Transit Museum Train of Many Colors

[wmbrown6]

In 1969, there was an attempt to "mix and match" IND/BMT cars in the same way the R12 to R36 mainlines were on the IRT. It was not uncommon to see a consist on the "B" Division with an R42 followed by an R32 followed by an R38 followed by an R40 slant, just as a f'rinstance. Or an R42 mixed in with R10's.

[SubwayFan83]

True but it was still part of transit's history. The fact they turn their noses up at something was apart of it or even dismiss it makes absolutely no sense. You had railcars in the 50s and farther back running in uglier color schemes. But yet white livery wasnt appreciated. If you think about it, if they knew white was going to attract graffiti and heavily. Why did they paint them in that color in the first place? Im pretty sure stopping graffiti wasnt the reason. They knew what was going down.

[coyoteatquiznos]

@SubwayFan83 It's a moot point.

[SubwayFan83]

Neither was MTA silver/blue but they kept it longer during the 70s and 80s. True? The green scheme was used on at least one consist in the 80s.

[coyoteatquiznos]

@SubwayFan83 Transit didn't have a pandemic of graff when it was introduced. It's a moot point; the white scheme idea has probably been dismissed by the Museum because of its association with the bad old days.

[SubwayFan83]

They should have use the second pair of MTA silver/blue R33 mainlines and paint it white livery.

[coyoteatquiznos]

@SubwayFan83 The white scheme was a failed measure against graffiti and has no aesthetic value.

[azar7834]

I do not like the R142 trains at all. They make those noises when they depart a train station. I miss the redbirds because they were the best MTA trains that have ever existed lol. The redbirds are faster than the R62 and R142 trains. Everything in New York City has changed. First they destroyed the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, than the redbird trains were dumped in the Atlantic Ocean. I miss the old New York City.

[coyoteatquiznos]

@azar7834 Woah woah, 9/11 and the Redbirds' retirement are two completely different things; let's get that straight. Technically, the 142/143/160s are supposed to accelerate faster than any of the existing rolling stock. You probably don't realize it because the cars have better suspension and sound-insulation. But that doesn't mean I like them.

As for the 62s, they're a class all their own and I like them for what they are. Hearing conductors do their thing is something I appreciate.

[azar7834]

@coyoteatquiznos Well I am just saying that things have changed after 9/11. Technically the Redbirds are the fastest trains. These new trains have computers built inside of them. If the computer brakes down the trains can't run anymore. You have to understand that. The Redbirds were more reliable than these new trains. Get that shit straight! I do not like the new trains.

[coyoteatquiznos]

@azar7834 *All* mechanical devices can fail. The Redbirds no longer come out for daily service. The 142-160 class is going nowhere. Rain is wet. Politicians lie. Trains run late.

Deal with it.

[Wehategod]

I remeber when the 2 and 5 was all Red Bird Now adays they are the boring old R142's. I miss the Railfan window and the sound those cars made. My First subway ride was from Allerton Ave to Pelham Parkway. I was one years old. I loved Riding the five in Manhattan espcially the Rail fan Window and going express was awsome.

[MADSEEN2009]

when u think of the word "Subway" these trains come to mind. why? they have rekty-racty sound , u always herd these trains when they came into the station! they also have a plain simple look, but look cool at the same time and in this day and age have so much history in them. I don;t like these new trains da mta been putting on da subway lines, with there gay european design or were ever they come from..

[applesweeter]

I have a qustion:

Why is these old subway train, especially redbird, so meaningful to New York people?

(I am from Hong Kong. Our subway train has a very short history, only 30 years)

[coyoteatquiznos]

They're meaningful to New Yorkers because when people think of the subway, they think of these trains. They've been around since 1955, and are of a simple and reliable design. In the 70s-80s, people did graffiti on these trains, and because of that people thought it was OK to break the law. When they were repainted, most crime went away, but they were still colorful and made peoples' day a little brighter. When they were scrapped, they were replaced with new technology trains that aren't as nice

[ACLTony]

I enjoyed riding the #2 back in the late 60s-early 70s before the graffitti epidemic hit. IMHO, the Redbird cars were far more attractive then the Chicago (CTA) subway cars, which for some strange reason always seemed to get more publicity back then.

[charlie8575]

Do they post their schedule? It's almost worth the trip to New York to go do this. Very cool.

[coyoteatquiznos]

There are two vintage trainsets that run different routes on weekends in December: the Train of Many Colors(above), and the IND R-9s(in another video on my channel). I don't think the former ran this holiday season; the last trip for the latter was on Sunday the 28th. Google "mta, vintage subway" and the dates posted should be in the first link listed.

[Wehategod]

Reminds of Taking of Pelham 123 some of those cars do.

[coyoteatquiznos]

Yeah. Most of the cars above are the successors to the train used in Pelham One Two Three. Except for a few aesthetic changes in the interior design and different parts here and there, they're exactly the same.

Be sure to catch the remake in 2009.

[noreaga12326]

BRONX554 these trains are not ugly. You have no idea on what ur talking about. these trains are old classics. you're probably a youngbuck dude so u wouldnt know nothing about them but they were good trains.

[bronx554]

that train is fugly

*freaking ugly* but i love that museum

[GTA4NikoB]

no those trains ar nice and colorful

[queline180]

They still do that with this train(which Line)

[coyoteatquiznos]

The video was taken during the 100th Anniversary of the subway, which the Transit Museum celebrated by putting some of their vintage trains into public service for a couple of weekends.

They ran the train again on the 7 line during the final opening day at Shea Stadium recently. They'll probably run it again for the US Open, so read the NY Daily News or go to subchat dot com if you're dead set on riding it.

[bonita2079]

Yeah they are still doing that, I think they do it every year. Many people, whether tourists or residents here in NYC) go on these trips. You have to sign up for the trip on nycsubway(dot)org in order to participate in the event.

[coyoteatquiznos]

The $40 trips used to be fundraisers for the March of Dimes, but they've stopped because the MTA brass didn't approve of the collection methods. They're now run under the Transit Museum, but it's just point A to B; they don't stop at stations for photos anymore.

But sometimes, like above, the train runs in regular service. All you need to do is hop on.