Every year around this time, the MTA runs several “nostalgia trains” on New York City’s subway lines. In the three holiday season’s that I’ve been in NYC thus far, I had never seen one, so imagine my surprise when I stood at the downtown BDFV platform at West 4th Street on Sunday and heard a voice come over the intercom announcing, not a service change, but that the next downtown local train would be a special holiday nostalgia train!
As the headlights beamed through the dark tunnel, a large wreath came into view, followed by a very old fashioned looking rail car with a bright “S” for Special at the top. As the large green doors opened, they revealed an interior that was quite different from today’s modern subways. Real canvas padded seats as opposed to today’s hard plastic ones. Straps to hold on to as opposed to today’s metal poles and rods (making clear why commuters were dubbed “straphangers”), ceiling fans and no doors between cars. Alas, the train was operating as a V and only able to take me two stops to 2nd Avenue and Houston Street. But it was quite a treat! Check out the pics below!
