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Holiday Nostalgia Train

January 31, 2017 by Yue Wang

The Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Holiday “Nostalgia” Train is another reminder of the holiday spirit in the city. The train rolls down on the tracks between Second Avenue and Queens Plaza along the M line every Sunday through Christmas (November 27th, December 4th, 11th , 18th ). The train is made up of eight R1/9 subway cars that were in service from 1932 until 1977. With a swipe of your MetroCard ($2.75), passengers are able to get on the train and take a trip back in time. You will find ceiling fans, padded seats and incandescent light bulbs among other vintage decor in the facilities on the train.

The public has expressed mixed feelings towards these old trains. Some people are excited because it is their first time to take the “Nostalgia” train, and will have a distinctively different experience in these trains compared to modern subways.

However, for others, the train brings them back to their childhood in the 1930s. For example, Vino Vinehaus, a man in his late sixties, remembers the old train well. He recalls how the conductor needed to be outside to stand between cars on rainy and snowy days to lock the chains. He says that he appreciates that the MTA has made special efforts to bring back the nostalgia train, and to allow us to “once again go inside the train that we used to get in when we were very young.”

Passengers are encouraged to dress up from the 20s, 30s, and 40s for the journey on the M line. Many people dressed in period costumes, including items like jackets from World War II in the 1940s, tilt hats, and Shanghai Qipao dresses from the 1920s. It is interesting to see how their clothing matches with the old train, and how their clothing reflects the various cultures in the city. People can not only experience the “Nostalgia” train, but also reminisce about the old days through exploration of past fashion trends.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) holiday “Nostalgia” subway train, which was made up of eight vintage subway cars, is running from lower Manhattan to Queen every Sunday from Nov.27 through Dec. 18, 2016 in New York. It costs a normal swipe of the MetroCard ($2.75) for the ride. (Yue Wang)
A man leans on the window and takes a nap in a holiday vintage subway train on Dec.4, 2016 in New York City. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) runs the old train that was made up of eight R1/9 subway cars and was in service from 1932 until 1977. (Yue Wang)
A father and his son sit in the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) holiday “Nostalgia” train on Dec.4, 2016 in New York City. The vintage train, comprising of eight subway cars from the 1930s-1970s, runs along the M line from Second Avenue to Queens Plaza on each Sunday from Nov.27 through Dec. 18, 2016. (Yue Wang)
Penny Zhao, who has been living in Queens for 24 years, takes photos inside the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) holiday “Nostalgia” train by her point-and-shoot camera on Dec.4, 2016 in New York City. She says it is excited to see the ceiling fans and padded seats in the car that was once in service during the 1930s. (Yue Wang)
The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) provides riders with the holiday “Nostalgia” train from lower Manhattan to Queens every Sunday from Nov.27 through Dec. 18, 2016. The train was made up of eight R1/9 subway cars that were in service from 1932 until 1977. There are ceiling fans, padded seats and incandescent light bulbs in the car. (Yue Wang)
Louis Mendes, on the right, wears period costume and rides on the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) holiday “Nostalgia” vintage subway train on Dec.11, 2016 in New York City. He is holding a press camera made in 1940. Each instant print costs people 20 dollars. (Yue Wang)
With the help of her father, a one-year old girl is trying to hold the handles above her in the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) holiday “Nostalgia” subway train on Dec.11, 2016 in New York City. The annual vintage subway train is running along Second Avenue and Queens Plaza every Sunday until the week before Christmas. (Yue Wang)
Camilla Hsiung, who is a model, photo and film director, dresses herself according to the 1974 movie, “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three”, on Dec.4, 2016 in New York City. She is the organizer of a group shooting on the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) holiday “Nostalgia” train. (Yue Wang)

A woman in period costume has her picture taken in a holiday “Nostalgia” vintage subway train while standing by a subway door at Second Avenue station on Dec.4, 2016 in New York City. The annual vintage subway train is running along Second Avenue and Queens Plaza every Sunday until the week before Christmas. (Yue Wang)

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) holiday “Nostalgia” train starts to run at 10 a.m. on Dec.4, 2016 in New York City, but it is broken and stops working at the Second Avenue station around 1 p.m. People in vintage costumes still wait for the vintage train to depart from the station. (Yue Wang)

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) holiday “Nostalgia” subway train is approaching the Second Avenue station on Dec.11, 2016 in New York City. The train was made up of eight vintage subway cars that were in service from the 1930s to the 1970s. It is running from lower Manhattan to Queens every Sunday from Nov.27 through Dec. 18, 2016. (Yue Wang)

 

 

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