned out that people really just want to ride it, end to end, and go shopping via “regular” and modern subways other times.
Nostalgia Buses
The MTA also is operating vintage buses on the M42 route, across 42nd St., Monday, December 4th – Friday, December 22nd.
The buses will operate between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., will only be available weather permitting. The vintage fleet will not operate in rainy, snowy or icy conditions.
The New York Transit Museum typically displays these vehicles during special events at the museum or around the city, but are offering these holiday nostalgia rides to the public for a limited time.
MTA Holiday Nostalgia Train website.
Take the kids to ride the MTA Nostalgia Train. They’ll think it’s fun.
Take grammie and pops. They’ll love the memories.
Happy holiday riding from NYC on the Cheap.
Yvonne M Conde says
The MTA’s website says it’s on the M Line
You may be looking at the schedule of a previous year. This year the trains are running on the F & Q lines, in honor of the first anniversary of the Second Ave. subway.