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Telling the stories of New York’s public transportation and the people who make it possible.
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11/01/2026

: Taken in the 1980s, this photograph shows Bus #5127 on 42 Street in .

Modeled TDH-5303, Bus #5127 was one of 350 General Motors “New Look” buses from the New York City Transit fleet that were sent to the Blitz Corporation of Chicago for complete overhaul and rebuilding in the 1980s. When they returned to New York, they were renumbered in the “5000-series,” and known as “Blitz Buses.” Replacing the retired Grumman-Flxible 870s series, the buses featured hard, blue lengthwise seating.

Running on Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island routes, some Blitz buses were transferred to Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA Long Island Bus routes before their retirement in the late 1990s.

What’s your favorite New York City bus model?

11/01/2026

The worst subway accident in history was the Malbone Street Wreck. It happened in 1918.

: A train of wooden cars derailed in a tunnel below Brooklyn’s Malbone Street (now known as Empire Boulevard), resulting in the death of nearly one hundred riders. Fourteen of the victims of the Malbone Street Wreck were interred at The Green-Wood Cemetery. Their graves still stand today, a reminder of this tragic event.

These photographs from the show the aftermath of the Malbone Street Wreck.

How did this tragedy happen?

During a labor strike at the BRT (Brooklyn Rapid Transit), the company did not have enough staff to keep service running. Instead of cutting back service, the BRT forced a dispatcher with no experience as a motorman on the line to operate a train.

The untrained operator approached a curve meant to be traveled at 6 mph at more than 30 mph. The cars sustained extensive damage as they hit the concrete wall of the tunnel near Prospect Park, and fires sparked when electricity to the rails was reengaged.

After the Malbone Street Wreck, wooden train cars were phased out in subway tunnels.

As we look back at this terrible event, we honor those who lost their lives and the families who were affected. We also recognize that disaster often results in changes and improvements to systems and protocols, helping to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

Learn more about the Malbone Street Wreck at nytransitmuseum.org/malbone.

10/31/2026

🎃 Not everyone who built the made it out alive. Secret no. 39 is the 100% true story of one of the bravest—and unluckiest—men to work construction on 's first subway line.

celebrates the 50th anniversary of the . Join us as we pull back the curtain like never before on New York's transportation system, revealing hidden spaces, untold stories, and the people behind the scenes who keep our city moving.

🦇 Theme by Roman Angelos.

10/30/2026

: in 2002, the first M7 railcars entered revenue service on the MTA LIRR.

Manufactured by Bombardier, the M7s were introduced on the Long Island Rail Road’s Long Beach Branch. Two years later, the M7A debuted on MTA Metro-North Railroad.

Though nearly identical in design, the M7 and M7A were constructed as two individual models to satisfy the unique signaling and electrical arrangements of Metro-North and LIRR. M7 railcars feature black and yellow front exteriors, while M7A railcars sport blue front exteriors with white stripes on the bottom. This photograph shows two M7 cars at Jamaica station earlier this year.

Can you identify more differences between the M7 and M7A?

10/29/2026

: 🌀 in 2012, Superstorm Sandy struck the Northeast, devastating much of the New York metropolitan region and testing riders, transit workers, and infrastructure in unprecedented ways.

The storm overwhelmed shorelines, flooding a staggering 17% of . Seven subway tunnels connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens were flooded, along with the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (formerly Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel) and others. Power outages halted emergency pumps. Downed trees blocked rail lines, and salt water damaged sensitive mechanical and electronic systems above and below ground.

These photographs, taken by Leonard Wiggins, show some of the devastation right after Sandy and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority - MTA's response:

1. R32 train in mid-air during lift onto tracks of the IND Rockaway Line at the intersection of Hawtree Street and Pitkin Avenue in Ozone Park, Queens.
2. Boat astride on MTA Metro-North Railroad tracks in Ossining, NY. Metro-North crews used a crane to remove the obstacle.
3. Flooded uptown platform at South Ferry station.
4. MTA pump train siphoning floodwater out of the Cranberry Street Tunnel.
5. Far Rockaway, Queens: The MTA surveying the damage after ballast and railroad bed completely washed away.
6. MTA employees cleaning up debris washed onto the tracks near Hammels Wye.

