How the NYC Subway Has Been Running for Over 120 Years | The Extra Mile

The New York Metropolitan Transportation system, a behemoth that moves 400 million commuters daily, owes its smooth operation to its unsung heroes-the subway workers. These essential workers, through their tireless efforts, ensure that people can reach their destinations. In this episode of The Extra Mile, gain a better understanding of what these essential workers do to get people moving to where they need to go regularly.
The Extra Mile is a docu-style explainer video series that seeks to uncover how the many seemingly impossible things that happen while we travel, often without us ever knowing about it, actually get done. Through unprecedented access and expert interviews with travel, hospitality workers, and local legends, we shine a light on the people who make travel and our favorite cities a one-of-a-kind experience through a human-interest lens.
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[@babyswheels54]

I was a conductor for 5 years on the #6 train. Tough job. Lots of challenges. But though I’m not living in NY anymore, I’m glad I had the opportunity to actually experience my dream of working on a NYC subway train as a conductor.

[@YTEEPROOF]

SOUNDVIEW! SOUNDVIEW! My kids mother is a operator on the Canarsie Brooklyn L train

[@itzKingIzzo2U]

Salute to you

[@timmercer6674]

My Dad was a Conductor on the 6,2,5 for years. He also was a platform Conductor at 59th Street.

[@gregl1927]

As someone from Boston watching this: it's impressive that they clean the trains in 2 minutes at the end of the line. And they have contactless fare payment. The MBTA could learn a lot from New York MTA of how to run an actual subway system.

[@videonut1988]

But they also have the system's own cards for people who do NOT have contactless cards.

[@Metsfan7232]

They have 2-3 cars assigned per cleaner. Usually is just sweeping, while not uncommon for trains to change direction at terminal within one whole minute (in that case, train interior receives little to no cleaning).

[@fcjose31]

Limpiar en 2 minutos? kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5zGdmdne797pKssi=WDp0ZLyRt7KXxrtB&t=1 Aqui se limpia bien en los garajes por la noche, pero los de largo recorrido se limpian cada viaje.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

@@videonut1988So does NYC.

[@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164]

It's not thoroughly clean though

[@danielwrynn4707]

I just wanted to say, " This is an excellent video!" I'm a conductor for NYCT. I work on the G train. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more excellent videos 📹 👍

[@r62aguy85]

I took the test for the train operator position Sunday don’t know what I scored yet but I know I passed for sure how long did they take to call you back that’s the only thing I’m worried about

[@danielwrynn4707]

Thanks.

[@danielwrynn4707]

Thanks.

[@Lemon-zw7cb]

@@r62aguy85 can take a long time, up to 1-6 years but you would probably get called within 6 months

[@harlemboy413]

​@r62aguy85 better be worried about studying that shit ain't easy. It's gonna blow your mind how much stuff you have to learn in 6 months. I'm a conductor going for operator also

[@NicksDynasty]

We need more networks like this in more cities

[@hughherndon4276]

I miss home. Love hearing our accent.

[@BesttLuck]

what accent?

[@TechJolt3d]

@@BesttLuck Probably the New York accent

[@ishaspeaks4536]

That’s Carribbean accent not NYC

[@amazing50000]

@@ishaspeaks4536 This is the NYC accent. Everyone talking in this video drop their R's when they talk. That's makes the NY accent. I don't know where you got Caribbean from? I'm from Brooklyn, which has a lot of Caribbean Immigrates and they talk nothing like this,

[@deepnation10009]

​@@amazing50000This is what I'm saying. Lifelong New Yorker here and these folk are real NYers.

[@Ragnarok043]

TIL theres no sensor on the door, the conductor is manually re-opening the door

[@MsLexDiva30]

Shout out to MTA for keeping our city run smoothly. When you see a MTA employee out there, stop and say thank you. They work really hard. My mother, stepfather, and brother in law all work for MTA. They work hard and actually care.. ❤ Thank you, MTA..

[@Sjmrsjohnson1]

Awwww thank you sweetheart

[@metropod]

... anyone at thrillist want to explain with 3:51 uses stock footage from Chicago...?

[@tfp_4215]

Lol

[@Noorullah1]

Wow good eye hahah. Metra does not run in New York.

[@metropod]

@@Noorullah1 I mean it’s not that hard to get an overview of the 7 line’s Corona Yard. It has a public walkway crossing above it.

[@BrokenBonesRBLX]

@Noorullah1 it does. you're just too blind to see it.

[@BrokenBonesRBLX]

it's not from Chicago. It's form NYC. Look closely.

[@alexcervantes6125]

In LA Metro, you have to become a Bus Operator for some amount of years to be promoted to Train Operator.

[@fnihp30]

Same thing in Chicago at Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).

[@dynasty0019]

Which is a stupid rule.

[@JayJay-cw3cg]

The conductor is the person who opens the doors and are stationed in the center of the train, the Train Operator are the ones who actually drove and operate the train.

[@JoseNunez-hh1yr]

'Motormen' to you.🙂

[@kristainviayoutube500]

⁠@@JoseNunez-hh1yroperator-motormen, same thing.

