Roger Arcara was a giant of the NYC railfan community and is sorely missed. This compilation, and the expertise he displays in narrating it, are ample evidence of why.
He was very knowledgable and will be missed! As a girl growing up in Brooklyn and Queens, I remember my grandpa taking me on many of these trains in the 70''s and 80's.
I am a Chicagoan ,but am just amazed by the complexity, size of trains, multi levels , large yards , various station / platform layouts and express versus local service provided. Roger does this subject matter in an authoritative and clear way.
I grew up in Astoria in the 1950’s and 60’s . Since I was born in 1951 I never got to see any trains on the north side of Queensboro Plaza although I remember all of the structures minus tracks stood until 1962. Even without tracks the entire complex was unbelievable.
The BMT Q cars ran a lot faster on the Flushing line than they did after they were transferred to the Third Ave. Elevated line in 1950 since they still had their original Peckham trucks. When they went to the IRT they got lighter (and less powerful) trucks from retired Composite cars. After they went back to the BMT in 1958 their clerestory roofs were lowered so that they could clear some obstructions in the tunnels near DeKalb Ave. to reach Coney Island shops for heavy maintenance. The 5 car trains in the film were made up of 1 three car Q set and 1 two car QX set. The QX sets were not modified but instead used for work service after 1950.
I remember riding on a lot the trains you are showing here, when I was a kid of 7 yrs old, my Dad took to Coney Island, on the Carnarsie Line, then when we went to the Bronx Zoo, I cannot recall the number of the trains, as we are talking some 56 or so years ago. It's funny as soon I started watching my memory of the smells of Creosote whiffed pass my nose, also the smell of stall popcorn, with the old wooden fan blades, and the straw-like seats. I used to live at Crescent & Fulton Streets. >
I totally remember the R10 when painted as the "Green Machines" I rode those a couple times before they retired back in '89. I was 6 years old when the trains were gone.
In the late 1980s about 110 Westinghouse R10 cars were given a minor overhaul and repainted dark green with silver roofs. This was done as a temporary measure until new R68 car deliveries allowed them to be retired in 1989. They served out their days on the C local runs which always seemed to have the oldest cars on the system. R27/30 cars would replace them but only for a few years until they were also retired around 1993 because adding air conditioning would have made them too heavy.
Those R10s looked very sharp in that green paint scheme. Is there any more videos of them along with the R1-R9s? Thanks for uploading these videos by the way. This gives me a very good prospective of what the TA/MTA used on the subway and the elevated lines.
Absolutly wonderful archival presentation ! I grew up in Marine Park area of BKLYN and relied on the IRT Flatbush Ave (@ The Junction) #2 train along with the IND/BMT Kings Highway station Brighton line .
wow! great video! i remember as a kid when they started tearing the j el down in jamaica queens on jamaica ave! i remember at time when sutphin blvd was the last stop on the j el!
@@fernandosalas8589 I went back to NYC in January (hadn't been back since 1988). I was wondering why Jamaica Ave looks so bright and naked. Then I remembered the El is gone 😂
@@Mhel2023 Wow 88 I was 17 and it was more wierd when it came down in 1990 I think. I saw them taking it down in front of the apartment where I used to live. I personally believe that it has to do with greed because they could've just build a tunnel from Parsons to connect with E train. So they built a double tunnel and more expensive they built a tunnel from Eli to transfer to the G very smart. I had a wierd dream I saw the J train elevated by where I used to live in Jamaica Ave. Maybe they'll re do it again.
I rode the Jamaica Line most of time when I was growing up, and when I became an older teenager, I rode the trains just for entertainment, I guess I was an early Rail Fan Fan, lol
The real share 37 graffitti 1 line bomer from 1985 n partner braer tpt long live mta graffitti mta won its war may 12 1989 we had fun as nyc teenagers nice vedio
Thanks for a great video compilation and lots of interesting historical facts. I grew up in the 1960s and 70s in Ozone Park, R-1/9, R-10s, R-40 are the trains I knew best and love. Thanks so much for a great video.
Towards the end is shown green R-10s. Roger the narrator repeatedly refers to what he thinks is a single train, but actually all remaining R-10s were eventually cleaned up inside and out with the green paint. By that time they were mostly run on the C. The CC became C in 1986, around the time or a little before the clean car program reached the R-10 fleet.
The R27/30 cars which replaced the old R10s did not last long on the C. In the early 1990s they were retired because adding air conditioning during GOH would make them too heavy. Apparently the R32s having lighter stainless steel carbodies allowed them to be rebuilt and some of them are still operating today.
