A vintage IRT trainset will be decked out in Boardwalk Empire ads this month.
Railfans and regular straphangers love vintage train car rides, but the MTA has found them to be a bit costly. During times of austerity, the authority hasn’t been as willing to let loose the old trainsets as they once were, but it seems as though they’ve solved this problem through advertising. For the month of September, a Boardwalk Empire-branded vintage trainset will run on the West Side IRT on the weekends as HBO gears up to promote the new series.
Here’s what the pitch e-mail has to say:
Starting on Saturday, September 3rd an authentic vintage 1920’s train will run on the express 2/3 track in Manhattan throughout September (specifically, from 12 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays). Originally operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) system, the train began service back in 1917 and will once again be operational. Customers who have the opportunity to ride the vintage train will be transported back in time to the Prohibition era with authentic details such as rattan seats, ceiling fans and drop sash windows, as well as a custom branded interior featuring Boardwalk Empire-inspired period artwork.
For the weekend of the premier — September 24 and 25 — so-called “brand ambassadors” will be giving away free MetroCards as well. HBO is apparently going all out, and as you can see from the image above, the faux-vintage ads in the Nostalgia Train cars have given way to Boardwalk Empire branding.
This is of course a rather unique promotion since there aren’t too many period pieces on TV that take place in New York, but I’m curious about the economics of it. I’ve reached out to the MTA for more information, and if I hear a pricetag, I’ll pass it along. In the meantime, click through for another look at the sponsored subway car. I wonder if it’ll be an air conditioned ride.
The outside of the car will feature ads as well.
20 comments
They should run a three car set on track 4 of the GC shuttle as supplemental service on the weekends-every half hour. It would bring a lot of publicity because it would be easy to find. I wonder if the trains could handle it.
No air conditioner. They never had AC installed and they never will.
Wow, that looks pretty nice. I’ll definitely be in Manhattan that weekend.
Subway Pamela http://vod.fxnetworks.com/watc.....4676763001
I saw this the other night. So. Amazingly. On.
I just started watching this show a few weeks ago. They have the whole first season on Netflix. On par with Curb Your Enthusiasm …definitely more cutting edge.
Somewhat off-topic, I know, but I wanted to put this here whereit will be SEEN:
Can Ben or anybody else tell me if the southbound platform of the Cortlandt St. station is STILL scheduled to reopen on Sept. 6?
According to Wikipedia it is, but the source is a New York Post article from a few weeks ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.....dway_Line)
According to the MTA’s planned service changes page, yes, the southbound platform at Cortlandt St will reopen on Tuesday.
Tuesday evening to be exact.
Too bad it’s not on the 6…a ride through City Hall Loop on that would be nice.
My favorite cars of all time. I remember when these were the only cars on the IRT. Just loved the sound of the closing doors.
This is the train that goes to Hogwarts, right?
Psst…Boardwalk Empire doesn’t take place in New York either.
I noticed that too.
It takes place in Atlantic City.
[…] Boardwalk Empire Nostalgia Train is going to net the MTA “north of $150,000,” according to an MTA spokesman. […]
The Village Voice article said you can catch it at 96th, 72nd, and 42nd. Will this train only be stopping at those three stops?
Yep. Only 4 cars available (one more Low-V is supposed to be getting restored, maybe they’ll put that one in). They’ll run between 42 and 96 where the schedules of the 2 and 3 permit.
42 St has a pocket track south of it:
http://images.nycsubway.org/tr.....-34-42.png
And 96 St also can act as a terminal:
http://images.nycsubway.org/tr.....l-96th.png
This is a promotion for a show, so they’ll run it where the tourists will be.
I would imagine tourists would also be riding this line south of 42nd…
(Mainly just annoyed b/c I rarely have reason to be on the UWS, but am frequently on the West side below 42nd).
LOL, go to Buenos Aires and take line A… same train + no maintenance.
IND R46 and R44 Inwood Bound (A) train at 42nd St – PABT/TSQ: http://play.kendincos.com/1681.....t-pab.html