[@kenwoodburn5244]

The ones who control and “drive it” are actually the engineers

[@JayJay-cw3cg]

@@kenwoodburn5244 no i believe that's the pilot

[@captainkeyboard1007]

On the Franklin Avenue Shuttle, and the Forty-Second Street Shuttle lines, the train operator operates the door controls, as well as the motors and the brakes.

[@creativemindplay]

So we're just not gonna talk about what a silver fox Demetrius Crichlow is

[@pbatommy]

I'm now retired after working as a train operator for 31 years.

[@allenmondesir]

Awesome what was the worst thing about your job?

[@pbatommy]

@@allenmondesir the trauma I suffered when someone ended their life on my train.

[@ilttpvvm]

@@pbatommyI was a station agent when some poor SOB decided to end it all at my station on my tour.

[@r62aguy85]

@@pbatommyyour so lucky man you probably operated the Legendary SMEEs R32 R42s R44 Redbirds R46 R62 R62A R40 slants. Took the test last Sunday hoping to get in all the Good SMEEs will be gone by that time I get called in 7 years or so

[@pbatommy]

@@r62aguy85 I was A Division so I ran all the IRT SMEE classes from the R12s through the R62As. I also ran all the tech trains as well. I even ran the diesels.

[@MtaTrainsFan]

Im also gonna do training to be a train operator can't wait my dreams is coming true

[@xSoporific1]

Thank you

[@Timothy]

First!

[@NicksDynasty]

Big dawg watching public transit videos, I love it

[@redcomet0079]

Yo Tim, quit sleeping on that script ✍️😂

[@TheTransitFox13]

Shut it

[@marvellespiller63]

The way they spraying those seats down is what they need to do for the CTA I shouldn’t have to wipe down my own seats 😂😂😂

[@1howemat]

3:51 when did the (7) get extended to Chicago, IL?!?! 😂

[@TheTransitFox13]

Fr

[@bigwristband]

Anyone else notice they used Chicago trains at 3:51?

[@TheTransitFox13]

Me.

[@captainkeyboard1007]

Transit workers The Best People Around who roll the big wheels abound. Typed by me, a subway buff.

[@alexandraclarke431]

No longer in NYC but I’m not a fan of paying for a test regarding employment with MTA

[@MrSloika]

No one should pay to apply for a job.

[@Mpugs]

4:39 those are not platform screen doors

[@bruve]

Of course they arent, they cant install that in a 120 Year Old Subway System without having to completely redesign the station. They are acknowledging that Platform screen doors are the best way to prevent riders from falling onto the tracks, instead they added barriers to hopefully prevent it from happening as frequently as it could without the barriers in place.

[@cadicorniche]

This video made me homesick.

[@PrimyFritzellz]

Is it just me that find it weird that the conductor calls the passengers "Customers"? Like they're passengers on a train. Not going into a shopping mall

[@metropod]

it's what they wanted us to say for a long time.

[@coreturkoane5570]

They're a******* well some of them are! I hate people 😠😡

[@pbatommy]

For a short time, the MTA wanted us to refer the riding public as "our guests"!

[@michaelhernandez4329]

It’s the courteous thing to say. Airlines call passengers customers because they pay to ride.

[@JoseNunez-hh1yr]

Part of the 'Blue Book' communications guide handbook.

[@shawnhall9792]

With all these people why are our trains in this city so dirty ? Why are they always shutting down and hardly running on time ? You have all these people in the MTA business but it's always rundown

[@scottmac]

The NYC MTA has 5.5 million riders per day. That’s why.

[@shawnhall9792]

@scottmac that's not an excuse let's cut the bs there's cities with far more people and it's more clean . But it's also the passengers fault as well

[@scottmac]

@@shawnhall9792 the cities you’re thinking of are all located outside of the United States where there is an entirely different culture and funding scheme.

[@harlemboy413]

​@shawnhall9792 what cities plus MTA subway over 100 years old when Japan was being bombed in ww2 it was already about 50 years old. I'm a conductor you have no idea how massive this system is I'm still amazed.

[@shawnhall9792]

@harlemboy413 there's literally cities in America that have better maintenance! I understand our subway is 100 year's old but damn there's has to be something they can do plus there's people who just throw trash in the stations I feel like people like that should be fined because all that garbage in the train tracks causes a lot of delays as well . Most of the time the MTA doesn't seem to care about the system falling apart hell over in The Bronx my friend had a fractured knee because the stairs collapsed! And then my father's friend went through a similar thing in Manhattan where she sued them this is disgusting how the system is like a 3rd world country with all the billions that pour into this city

[@lavernedavy1247]

Mr third generation it's been always my dream to work for M.T.A I would love to be a Terminal cleaner I love to clean right now I'm a school bus Matron and I keep my school bus very clean soil will like to be a train cleaner as well Laverne

[@salaamallahalternatechannel]

THIS BLACK SISTER IS GREAT !! -- LOVE HER

[@garyaustin9287]

Yes I personally know her. She is definitely a very nice person.

[@maxwish9471]

I want to work from the MTA from age 22 to age 70 (2029-2077).

