Nearly a century after the New York subway introduced its iconic "R1-9" fleet, the agency is putting some of the railcars back into service and city residents are jumping on board. The Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA), which operates the Big Apple's sprawling — and sometimes detested — subway system, is reintroducing R1-9s onto the tracks for a limited time, complete with early 20th century accoutrements. In one car, for instance, a 1960s-style advertisement pays tribute to "the late president" next to a black-and-white photo of John F Kennedy.
The blast from the past — made possible through a collaboration between the MTA and the Transit Museum — is being celebrated by New Yorkers, with some dressing up to match the part. On a cold December Sunday morning, travelers in a period-appropriate costume stood alongside passengers in contemporary fashion, forming a delightfully anachronistic mix. Latoya Fulton, a 40-year-old Bronx native who brought her daughter along to share the experience, savoured the nostalgia.
"I remember riding the train with my mom, going to Yankee Stadium," she told AFP . "I remember just being, just happy looking out the window when we went outside for the outside stop." Paddle ceiling fans swirl overhead and incandescent light bulbs lend a theatrical vibe.
With no public address system on the vintage trains, a volunteer crewmember is left to call out the approaching stops. Rider Fox Hutson dons a military cap and camouflage jumpsuit for the.
