The MTA has had more than its share of terrible problems lately... so it's time to roll out the Holiday Nostalgia Rides to remind everyone of the NYC subway system’s long and occasionally even glorious history! Yesterday was the third running of the vintage trains, a hybrid made up of beautifully restored R1-9 cars from the 1930s and '40s. Both casual fun-seekers and hardcore train fans had a blast riding up and down between the 2nd Ave F train station and the A/C/D stop at 125th Street.
The train sits open in the station at either end of its route for 15 minutes, allowing straphangers to explore, take in all of the throwback advertising and old school subway signage (culled from the New York Transit Museum's archives) and maybe hit the platform's dance floor.
An added bonus on Sunday was the Underground Jazz and Swing Festival, a grassroots operation that brought of-the-era bands to the 2nd Ave platform. The bands performed all day long for tips, and though the somewhat narrow "stage" and swarm of spectators made it difficult for a full-on dance party to break out, several couples managed to find space to dip and twirl. One band also rode on the train, belting out classics for the entire 45-minute ride.
The combination of old-timey music and vintage train cars brought out dozens of impeccably-dressed jazz-era fans (though not quite up to par with what we saw in 2016), who posed for photos and added to the festive feel. Somewhat randomly but always welcome, the Furies from The Warriors also showed up, and wandered through the cars handing out candy to little kids.
Holiday Nostalgia Rides happen for three more Sundays, on December 16, 23, and 30. You can catch the train at any of the nine stops along the way, but it only lingers at the ends of the route. The cost is a swipe of your MetroCard. The first train yesterday, leaving 2nd Avenue at 10:00 a.m., was considerably less crowded than subsequent ones.
