Not a New Yorker, but these two features with historical pictures of the NYC subway system are worthwhile.
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/660-miles-468-stations-106-years/
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/21/nyregion/20101021-ny-subway-historical-photos.html?hp
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
The NYC subway system is a large reason for my being a railfan. Yes, the DL&W was in my back yard and the LIRR a short two block walk from my grandparents home in Jamaica. But it was the subway upon which we travelled to get around the city or the conveyence my grandfather used to amuse my brother and me for an afternoon. The railfan window was so fascenating, educational, and absorbing whether skipping by open aparment windows on the 3rd Ave. EL or the Jamaica Ave. BMT or peering hard into the darkness of the tunnel ahead watching red lights turn to green as the train rushed toward them. It wasn't railroading like most Americans knew, steam or diesel locomotives pulling strings of cars or shunting them back and forth or zipping streamlined trains over hills, into and out of valleys, or along grade guided rivers. Subways were up and down sharp grades, around tight curves, deep in the dark but sometimes popping into daylight, sprinting from station to station until you came to a bumping block or the tracks looping back on itself. This was railroading you couldn't see sitting "back in the coaches" and with a flavor all its own.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
I can remember similar experiences on the L. The 6000-series cars had a single center-facing seat right against the left-hand window opposite the motorman's cab. This was absolutely perfect for an enthusiast, especially on the descent into the subways where the speed control signals would clear to green just as the train approached at the proper speed.
In picture 48 I see a new train of R62As going through the car wash. What really interests me more is the train located to the right side of the photo. A train of 38 year old GOH R10 cars that recently got put back into service after being painted green, which is what they were given when they got light GOHs. I wonder why were they painted green? Even though that is a perfect picture to see the new and the old.
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