History of NYC Subway in Pictures (1870 - 1986)
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the government of New York City and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, an affiliate agency of the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
It is one of the world’s oldest public transit systems, one of the most-used, and the one with the most stations – a total of 472 in operation throughout the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
The system has operated 24/7 service every day of the year throughout most of its history, barring emergencies and disasters. By annual ridership, the New York City Subway is the busiest rapid transit system in both the Western Hemisphere and the Western world, as well as the seventh-busiest rapid transit rail system in the world.
1870: Elevated Railroad Station
Photograph of an elevated railroad station constructed by the Manhattan Railway Company.
1870: Elevated Station on a Busy Street
View looking southwest from the intersection of 33rd Street and Broadway. The Sixth Avenue Elevated Railway is shown on Sixth Avenue where it crosses Broadway.
1880: New York Elevated Railway
A view looking down elevated railroad tracks. A train is approaching around the curve.
1900: Elevated Railroad at Chatham Square
Located at the intersecton of Bowery and Division Street, Chatham Square was an express station on the IRT Third Avenue Line. It had two levels.
1900: Elevated Tracks on Sixth Avenue North of 14th Street
Crowds of shoppers fill the busy streets north of 14th Street in the shade of the elevated train which once ran along 6th Avenue.
1901: Under the Elevated Railroad at the Bowery
Photograph of a busy scene on the Bowery as pedestrians make their way across the street and under the elevated overpass.
1904: City Hall Subway Station Under Construction
Construction underway at the City Hall Loop. In 1904, the first subway train departed from City Hall station with Mayor McClellan at the controls.
1905: Elevated (L) Station at Chatham Square
Chatham Square was an express station on the demolished IRT Third Avenue Line. Its lower level served trains of the IRT Second and Third Avenue Lines.
1906: Elevated Railroad at 8th Avenue
Horses and carriages move along the underpass of the elevated train tracks following 8th Avenue.
1910: Selling Chewing Gum Near a Subway Station
Young folk selling gum at the exit from the downtown side of the Lexington Avenue subway station
1910: Elevated Railroad Through Herald Square
Aerial photograph of the Herald Square elevated railroad and Sixth Avenue near 34th Street.
1940: Aerial View of Elevated Railroad
Aerial photograph of Manhattan looking north over Washington and Greenwich Streets with Trinity Place on the right.
1942: Waiting for an Elevated Train
Photograph of midtown commuters waiting at a platform for the Third Avenue elevated train.
1952: Third Avenue Elevated Train at Cooper Union
Photograph shows an elevated perspective of Cooper Union facing north and flanked along its east wall by the Third Avenue elevated railroad.
1952: Third Avenue Elevated Train at Cooper Union
Photograph shows an elevated perspective of Cooper Union facing north and flanked along its east wall by the Third Avenue elevated railroad.
1957: 8th Avenue Subway Station Entrance
Photograph of people hanging around the subway entrance of the 8th Avenue Line in midtown Manhattan.
1974: Subway Token Booth
Photograph of passengers waiting in line to buy tokens at a subway station booth.
1974: Subway Tokens
The first subway token change occurred in 1970 when the fare was raised to 30 cents and 50 million tokens were minted.
1978: Third Avenue Elevated
Color photograph of the Third Avenue Elevated Railroad tracks on a clear day.
1986: City Hall Subway Station Control Room
Photograph of the tile-clad control room at City Hall Subway Station in downtown Manhattan.
