Evolution of the New York City Subway System

The evolution of the New York City Subway system, depicted in the style of today's map by Michael Hertz Associates.
Older train lines were not known by letters and numbers as they are today. These lines have been given letter and number names here for the sake of a consistent map style through the years. The letters I, O, P, U, X, and Y have never actually been used, nor have some of the letter combinations in this video. Double letter names were used, mostly to indicate local-only services, until 1985.
Maps do not reflect all day-to-day service changes. Please check period maps and schedules when time traveling.
Corrections welcome; please cite a good source.
Images of historical maps from nycsubway.org, except for 1979 map, from David Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford Libraries.
Music:
"L & N Rag"
Fiddle and guitar played by Jonah Sidman
Video by Jonah Sidman, 2023
Correction: the historical map displayed at 1:30 is from 1912, not 1924.

[@johnfromconnecticut]

This is brilliant work! I am a student of the history of NYC transit and although I am aware of almost every single change depicted in your video, seeing them sequentially in this way gives a much clearer picture of the overall growth (and demise) of all the lines. Please, please, please put together a zip file containing a JPEG file of each individual image - I wall gladly pay $29.99 for such a package!

[@albertmammoth6696]

me too! but i don't have the money!

[@blockvfive1196]

same

[@robjohnson3446]

I would 100% purchase a 1939 map drawn up as you have in the video to look like the modern day style.

[@Subways_io]

Amazing work!!!

[@mpdscb]

You didn't include the Broadway Ferry spur on your map. It exists on the BMT map you showed.

[@QisforBrighton-oi8xr]

Oops, it looks like I labeled the historical map wrong, it should be 1912. The 1924 map that appears later does also show the spur, but as best I can tell it actually closed in 1916. So look for it in this video prior to that. Thanks for pointing out the inconsistency.

[@Thomulate]

This is awesome!

[@edwardmiessner6502]

Please, please, please, 🙏 could you please make a longer video and point out and explain each change instead of just running through each in two seconds so I can barely read the captions? Thanks!

[@blockvfive1196]

yes

[@leecornwell5632]

Please do the iRT dubble numbers.

[@Scooty_]

i like it, post 1940 started makin me sad.

[@kinkisharyocoasters]

Could you make stills of certain time periods to be viewed in greater detail? Cool to see old topology in the contemporary graphics

[@fennerguyreloaded]

I wish the whole quality is 4K

[@josephaliberti]

Are these maps going to be published somewhere? They're quite illegible on KZbin

[@ziggykittykat5873]

I miss the ‘AA’

[@langstonreese7077]

Nice I better show this to my fans since I am making nyc subway announcements from 1968