Those R1-9 cars were very tired due to lack of maintenance by the time they got to the BMT Eastern Division. I am sure that the conductors must have disliked their outside caps and triggers. The repainting into that silver/blue MTA scheme and the cancer of graffiti vandalism didn't help them. Some of them were preserved after they were retired including 1300, 1575 and 1802 which still run on excursions. The last Standard cars were retired in August 1969 and after the Q cars and the remaining Steinway cars were retired later that year the R1-9 were the only prewar cars left on the system. They operated until 1977.
Gotta love the captioning! "Pitkens Ave."..."LIRRR"... But darn, these sure are info-packed videos! I was a railfan back in the 70's when there were still remnants of old interesting things in the subway (The Culver shuttle had just closed by the time I got on the scene! Darn!!) but I've learned a lot from these vids that I never knew, despite having read all the books!
I was born in 1947 in Astoria. Our station was Steinway St. My Grandparents used to take me to Manhattan to shop and sightsee. Loved eating at Nedicks with a hot dog, fries and orange drink in the paper cup. Had to have a hot soft pretzel.
And E Trains ran to Rockaway Park.during rush hours.they ended at Broad Channel under the shuttle as it is today/during off peak as the HH from Broad Channel to 116st
About one minute into the film you can see the track way that will take the BMT uptown trains over to the IRT platform formerly used by the Second Ave. elevated trains. The track hasn't yet been installed even though the platform hasn't been used since 1942. The former Dual Contracts joint operation had become redundant due to the city's purchase of the IRT and BMT in 1940. There are still a few visible vestiges of the steel work that connected to the long demolished northern half of the station that was used by the BMT. This is a very interesting video which provides a good look into how the subways operated in the years following WWII which presented challenges for many other rapid transit systems as well as New York's.
Graffiti at that time was repeating the Egyptians era. Expressing history on subway cars! This change the whole MTA we have now!!!! That’s Hip Hop for you!!!!
When this was filmed in 1948 IRT trains of 1938 WF cars or steel lo V cars ran from the Times Sq 7 line to Astoria. After oct 1949 when the Astoria line became just BMT all of the trains on the 7 line ran between times sq and main st. The IRT Astoria -times sq trains used the track that is today the N & W southbound track. That IRT service switched to the 7 line via a crossover switch just before the EL turned towards 45st ct house sq. there is no remaining evidence of that switch as a structure holding equipment has been built over that. The switch on the upper level where the Astoria bound IRT trains used is still there as it is the only connection between the Flushing line and the rest of the system. it used to move R 188 cars that need heavy repairs.
R12 and R14 cars carried Astoria signs since they were ordered before the 1949 changes took place. I don't think that they ever actually ran on the Astoria line. Newer cars ordered for the IRT division did not have them.
They did use the Culver line from 1954-1967. In November 1967 when the Chrystie St. connection opened there were a large number of service changes and the D was rerouted to the Brighton line and the F was extended out to Brooklyn through the Rutgers St. tunnel and replaced the D on the Culver line where it is still running today.
No, the graffiti was what gave it the “hip urban” image associated with it today. What “put it on the map” was it being -the first rapid transit system in America -the largest rapid transit system in the world at the time (including America) -New York being so damn popular
@@jrodriv16 why the violence? you are obviously Caucasian and the vandals doing the painting.of the trains in those days were usually black and Hispanic
Roger Arcara was a giant of the NYC railfan community and is sorely missed. This compilation, and the expertise he displays in narrating it, are ample evidence of why.
He was very knowledgable and will be missed! As a girl growing up in Brooklyn and Queens, I remember my grandpa taking me on many of these trains in the 70''s and 80's.
Excellent presentation. Mr. Arcara is sorely missed and was of a type we don't have today.
I am a Chicagoan ,but am just amazed by the complexity, size of trains, multi levels , large yards , various station / platform layouts and express versus local service provided. Roger does this subject matter in an authoritative and clear way.
I grew up in Astoria in the 1950’s and 60’s . Since I was born in 1951 I never got to see any trains on the north side of Queensboro Plaza although I remember all of the structures minus tracks stood until 1962. Even without tracks the entire complex was unbelievable.
I'm a former New Yorker and it STILL fascinates me. This is amazing NY transit history ❤️❤️
The BMT Q cars ran a lot faster on the Flushing line than they did after they were transferred to the Third Ave. Elevated line in 1950 since they still had their original Peckham trucks. When they went to the IRT they got lighter (and less powerful) trucks from retired Composite cars. After they went back to the BMT in 1958 their clerestory roofs were lowered so that they could clear some obstructions in the tunnels near DeKalb Ave. to reach Coney Island shops for heavy maintenance. The 5 car trains in the film were made up of 1 three car Q set and 1 two car QX set. The QX sets were not modified but instead used for work service after 1950.
