The Nostalgia Train, shown here in 2007, stops at Queens Plaza as confused straphangers look on. (Photo by Benjamin Kabak)
As the holiday season approaches, it’s time once again for the holiday Nostalgia Train. Transit is running out the old car sets only once a week this year, and the rides start this Sunday, November 28. The old trains run on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and they leave from the 2nd Ave. stop on the IND 6th Ave. line.
According to Transit, the R1/9 cars will leave from 2nd Ave. every 90 minutes starting at 10:01 a.m. The trains that depart at 10:01 a.m., 11:31 a.m., 1:01 p.m. and 2:31 p.m. will run local to Queens Plaza, and the 4 p.m. train will terminate at 47th/50th Sts.-Rockefeller Center. Departures from Queens Plaza are at 10:44 a.m., 12:14 p.m., 1:43 p.m. and 3:14 p.m. Oftentimes, the best part of the Nostalgia rides ar the confused looks from unsuspecting passengers waiting for the F when the old train cars pull in. (Click here for the official details.)
Meanwhile, with the holiday season come fewer weekend service changes. Transit is still doing work but just less of it. As always, these come to me from the MTA and are subject to change without notice. Check signs in your local station and listen to on-board announcements. Subway Weekender has the map.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 29, 2 trains operate between 241st Street and Chambers Street, then are rerouted to the 1 line to South Ferry due to cable installation in the Clark Street tunnel and flood mitigation work at Nevins Street. For service between Manhattan and Brooklyn, customers may take the 2 to South Ferry and make an out-of-system transfer to the 5 at Bowling Green. During the daytime hours, 5 trains make all 2 stops to and from Flatbush Avenue.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 29, there are no 2 or 3 trains at Park Place, Fulton, Wall, Clark Streets, Borough Hall and Hoyt Street due to cable installation in the Clark Street tunnel and flood mitigation work at Nevins Street. Customers may use the 4 or 5 at nearby stations instead.
From 4 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 10 p.m. Sunday, November 28, uptown trains skip Bronx Park East, Pelham Parkway, Allerton and Burke Avenues due to track panel and tie installation north of Allerton Avenue. For service to these stations, customers may take the 2 to Gun Hill Road and transfer to a downtown 2.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 29, there are no 3 trains between 14th Street and New Lots Avenue due to cable installation in the Clark Street tunnel and flood mitigation work at Nevins Street. For service between 14th Street, Manhattan and New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, customers may transfer between the 2 and 3 at 14th Street, take the 2 to South Ferry and use the free out-of-system transfer to the 4 at Bowling Green. Note: In Brooklyn, 4 trains make all 3 stops to and from New Lots Avenue.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 29, 4 train service is extended to and from New Lots Avenue to replace the 3 in Brooklyn due to cable installation in the Clark Street tunnel and flood mitigation work at Nevins Street.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 28, downtown 4 trains skip Kingsbridge Road, Fordham Road, 183rd, 176th Streets, Mt. Eden Avenue and 170th Street stations due to track repairs. For service to these stations, customers may take the 4 to Burnside Avenue or 167th Street and transfer to an uptown 4 train.
From 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Saturday, November 27 and Sunday, November 28, 5 train service is extended to and from Flatbush Avenue to replace the 2 in Brooklyn due to cable installation in the Clark Street tunnel and flood mitigation work at Nevins Street.
From 4 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 11 p.m. Sunday, November 28, Flushing-bound 7 trains skip 82nd, 90th, 103rd, and 111th Streets due to switch renewal work at 111th Street. Customers traveling to these stations may take a Flushing-bound 7 to Junction Blvd. or Mets-Willets Point and transfer to a Manhattan-bound 7.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 29, Brooklyn-bound A trains run local from 59th Street to West 4th Street, then are rerouted on the F line to Jay Street due to work on platform edges, tiles and stairs at Broadway-Nassau St. Brooklyn-bound A trains skip Spring, Canal, Chambers, Broadway-Nassau and High Streets. Customers traveling to these stations may take the A or C to Jay Street and transfer to a Manhattan-bound A or C.
From 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Saturday, November 27 and Sunday, November 28, Brooklyn-bound C trains operate on the F line from West 4th Street to Jay Street, skipping Spring, Canal, Chambers, Broadway-Nassau and High Streets due to platform edge, tile and stair work at Broadway-Nassau Street.
From 10:30 p.m. Friday, November 26 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 29, free shuttle buses replace G service between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand Avs due to track work at Metropolitan Avenue. Shuttle buses make a connecting stop at the Queens Plaza R station.
From 4 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 7 p.m. Sunday, November 28, J trains run every 20 minutes between Jamaica Center and 111th Street due to work at the fan plant north of 121st Street. The last stop for some Jamaica Center-bound J trains is 111th Street.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 29, Coney Island-bound N trains run on the R line from Canal Street to 59th Street, Brooklyn and Manhattan-bound N trains run on the R line from 36th Street, Brooklyn to Canal Street, Manhattan due to New York State DOT bridge inspection.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 29, Manhattan-bound N trains run on the D line from Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue to 36th Street due to track panel installation between Kings Highway and Bay Parkway. There are no Manhattan-bound N trains at 86th Street, Avenue U, Kings Highway, Bay Parkway, 20th and 18th Avenues, Ft. Hamilton Parkway and 8th Avenue stations. For service to these stations, customers may take the N to 62nd or 36th Street and transfer to a Coney Island-bound N train.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 29, Q trains run on the R line between Canal Street and DeKalb Avenue due to New York State DOT bridge inspection.
6 comments
Ben, I can’t find anything on the MTA website about the Nostalgia Train for this year.
They still have some stuff on there about Nostalgia Trains in 2008!
So, do you know:
How much is the extra charge for that train?
Do I need a ticket in advance?
Jerrold: You don’t need either! To ride the holiday trains, all you have to do is enter the system and wait for it to show up. Click here for the 2010 info.
OK, thanks for the info!
Gotta love those Arnines. Takes me back to the early ’70s on the Queens Boulevard IND. I was a little kid but I still remember the mooing of the motors, the whishing of the exposed overhead fans, the yellow bulbs and the hissing every time the doors opened.
I suppose, given the route adjustments the MTA made over the summer, they should switch the route signs on the Nostalga Special off of the ‘S’ train and put in on the never-before used “MM — Avenue of the Americas Local”, which is on the R-1/9 roll curtains. Not quite an exact match, but close.
[…] was the penultimate Sunday of the MTA’s holiday “Nostalgia Train” program. The train of R1/9 cars starts at 2nd Avenue station, runs along the M line, and terminates at […]