Where were you during ?

Learn more about how the MTA got the city moving again in our digital exhibit at bringingbackthecity.com.

10/29/2026

🐈 Happy from our favorite subway cat: Etti-Cat!

In 1962, the Transit Authority introduced Etti-Cat to scold and cajole commuters into more courteous behavior. Posters featuring the superbly polite feline’s admonitions were placed in almost 3,000 cars.

The artist and writer of the campaign was Jo Mary McCormick. She signed her name “JOM,” and those initials appear bottom right of these posters. Inspired by and featuring the McCormick's feline friend Pipsqueak aka “Pippy,” Etti-Cat continues to enjoy a following today among cat people and visitors.

Etti-Cat posters are displayed in our vintage fleet of subway cars, and you can see them when you visit the Museum. We are open Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm. Plan your visit via the link in our bio.

What’s your transit etiquette pet peeve?

10/28/2026

🔸 What do diamonds mean in the ?

In use since the 1980s, the diamond route indicator is generally used to show that a train route’s service has been modified; regular service is marked with a circle. Diamond service may designate weekday-only express service, special service, or rush hour-only service.

Today's diamond routes include 6, 7, and, most recently, the F was added in 2019 for express service on the Culver Line, skipping all local stations between Church Avenue and Jay Street-MetroTech.

The first image shows the former Q diamond, which indicated Brighton Line rush hour service from 1985 to 1988 and express service from 2001 to 2004.

What other diamond services do you remember?

10/27/2026

Announcing the live soundtrack to our upcoming Subway Swing event at the !

🎤 Kayla Lewis & the Krewe de Klew
Multi-talented singer Kayla Lewis is a rising star in the New York City jazz scene. Her Krewe de Klew will open the party at Subway Swing.

🎺 Charlie Caranicas & The Lean Mean Swing Machine
Horn player Charlie Caranicas has long been a sideman secret weapon for bandleaders across New York City. He has put together a special all-star band specially for Subway Swing.

🎹 The Hyuna Park Trio
Hyuna Park is an award-winning jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader recognized for her energetic, hard-swinging performances and distinctive compositions.

💃 And we welcome back dance instructors Samuel Coleman and Candice Michelle Franklin for swing dance lessons to kick off the evening.

Subway Swing is:
📅 Friday, November 13, 6-9pm
📍 New York Transit Museum, Downtown Brooklyn
🎟️ nytransitmuseum.org/subwayswing26.

10/27/2026

🎂 Happy Birthday, ! 📽️ Behold! The first-ever known footage of the subway, and we're sharing it today on the subway's 122nd birthday.

: in 1904, New York City’s first rapid transit subway, the IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit) opened.

's first subway line ran along a 9.1 mile route extending from City Hall to 145 Street and had 28 stations. The line ran under Park Avenue South to Grand Central, across 42 Street to Times Square, and then up Broadway to 145 Street.

This silent film, shot just months after the subway opened, shows a train pulling into 14 Street Station and continuing uptown. From those early days until now, the subway has been an integral part of New York City life.

What does the subway mean to you?

10/26/2026

the number or letter assigned to a train's route is called a "service designation?"

Originally, service was provided by three separate companies, each with their own nomenclature. Some of their service designations overlapped, causing confusion. For example, there was a "4" train on both the IRT and the BMT.

Even after the subway was unified, many of the old designations remained. During the 1950s, customers unfamiliar with the city could board a 4 train at Union Square expecting to go to Woodlawn (an IRT station), but end up in Coney Island (a BMT station)!

To address this problem, in 1960, the Transit Authority implemented a new system of numbers and letters. This "Know Trains at a Glance" sign from the helped commuters remember the changes.

Some of the letters listed here still represent service designations today. Others are no longer used. Can you name them?

Address

99 Schermerhorn Street
New York, NY
11201

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+17186941600

Website

https://linktr.ee/nytransitmuseum

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