Weekends: Hear That Nostalgia Train A-Comin’

The MTA has brought back the Nostalgia Shoppers’ Special Train for the holidays. You can ride the classic R1/9 subway, which was the city’s first subway car, every Saturday until December 24.

What’s so special about this train? Well, our transit columnist Allan Rosen said it all last year:

Who wants to ride an old train?  You do, even if you are not a rail fanatic. It has become sort of a tourist attraction and some people ride the train back and forth just for the hell of it. I had quite an enjoyable time this year and last.

Bring your camera but don’t stop to take pictures at Queens Plaza because the train does not wait there.  It sits at Second Avenue for 20 to 30 minutes so there is plenty of time to wander between the cars and take pictures there. I particularly like that the train has been outfitted with very old ads.  Some of the passengers even dress up in 1920s style garb.  The best part is that there is no additional charge beyond the cost of your subway fare. It is the MTA’s holiday gift to you for enduring this year’s service cuts.

The Nostalgia Train stops at the following stations along the weekday M line, according to the MTA website:

• Queens Plaza
• Court Sq-23 St
• Lexington Av/53 St
• 5 Av/53 St
• 47-50 Sts/Rockefeller Center
• 42 St Bryant Park
• 34 St Herald Sq
• 23 St (6 Av)
• 14 St (6 Av)
• W 4 St Wash Sq
• B’way-Lafayette St
• 2 Av (F line)

Departures from 2nd Avenue are at:

9:58 AM, 11:27 AM, 12:57 PM, 2:27 PM, and 3:57 PM.

Departures from Queens Plaza are at:

10:43 AM, 12:13 PM, 1:42 PM, 3:13 PM, and 4:43 PM.