On this day in history, October 27, 1904 New York City Subway opens
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: On October 27, 1904, the New York City Subway opened its doors to the public, marking a crucial turning point in the history of urban transportation.
Mayor George McClellan took the controls for the first ride of the city's cutting-edge new rapid transit system at precisely 2.35 pm. The initial line ran for 9.1 miles and had 28 stations. It was run by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT).
The journey started from City Hall, located in the southern part of Manhattan, and made its way to the Grand Central Terminal situated in midtown. It then took a westward turn along 42nd Street, leading to Times Square. From this point, it swiftly moved northwards until it reached the intersection of 145th Street and Broadway in Harlem.
On the inaugural day, Mayor McClellan relished his role as an engineer to such an extent that he remained at the controls from City Hall up to 103rd Street, per History.
What is the New York City Subway famous for?
The New York City Subway caters to four out of the five boroughs in New York City, namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. The system spans 248 miles of routes, which equates to 665 miles of revenue track and a total of 850 miles when non-revenue trackage is included, per NYC Subway.
The subway is recognized for its high ridership, having transported 1,793,073,000 passengers in 2022, APTA. On October 29, 2015, the subway system set a record for the highest single-day ridership since regular monitoring began in 1985, with over 6.2 million people using the service.
As one of the world’s oldest public transit systems, it has provided 24/7 service every day of the year for most of its existence, except during emergencies and disasters.
Additionally, it is one of the most frequented transit systems and holds the record for the most stations in operation, with a total of 472 stations, MTA.
What is the busiest subway station in New York City?
The Times Square-42nd Street station holds the title of the busiest subway station in New York City. As per the 2022 data from the Metro Transit Authority (MTA), the station recorded an annual ridership of 45,023,339, per Secret NYC.
It serves as a central transit hub in the city, housing multiple lines including the N, Q, R, W, S, 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, B, D, F, and M lines.
Is the New York City Subway the largest?
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While London has the world's oldest underground train network, started in 1863 and Boston established the first subway in the United States in 1897, New York City's subway quickly grew to become the largest American system.
Who controls the New York Subway?
The subway was inaugurated for public use, and over 100,000 individuals paid five cents each to experience their inaugural journey beneath Manhattan. The IRT service extended its reach to the Bronx in 1905, Brooklyn in 1908, and Queens in 1915.
The Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) has been overseeing the subway since 1968. The system currently operates 26 lines and 472 stations; the longest of these lines, the 8th Avenue “A” Express train, spans over 32 miles from Manhattan’s northernmost point to the far southeast corner of Queens.
Was NYC Subway always electric?
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The New York City Subway system didn’t always operate on electricity. When the first subway line was inaugurated in 1904, it used steam-powered trains. However, in the early 20th century, the system made a transition to electric power, per NCESC.
Which movies were filmed on the New York City Subway?
There are several movies that are set on the New York City Subway including 'Warriors' (1979), 'Style Wars' (1983), one of the first hip-hop-themed movies 'Beat Street' (1984), 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), a first-rate thriller about a subway train hijacking, 'Midnight Cowboy' (1969), 'Dames' (1934), and 'Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.' (1992).