Here’s a rare opportunity to ride on some of New York City’s oldest subway trains spanning over a century of the city’s transportation history. The New York Transit Museum’s Parade of Trains returns this month, offering transit buffs a chance to travel on four historic trains from the museum’s collection of vintage fleets. The rides will run continuously from Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach B and Q express train platforms from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 17 and September 18. Admission is free with subway fare.
Photo courtesy of Ron Yee
Riders will get to experience what it was like to ride the subway a century ago, witnessing firsthand the drastic differences between the modernized trains of today and those of the past.
“The New York Transit Museum is delighted to announce the return of the Parade of Trains! We are extremely fortunate to have some of the oldest rolling stock in the U.S. that still rolls and what better way to ensure that remains the case than to bring our beloved vintage fleet to the rails in Brighton Beach,” a spokesperson for the museum said in a press release.
“The Parade of Trains, one of our favorite events, is such a special opportunity for people from every generation to travel back in time by traveling on one of the museum trains, and all for a swipe of your MetroCard or an OMNY tap!”
The museum’s vintage cars have no air conditioning, bright lighting, or automated voice announcements. Riders will be able to hold onto the vintage straps and handles and read advertisements from a bygone age.
Roundtrip rides will run continuously from Brighton Beach to Kings Highway and back, with each ride taking around 20 minutes and an expected wait time of no more than 15 minutes. Passengers will only be able to board and get off of the trains at the Brighton Beach station.
The Parade of Trains is part of the Nostalgia Train rides, which the Transit Museum has run since 1976. The program launched again this summer after a two-year break because of Covid.
Travel back in time on vintage NYC subway trains this month
POSTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022BY AARON GINSBURG
Photo courtesy of Ron Yee