Vintage NYC Subway Cars & Buses in operation for the 2013 Holiday season
 

As in past years the MTA will be operating vintage subway cars on Sundays in December (December 1, 8, 15 and 22.).

The vintage buses will operate weekdays starting December 2 thru December 20. More info below.

The is also a model train exhibit in the NY Transit Museum Store and Gallery in Grand Central Terminal

[The text in quotes is taken from the MTA page (link at the bottom of this posting]

-- First the vintage buses.

"During the week, weather depending, bus customers along Manhattan’s 42nd Street crosstown corridor will be able to ride examples of NYC Transit’s vintage fleet. It’s an annual opportunity to catch a vintage bus and everything will be original except the bus operator and the fare box. .... .

Buses representing models that operated from the 1950s through the 1980s will roll across 42nd Street along the M42, allowing bus customers to take a nostalgic river to river ride. Built by manufacturers that either no longer exist or have just stopped building transit buses, these classic vehicles represent the newest of technology in operation during their eras.

The buses, which are not wheelchair accessible, will operate between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday from December 2 to 20. However, they will not run in the event of rain and snow. They are old and catch cold easily."

The fare on the buses is the same as a regular NYC bus - $2.50 in coins or Metrocard

----The vintage subway cars will operate as follows

The first trip starts out of Second Avenue at 10:01 a.m. with the last trip leaving Queens Plaza at 4:44 p.m. making all M Subway Line line stops in between. The complete schedule as follows:

Leaving 2nd Ave.
10:01am
11:31am
1:01pm
2:30pm
4:01pm

Leaving Queens Plaza
10:44am
12:14pm
1:43pm
3:14pm
4:44pm

When the train leaves 2nd Avenue (UPTOWN platform on the F line), it will stop at:
Broadway/Lafayette - 2 minutes later
West 4th St - 4 minutes later
14th St - 6 minutes later
23rd St - 8 minutes later
34th St - 9 minutes later
42nd St - 10 minutes later
47th-50th Sts - 12 minutes later
53rd St/5th Av - 14 minutes later]
53rd St/Lexington Av - 15 minutes
23rd St/Court Sq - 18 minutes later
Queens Plaza (Last stop) 20 minutes later

When the train leaves Queens Plaza (DOWNTOWN platform on the E line) it will stop at:
23rd St/Court Sq - 2 minutes later
53rd St/Lexington Av - 4 minutes later
53rd St/5th Av - 5 minutes later
47th-50th Sts - 8 minutes later
42nd St - 9 minutes later
34th St - 11 minutes later
23rd St - 12 minutes later
14th St - 14 minutes later
West 4th St - 16 minutes later
Broadway/Lafayette - 18 minutes later
2nd Av (last stop) - 20 minutes later

The above travel/stopping times are approximate and may vary slightly depending on other train service on the lines and passenger volume.

There is no charge to ride this train other than the initial fare to enter the subway.

-----Model Train Exhibit

"And, don’t forget to catch the 12th Annual Holiday Train Show at the Museum’s Gallery Annex at Grand Central Terminal featuring a working layout and a selection of vintage model trains dating from the 1800s. The layout, featuring Lionel trains will be on display from November 16 to February 23. The 34` O-Gauge layout features a limited-edition model of Grand Central Terminal (only 250 created) and eight separate loop tracks traveling through New York City, out into the countryside and even up to the North Pole (Not on MTA Map).

With vintage trains rumbling down the tracks and tiny pedestrians strolling down exquisitely-detailed miniature streets, the Train Show is a delight for young and old and a perfect treat after taking a ride on the real thing."

For more information
http://new.mta.info/news/2013/11/14/...rain-bus-rides

And, I mistakenly thought that all the subway cars were vintage. You mean there are some that are actually older?

Thanks for this information, a journey back in time. Fmpden, you need to visit NYC and ride on a non-vintage car.

fmpden - in this case "vintage" means cars that have been retired and are no longer used in regular service. The majority of the cars have either been scrapped are sunk off the shore in Delaware to create artificial reefs. Example of the cars were saved as part of the NY Transit Museum's collection.

The oldest cars that are still in regular service are the R32 models built in 1965 which are used on the C line (with some on the J) followed by the R42 model built in 1967-68 which provide extra rush hour service on the J. Then there are the R46 cars built in 1977-78 which are used on the A & R lines (some are on the F line). The R62s were built between 1983-87 and are on the 1, 3, 6, and 7 lines and the 42nd St Shuttle. The R68s built in 1986-89 are used on the B D and G lines.

The newest cars (with digital signs and recorded announcements) are:
R142 built 1999-2002 are used on the 2 and 5 lines
R142A built 1999-2002 are on the 6 line (and most will be modified and transferred to the 7 line as part of the R188 contract.)
R143 built 2001-2003 are used on the L line
R160 built from 2005-2009 are are used on the E, F, L, M, N, Q, and R lines.

The R32, R42, R46 cars will be retired and replaced in the coming years by new cars (R179 and R211).

The R143 and R160 cars assigned to the L line are equipped with Communications Based Train Control which allows computers on each train to do the basic running of the train - that is starting and stopping (there is always a train operator and conductor on the train). The R188 cars for the 7 line and the modified R142A cars from the 6 (which will be transferred to the 7) will also have this system.

I remember the one with wicker seats - that used to leave criss cross patterns on the back of your legs when you wore mini skirts? From the last ice age when I was a teen and our minis were really mini. And NO AC,

"And NO AC."

What you meant to say was, "And NO AC by design."

HappyTrvir, why would you say that? Just in New York over this past weekend and still have a metro card. Only been in NY five times this year. Maybe you should visit NY.

That long ago public transit just did not have AC - was only available as the newer cars came into service.

Thanks for this annual reminder, nycguy.