[@carkawalakhatulistiwa]

3:59 We are talking about trains, not cars

[@metropod]

Having actually gone through one, it’s actually not that different.

[@bruve]

They're just relating how they wash the trains in Corona Yard to a car wash, numbnut

[@liveeric2631]

9 years N I'm Still waiting on a call I apply for the conductor exam on September 25 2015 took the test on march 22 2016 Got the list number 31,000 don't know what's going on with the list.......I Don't even know what number they up too

[@Symbiote-hq6pn]

If your list number is 31,000 honestly just move on or retake an exam. They’re only in the 13,000s right now.

[@liveeric2631]

@Symbiote-hq6pn 13,000 😲 yeah I already applied for the bus operator exam already

[@Symbiote-hq6pn]

@@liveeric2631do you have a cdl permit?

[@TheEnigmaProductions]

I despise the MTA once I get my car I’m never taking the subway

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Why?

[@videonut1988]

To the OPTO Stans, keep scrolling.

[@Theofficaltransitpenguin]

how does someone go from working a 188 to a 160 and the same person in the same video wtf

[@tonylarussa4046]

BARELY running!!!!!!!!

[@ronaldopando769]

They forgot to mention the $700 million a year they lose to fare evaders 😂

[@Alexpeltecu]

Badly

[@viviennewestwoodruinedmylife]

And only been cleaned once

[@nycbigbear]

Someone couldn't be bothered to watch the video

[@stickynorth]

TROLL!

[@agentrgwx8529]

mental illness sure isn’t good

[@stickynorth]

Still the most impressive metro system on the planet bar none... Well maybe the Vancouver skytrain or Dubai Metro which are both fully automated but that's a whole other discussion!

[@metropod]

Because they were built from the ground up for that technology. There are sections of the subway network that date from the late 1880s that is still in use. We celebrate 1904 as the opening of the original IRT mainline from City Hall to 145th, the introduction of underground services. But New York has elevated trains for decades prior and sections of earlier elevated in Brooklyn opened 20 years earlier now form a core component of the J train, from Gates Avenue (the world’s oldest purpose built rapid transit/Metro station still in day to day service outside of London at 139 years old) to Crescent Street. This section is old enough to have had steam locomotives pull the trains.

[@monkeystuff661]

Thats a good conductor L MTA a little but W 🙃

[@ProjectsHoodRat]

But how come MTA charging local NYers congestion pricing for driving back to their own home, those that lives within the city, below 60th? Or elderlies coming in from outer boroughs for doctor appt in the Upper East or Upper West where majority of the medical advance hospitals are located? Just cut pension and bonuses from the executives that does nothing but sit at the table and conduct their useless weekly meetings about dumb priorities like "platform robots"

[@rockvilleraven]

Things could be worse, in Washington, DC the fares are mostly distanced based because there are no dedicated funding sources for the Washington Metro, unless you ride after 9:30 to closing or all day weekends, it's can go from $2.50 to 6.75 each way max. The rest of the time, its 2.50 flat each way.

[@jolyonwelsh9834]

A.I. will replace you eventually.

[@fcjose31]

Aquí mantienen el sistema de 106 años, se modernizan las líneas mas antiguas, por eso no luce tan mal a pesar de los años, aunque muchas estaciones se hicieran hace mas de un siglo, se han modernizado. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJnIc32ij5xqd5Ysi=Y-jLRzd4TMkiIw4i&t=1

[@RandyWarzinski]

I respect these workers however NYC Subway system is the worst in the world compared to other countries. Tokyo Japan has the best subway system in the world why because they are smarter than americans at economics, engineering, planning, maintaining, and . It isn't because the american system is so old, thats a lame excuse on why the MTA subway is bad. It can be completely rebuilt and modernized which it should be .

[@agentrgwx8529]

I mean if it was the absolute worst then would it be running completely like it is at this second? I hardly have problems with the L and 7 trains which I take to get around and are clean, efficient and fast. I’m just happy I have a good way to get around, could care less if Tokyo is better since none of their lines or tracks or whatever tf it is touch this continent

[@RandyWarzinski]

@@agentrgwx8529 all you need to do is do research online and it will tell you that the nyc subway is one of the worst in the world also to mention UNSAFE so please spare me your BS

[@bruve]

@@RandyWarzinski It may be unsafe, but it gets the job done. Also, its one of the most complex in the world, not many transit systems have this many Train Lines & Bus Routes like the MTA does. And most of the unsafe stations are the unrenovated ones (ex. Chambers Street), and they remain unrenovated likely due to either the lines importance or the infrastructure of the station. A majority of newly renovated stations are much safer, ex. Hudson Yards, 5 Av-Bryant Park, and many other stations. And the unsafe state of most stations is because of the riders themselves, throwing trash on the tracks or on the floor, or people pushing others onto the tracks. In All, its not entirely the MTAs fault, some of the riders are to blame.

[@higheveryday138]

Cap as shit

[@agentrgwx8529]

What is cap though?? 💀💀

[@higheveryday138]

@@agentrgwx8529 Why are you sending skull emotes what does that mean?