Summary
Looking for some cheap, funky fun in New York during the holidays? For a retro experience, take a ride on an old subway — really old, as in Humphrey-Bogart-in-the-1930s vintage.
During the winter holiday season, the NY MTA and the NY Transit Museum, that quintessentially quirky museum located underground, transports a few treasured vintage New York subway cars back onto the tracks as part of their Holiday Vintage program. Every Sunday between Thanksgiving weekend and New Year’s weekend, the public can enjoy the Holiday Nostalgia Train.
Since 2007, the wintertime Nostalgia Train has become something of an underground attraction, with riders showing up in costumes from the 1930s. Swing bands have performed on the old trains, making this a unique cultural experience. Moreover, rail buffs cannot stay away from this nostalgic event.
More authentic than a trip to Disney and cheaper than a dinner date, a ride on a historic subway car offers a rare kind of trip down New York City’s memory lane.
About the Holiday Nostalgia Train
The Holiday Nostalgia Train consists of subway cars in service from 1932 until 1977. Three of these vintage subway trains, from the 1930s, usually reside in the Brooklyn-based NY Transit Museum, which operates them on special occasions.
Featuring ceiling fans, padded seats, and incandescent light bulbs, these cars were state-of-the-art when they first entered service. Each car accommodates approximately 70 seats, with about four cars brought back into service to delight nostalgic riders and those looking for an unconventional way to experience the Big Apple.
Furthermore, the fixers and mechanics accompanying these trains are a rarity. As one can imagine, historic cars like these require special knowledge for repair and maintenance, skills that only a handful of experts possess today.
So, pick your era and go for a ride. You might dress up like a 1930’s flapper or a 1960’s fop. Put on an old New Yawk accent and a vintage hat. Or bring the kids for a ride along several stops, traversing from lower to midtown Manhattan (stop details below).
7 Things to Know About NYC’s Holiday Nostalgia Trains
- Cost: You only pay the regular subway fare of $2.75, using your normal Metrocard.
- Safety: Safety is prioritized; the trains, although old, are well-maintained and run on standard tracks.
- Historically, Where Did They Run? These trains served the lettered lines throughout the city’s subway system.
- Where Does the Holiday Nostalgia Train Start? The Holiday Nostalgia Train runs along the F line between 2nd Av and Lexington Avenue / 63rd Street, and via the Q line between Lexington Avenue / 63rd Street and 96th Street on the Upper East Side.
- How Long Is the Entire Ride? And Do You Have to Take the Whole Ride? The ride lasts about half an hour one way. You can opt to take a normal train one way, a vintage one the other, or simply hop on and off as you please.
- What Is the Schedule? In recent years, the Holiday Nostalgia Train departs from the 2nd Av subway station on the F line at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m., and from the 96th Street subway station on the Q line at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.
- Food: Please refrain from bringing food and drinks. These museum-quality trains must be maintained and kept clean. It’s best to bring your camera instead.
Summer Vintage Train Rides
The winter holidays aren’t the only time to ride a vintage NYC subway. During the summer, the Brooklyn-based Transit Museum sponsors fundraising events featuring vintage train rides to beach destinations, such as Coney Island. For more information on historic subway trains, consider visiting the NY Transit Museum site.
