As Yankee fans across the city know all too well, this evening marks the final regular season game at Yankee Stadium. Nothing quite identifies the Yankees as the ride north on the 4 train to the stadium. When the trains come above ground after leaving 149th St./Grand Concourse, Yankee Stadium looms majestically over the tracks, and astute fans know to keep their eyes out for that glimpse inside the stadium from the tracks.
As part of the pre-game ceremony honoring the House that Ruth Built, New York City Transit is planning on running a special nostalgia train along the 4 line from Grand Central up to Yankee Stadium. Via the agency’s press release:
What better way to celebrate the end of an era than hopping aboard a vintage IRT Jerome Ave. express to get to the game.
The four-car “Nostalgia Special” is scheduled to leave Grand Central-42nd Street at approximately 6 p.m., arriving at 161st Street-Yankee Stadium about 30 minutes later. The cars, originally operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit system, began service in 1917 and it is possible that at least one of them carried fans to the game on the first opening day.
The Lo-V subway cars, veterans of more than five decades of service before they were retired in the 1960s, serve as a splendid illustration of just how far subway car technology has advanced over the past 100 years. Customers will be able to sample the modern comforts of NYC Transit’s New Technology Cars on the trip home.
It’s quite the way to honor the closing of the stadium. Fans can pretend it is the early days of Yankee Stadium all over again. The four cars will be from the Lo-V series which operated along the IRT lines from 1917 through 1964. I believe the car numbers, for the rail aficionados, are 5483, 5443, 5292 and 5290.
Personally, I’m heading to this game later this afternoon. While I’d love to take the Nostalgia Train to Yankee Stadium, I’m probably shooting to get the stadium earlier than 6:30. But this is a great way to send off a New York City institution, and the folks who find themselves on this train, intentionally or otherwise, are in for a treat.
Photo via NYC Subway.
9 comments
[…] New York City Transit, the arm of the MTA that operates the subways, is running a special nostalgia train up to Yankee Stadium this evening. To find the details about catching the train, read my post on Second Ave. Sagas about the special ride. […]
Nice gesture, but not a wise one, in my opinion. I feel like this Nostalgia Train gimmick has been going on for quite awhile, and at an unjustifiable cost.
We had a nostalgia “A” train during the 100th Anniversary of the IND system. We saw a nostalgia train on the “V” last December. Now a nostalgia #4 train to Yankee Stadium?
All of this costs money – for the training, operating, and inevitable vandalism-repairing of these special event trains. It made sense when NYCT added regular express #7 service to handle Mets games at Shea. But running a four-car nostalgic clunker to a historic game at Yankee Stadium? The scene on the platforms will not be unlike a bunch of irate commuters trying to squeeze onto the “G”.
Just my opinion, anyway.
Obviously, this historic, interesting and even educational special trip isn’t for you! As for the cost, nothing’s free anymore. You should be grateful that some people are taking the time for preservation!
You should think twice before making negative criticisms! If it’s too expensive, don’t ride it!
[…] Edit 12:12 AM I didn’t make the cut, but the train itself did: video here. Many thanks to Ben at River Ave. Blues and Second Ave. Sagas […]
Please. The cost of running a train from the museum fleet once in a while is comparatlively small (and I doubt that anyone vandalized the train). There’s so much unpleasantness associated with riding the subway that anything that brings a smile to riders’ faces once in a while and gets people talking pleasantly to each other (“You’re too young, but I remember riding these trains to see Mickey Mantle play…”) is OK by me.
I rode the nostalgia train yesterday. It was a lot of fun. Even the police officers on board were taking pictures. We had all good laughs watching the puzzled reactions from straphangers on the platforms and even the trains we passed on the way up.
So glad I brought my camera!
[…] their good byes to Yankee Stadium last Sunday, the MTA honored the House that Ruth Built with a Nostalgia Train ride from Grand Central to Yankee Stadium. Tomorrow, with the Mets primed to send off the regular season […]
When is the Nostalgic IRT Subway coming out for the year of 2009
When is the Nostalgic IRT Subway coming out for the year of 2009 Pls contact me @ TuffFootDriver@aol.com on the info of the train when it is going to run again