R1/9 IND CARS ON 6th AVE LINE

by Kevin Walsh

The MTA is running a trainset of R1/R9 cars on the 6th Avenue Line on Saturdays during the holiday season. I have a number of interior and exterior shots but will try to get a few more before doing a lengthier FNY page.

Here’s the schedule if you want to catch one:

The Holiday Special R 1/9 train will run on Saturdays this year from Nov. 26 through Dec. 24. The trains will leave Second Ave. at 9:58 a.m., 11:37 a.m., 12:57 p.m., 2:27 p.m. and 3:57 p.m. and make local stops to Queens Plaza. Planned departure times from Queens Plaza are 10:43 a.m., 12:13 p.m., 1:42 p.m., 3:13 p.m. and 4:43 p.m.

The Chicago Transit Authority also has a tradition of running holiday specials, which are more spectacularly decorated.

8 comments

Geoffrey A November 29, 2011 - 8:40 pm

According to my source inside the MTA this is the first time that they’re not charging a special admission price to ride the nostalgia train……I think that is pretty rad…..thanks for posting they’re scheduled times of departure from queens plaza and 2nd ave

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Ferryboi November 30, 2011 - 2:30 pm

Better check your source again. The MTA has been running these Holiday Specials for a few years now, and anyone riding along the Sixth Ave Line has been invited to board without having to pay a premium fare.

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Geoffrey A December 2, 2011 - 7:20 pm

I did not say that this was the first time that they are running those museum trains, in the past the mta has run nostalgia trains along special routes that are not normally running revenue trains, and the mta would charge a special price to ride the train, it was around 50-75 dollars, and this year is the first time that the mta is not charging a special admission price, and I know this for a fact because I have ridden the nostalgia train in the past when they did charge admission

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FerryBoi December 3, 2011 - 4:37 pm

I’ve been riding this holiday nostalgia train for the past few years, and they’ve always been for a regular subway fare. Maybe you’re confusing the Holiday Nostalgia Train with the “regular” Nostalgia Specials during the rest of the year. Those trains do charge a premium fare, and they are usually day-long trips to Coney Island or the Rockaways, and “regular” riders are not allowed to board at intermediate stations. This has not been the case with the “Holiday” specials, which anyone along the Sixth Ave line can board if they wish.

Hope you get to ride them (I did earlier today). Happy Holidays!

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Bill Mangahas December 1, 2011 - 8:11 pm

According to my source inside the MTA this is the first time that they’re not charging a special admission price to ride the nostalgia train

It’s impossible for them to charge a special admission since it’s making normal stops on the (M) line between 2nd Ave and Queens Plaza. Nostalgia Specials run by the Transit Museum make no stops except for the end of the run, that way special admission can be charged.

For $2.25, it’s a rare holiday treat. All Aboard !!

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Allan Rosen December 8, 2011 - 10:36 pm

It is great fun and everyone has a good time and people actually speak to each other instead of most people looking over their shoulder wondering if anyone is out to get them. If you are lucky you will even run into folks dressed up in period costumes or groups of people performing at the Second Avenue Station also dressed in costume. The best part is reading all those old ads. One of my favorites is a bank ad from the 1930s promising high interest rates of 2%. You can’t get those high rates anymore. But don’t linger at Queens Plaza taking pictures because the train doesn’t wait there. It waits 20 minutes at Second Avenue. Take your pictures there.

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David Lund December 10, 2011 - 8:49 am

It doesn’t look like the seat upholstery is the same as when those trains were in service. I remember they had a woven rattan seat covering. What’s in the picture looks smooth, almost like vinyl. Am I correct, or just not seeing the woven covering?

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KevinJWalsh December 10, 2011 - 8:58 am

These are in fact tightly woven wicker.

Reply

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