I remember riding on a lot the trains you are showing here, when I was a kid of 7 yrs old, my Dad took to Coney Island, on the Carnarsie Line, then when we went to the Bronx Zoo, I cannot recall the number of the trains, as we are talking some 56 or so years ago. It's funny as soon I started watching my memory of the smells of Creosote whiffed pass my nose, also the smell of stall popcorn, with the old wooden fan blades, and the straw-like seats. I used to live at Crescent & Fulton Streets. >
Have you ever seen the mosaics on the BMT Fourth Avenue Lines before the MTA put ugly cinderblocks over it?
J train line that’s where I’m from as well
@@iMeanwhynott78990 Same here. the old "15/Jamaica Local", Standards & R16s..!!
this commentator knows his stuff!! i am of his opinion as regards to graff as well,what a bloody eyesore the trains were in the 70/s 80/s
Agreed!
I totally remember the R10 when painted as the "Green Machines" I rode those a couple times before they retired back in '89. I was 6 years old when the trains were gone.
In the late 1980s about 110 Westinghouse R10 cars were given a minor overhaul and repainted dark green with silver roofs. This was done as a temporary measure until new R68 car deliveries allowed them to be retired in 1989. They served out their days on the C local runs which always seemed to have the oldest cars on the system. R27/30 cars would replace them but only for a few years until they were also retired around 1993 because adding air conditioning would have made them too heavy.
Roger just has such a pleasant voice to just listen to (especially about transit stuff) lol
As much as i rode the trains as a kid Im surprised i havent seen myself or anyone I knew! (LOL)
Those R10s looked very sharp in that green paint scheme. Is there any more videos of them along with the R1-R9s? Thanks for uploading these videos by the way. This gives me a very good prospective of what the TA/MTA used on the subway and the elevated lines.
More footage than all of the Transit Museum heritage footage.
Now this is the good stuff. Pristine state of the art cars in action :)
Absolutly wonderful archival presentation ! I grew up in Marine Park area of BKLYN and relied on the IRT Flatbush Ave (@ The Junction) #2 train along with the IND/BMT Kings Highway station Brighton line .
wow! great video! i remember as a kid when they started tearing the j el down in jamaica queens on jamaica ave! i remember at time when sutphin blvd was the last stop on the j el!
They should've never have taken it down I remember it went to 168th St in Jamaica Ave.
@@fernandosalas8589 I went back to NYC in January (hadn't been back since 1988). I was wondering why Jamaica Ave looks so bright and naked. Then I remembered the El is gone 😂
@@Mhel2023 Wow 88 I was 17 and it was more wierd when it came down in 1990 I think. I saw them taking it down in front of the apartment where I used to live. I personally believe that it has to do with greed because they could've just build a tunnel from Parsons to connect with E train. So they built a double tunnel and more expensive they built a tunnel from Eli to transfer to the G very smart. I had a wierd dream I saw the J train elevated by where I used to live in Jamaica Ave. Maybe they'll re do it again.
I rode the Jamaica Line most of time when I was growing up, and when I became an older teenager, I rode the trains just for entertainment, I guess I was an early Rail Fan Fan, lol
The real share 37 graffitti 1 line bomer from 1985 n partner braer tpt long live mta graffitti mta won its war may 12 1989 we had fun as nyc teenagers nice vedio
Great video and commentary! You really brought me back to my childhood as an early 70's railfan.
Thanks for a great video compilation and lots of interesting historical facts. I grew up in the 1960s and 70s in Ozone Park, R-1/9, R-10s, R-40 are the trains I knew best and love. Thanks so much for a great video.
Towards the end is shown green R-10s. Roger the narrator repeatedly refers to what he thinks is a single train, but actually all remaining R-10s were eventually cleaned up inside and out with the green paint. By that time they were mostly run on the C. The CC became C in 1986, around the time or a little before the clean car program reached the R-10 fleet.
cool video showing 168st jamaica
There was about 250 R10s left on the property by 1986. When the R27s went to Pitkin around 1987, that essentially killed many of the unrebuilt cars.
The R27/30 cars which replaced the old R10s did not last long on the C. In the early 1990s they were retired because adding air conditioning during GOH would make them too heavy. Apparently the R32s having lighter stainless steel carbodies allowed them to be rebuilt and some of them are still operating today.
Some R10s still did have CC and HH signs until the very end in 1989.
Loved this video!! Recognized every car class/type! Interesting paint schemes on those R10s later on..Brought back loads of memories! Thanks!
Those R1-9 cars were very tired due to lack of maintenance by the time they got to the BMT Eastern Division. I am sure that the conductors must have disliked their outside caps and triggers. The repainting into that silver/blue MTA scheme and the cancer of graffiti vandalism didn't help them. Some of them were preserved after they were retired including 1300, 1575 and 1802 which still run on excursions. The last Standard cars were retired in August 1969 and after the Q cars and the remaining Steinway cars were retired later that year the R1-9 were the only prewar cars left on the system. They operated until 1977.
