NYC’s New Holiday-Themed Subway Car Is Actually From the 1930s
Your December commutes just got a lot more interesting.
New York City’s modern-day subway system earns its fair share of complaints on a daily basis. That being said, the Big Apple’s favorite transportation-centric archive has figured out a way to dispel grumpiness from even the most crotchety of commuters this holiday season.
The New York Transit Museum is offering locals and tourists the opportunity to experience the romance of an antique subway car on its Holiday Nostalgia Rides. Experience the beloved annual tradition and hope on a vintage R train car from the 1930s, decked out to channel the holiday spirit.
Held every Sunday in December, adventurers ride the spirited cars between the 2nd Avenue/Houston Street stop on the uptown F line to 2nd Avenue/96th Street stop on the uptown Q line. Trains will depart from the 2nd Avenue and Houston station at 10 am, noon, 2 pm, and 4 pm. Trains will depart from the 2nd Avenue and 96th Street station at 11 pm, 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm. Travelers can board at any of the stops between these two stations and fare is the MTA standard of $2.90.
The excellently preserved cars still maintain their original charm with historically accurate interiors like rattan seats, ceiling fans, vintage advertisements, and holiday decor including wreaths and twinkling lights. Like most things, New Yorkers commit to the bit for the Holiday Nostalgia Rides. So don’t be surprised if you see commuters decked out in retro fits like bold, tweed suits and silk, bias-cut dresses with matching gloves.
In addition to ice skating, seasonal markets, and dazzling light displays, tacking on a ride on a vintage subway car is a sure-fire way to lift yourself out of any lingering seasonal depression.
And if this experience piques your interest in the history of the city’s public transportation, drop by the New York Transit Museum, which can be found underground in Downtown Brooklyn within a 1936 subway station. Here, you can learn about the more than 100 years of transit history in New York City via antique subway cars—some of which date back to 1907.