Next weekend, passengers who want to personally experience the century-old history of the New York subway will have the opportunity to ride on historic trains. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York Transit Museum (NYTM) are joining hands to host the “Parade of Trains” event on June 7 (Saturday) and 8 (Sunday) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will take place between two stations on the BMT Brighton Line, where a variety of classic subway trains will be running back and forth for passengers to experience the nostalgic atmosphere inside these old trains.
During the event, the MTA will be running a number of well-preserved antique subway cars, including the legendary R-1/9 series trains, BMT Standard trains, and Gate Cars, allowing passengers to step back in time and witness the original charm of the New York subway system. These vehicles are maintained and operated by the MTA, some of which have a nearly one hundred-year history.
Passengers can board these vintage trains by paying with a MetroCard or an OMNY card. The trains will operate between Brighton Beach and Kings Highway subway stations, with each round trip taking about 10 minutes, and the last train departing at 3:50 p.m. All boarding and alighting will only be permitted at these two stations, and the event will proceed rain or shine.
The Transit Museum also encourages people to register online in advance, which though not mandatory, can help the organizers manage the crowd. Participants who complete the registration may enter a draw for a chance to win a $100-worth family membership to the subway museum.
Organizers also remind attendees that some of the vintage trains, like the Gate Cars, have a relatively high boarding height and are not fully accessible to all. While Kings Highway station has accessible elevators, Brighton Beach station does not, so those with mobility challenges should check the elevator status in advance.
Furthermore, passengers are reminded that eating and drinking on the trains are not allowed, sitting on the platform is prohibited, and crossing between cars while the train is in motion is also prohibited. Photography is allowed during the event, but the use of tripods, selfie sticks, or external lighting equipment is prohibited, and all photos are for personal use only. For more information, you can visit the official website of the Transit Museum at: https://tinyurl.com/4z2td88e.