Gotta love the captioning! "Pitkens Ave."..."LIRRR"... But darn, these sure are info-packed videos! I was a railfan back in the 70's when there were still remnants of old interesting things in the subway (The Culver shuttle had just closed by the time I got on the scene! Darn!!) but I've learned a lot from these vids that I never knew, despite having read all the books!
I was born in 1947 in Astoria. Our station was Steinway St. My Grandparents used to take me to Manhattan to shop and sightsee. Loved eating at Nedicks with a hot dog, fries and orange drink in the paper cup. Had to have a hot soft pretzel.
The trains revoise ends at their toiminals. Love it.
And I thought that I was such an expert on NYC subway lines. I am humbled in that I know very little.
I was so impressed with video it reminded me so much of the trains i rode as a kid from the 60s and 70s. WHAT A VIDEO. EXCELLENT........
THAT WAS CLASSIC!
And E Trains ran to Rockaway Park.during rush hours.they ended at Broad Channel under the shuttle as it is today/during off peak as the HH from Broad Channel to 116st
About one minute into the film you can see the track way that will take the BMT uptown trains over to the IRT platform formerly used by the Second Ave. elevated trains. The track hasn't yet been installed even though the platform hasn't been used since 1942. The former Dual Contracts joint operation had become redundant due to the city's purchase of the IRT and BMT in 1940. There are still a few visible vestiges of the steel work that connected to the long demolished northern half of the station that was used by the BMT. This is a very interesting video which provides a good look into how the subways operated in the years following WWII which presented challenges for many other rapid transit systems as well as New York's.
Fascinating documentary.
To think I rode the #7 every day for 13 years and never knew the history!
Graffiti at that time was repeating the Egyptians era. Expressing history on subway cars! This change the whole MTA we have now!!!! That’s Hip Hop for you!!!!
pure awesomeness!
I like this it shows you how different the system was in comparison to now. A lot of changes on those IND and BMT lines
When this was filmed in 1948 IRT trains of 1938 WF cars or steel lo V cars ran from the Times Sq 7 line to Astoria. After oct 1949 when the Astoria line became just BMT all of the trains on the 7 line ran between times sq and main st. The IRT Astoria -times sq trains used the track that is today the N & W southbound track. That IRT service switched to the 7 line via a crossover switch just before the EL turned towards 45st ct house sq. there is no remaining evidence of that switch as a structure holding equipment has been built over that. The switch on the upper level where the Astoria bound IRT trains used is still there as it is the only connection between the Flushing line and the rest of the system. it used to move R 188 cars that need heavy repairs.
R12 and R14 cars carried Astoria signs since they were ordered before the 1949 changes took place. I don't think that they ever actually ran on the Astoria line. Newer cars ordered for the IRT division did not have them.
Great footage! I think I saw my wife back in the day at one of the train stations! :):)
Saw r40 slant. On the. F line
Queensboro Plaza was elegant and massive! Now it's a shell of its former self.
Do you plan on uploading the full video in the near future, which shows the underground shots?
Fantastic video!
I wish I could have ridden the J train all the way to 168th St and Jamaica Ave. That would be cool if it still existed.
I used to wait for my dad at the Queens Blvd station I lived a block away where only the exit for peak hours was only opened. Awesome memories.
R32s ran the franklin avenue shuttle line cool.
E train in The. Rockaways
You fotgot R32s and r38. Are my fav
They did not exist at the time
52:25 that is 4th and 9th, it looks identical today the manhattan bound side.
I have miss 1940 F line to 9th ave on the west end D line :(
What kind of upscaling and stabilization software was used for this?
What I didn't know that D trains went via clulver line.
They did use the Culver line from 1954-1967. In November 1967 when the Chrystie St. connection opened there were a large number of service changes and the D was rerouted to the Brighton line and the F was extended out to Brooklyn through the Rutgers St. tunnel and replaced the D on the Culver line where it is still running today.
murray1575 the D TRAIN IS ON THE WEST END SINCE 2004.
Pictures video
M C.
graffiti is what put the nyc subway on the map as of today had we not had the era we wouldnt have the trains we do now
No. The fact that the nYc subway is the largest in the world is what put it on the map, and keeps it there.
Um okay if u say so😆😅
If it were up to me, I would chop the fingers of these vandals.
No, the graffiti was what gave it the “hip urban” image associated with it today. What “put it on the map” was it being
-the first rapid transit system in America
-the largest rapid transit system in the world at the time (including America)
-New York being so damn popular
@@jrodriv16 why the violence? you are obviously Caucasian and the vandals doing the painting.of the trains in those days were usually black and Hispanic
Stop playing with the microphone very annoying.
I wish all his footage was clear like digital remastered so you could see everytĥiñg.....