⁴ᴷ Motorman's Point of View - 1910s Low-V from Grand Central to Woodlawn and Back

The museum Low-V cars have a front window that passengers can see out of. Quite the view!! This video was taken on a museum train excursion that visited Woodlawn Cemetery. Tickets for excursions like this are available on the Transit Museum's website:
www.nytransitmuseum.org/nostalgiarides/
Note: This footage was taken from a publicly accessible part of the train. No footage shown in this video was recorded from a non-public viewpoint. Please do not trespass and/or place cameras in non-publicly accessible areas.
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Taken on April 15th, 2018.

[@strafrag1]

Just love those old high-pitched whistles. SUPER! Thanks.

[@rbf9701]

Air horns are a lot better. Whistles are dorky.

[@da9618]

The way the train sounds like when it accelerates really brings me back when they were operating the old IND trains until the 70s, and I remember them having ceiling fans and screw on light bulbs, also, I used to take this train to Yankee stadium and Fordham road, and as old as this train is, if it can talk, it can tell you how people used to dress in past years, how the neighborhoods and people change etc.

[@dianebrown4955]

I loved this video now I know how the grand central shuttle connects to the Lexington avenue 4,5,&6 lines I especially like the view of the old city hall station

[@musicforaarre]

City Hall station is the most beautiful subway station in the world, per my opinion. It is GORGEOUS ! Aarre Peltomaa

[@eddyrodriguez3501]

I feel like I'm in subway traveling in the front car again. Excellent video.

[@roughcut627]

1:31:52 We were cracking up as we passed the guy in the Horse Head Mask at 86th Street

[@rogerrabbit1934]

Great. Video reminds me of being a kid ridding the IRT

[@marquis029]

Excellent. I used to ride this rail religiously as a lover of trains!!!!! Keep posting the great videos.

[@ferky123]

26:31 my god they've gone to plaid.

[@Bobrogers99]

I've never been to NYC, but I find these subway trips quite interesting. Map in hand, I was briefly confused when we headed south, but now I see why. If you ever edit the intro, perhaps you can insert the viewing of the abandoned City Hall station before taking the trip to Woodlawn. I appreciated the strong headlight so I could see the variety in the tunnels. Great video!

[@7linearmy336]

Dam you can still see all of the original track passage ways of the shuttle when you leave GCT

[@lucaslucas2933]

7LineArmy 7 could you point them out. I don't see them

[@8avexp]

LOVE that Park Ave. straightaway! Wish it were five miles long.

[@tyrese3745]

15:00 The long-since-abandoned Worth Street Station, which had been closed for over six decades (1961, to be exact).

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

I remember the project that closed Worth st. It involved rebuilding the old Brooklyn bridge station and extending it to fit 11 cars. a new north end entrance was only 2 blocks from Worth st. Part of the project involved taking out the rightside platform of the chambers st bmt station and putting up a wall. the lex and bmt are very close under Foley Sq.

[@sethtriggs]

This is a really cool excursion! I need to do one of these somehow one day.

[@CLRailfanner]

46:44 this gives me metro north vibes of everytime a train would pass a railroad crossing

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

Nice train ride, Mr. Dr. Hammers Trains! : )

[@karenevans3497]

Great job DJ Hammers!

[@tubblescousine257]

Niccc unfortunately I couldn't attend at the time to chase it but good vid👍👍

[@cats0182]

This video apparently starts at GCT and is going DOWNTOWN. The title implied it was going uptown. If I'm correct, the part of the trip is in the original IRT tunnel. You passed the abandoned 18th Street Station. In the local stations the part of the platform with the round vertical poles is the original station. The later extended parts of the platform have the square polls.

[@DocMicrowave]

That is exactly what it looks like.

[@Sam53148]

I like the horn sound, almost like a toy train horn

[@TonyP9279]

Nothing like watching this on 2x speed!

[@b747guy9]

Liked the video, thanks. But one thing, when people do these could. at some point, show a still of what the cars(s) look like. A 1910ish car might be fun to see. Just one guys opinion.

[@tact86]

Nice ride, Great video!

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

The train goes around the 1904 City Hall Loop passing the beautiful station. it has been closed since 1945 because of the gap between the train and the platform. The loop is used to turn 6 trains around.

[@williamerazo1685]

Worth street is pretty big for a abandon station

[@officialmcdeath]

Atmospheric - good work! Surprised no use of express track in Bronx - surely they'd want to avoid contaminating regular timetable?

[@danren7527]

officialmcdeath express track on the 4 is never used as it’s basically skipping 9 stops and no one would take it. Awhile back they tested it as the Jerome express but it ultimately failed, thus only local.

[@mikeef747]

From watching a lot of these Bronx is the most un-redeveloped borough in NYC, by a landslide. My father was born there in 1941 and quite honestly, so many of the buildings looking like they were built before 1941.

[@billynage]

Publicity for these events is really bad. I looked on their website and couldn't even find anything about Woodlawn. I would have liked to go.

[@robertthomas5196]

Pretty fun to watch with a buzz on.

[@debralavorata546]

Sounds like the "hummer" train I remember as a kid going once to bklyn with my father,ceiling fans,and corn row seats. That train of course was an older version of this one,it's to bad we didn't get to see what it looked like too.

[@lohphat]

Why is there so much discarded maintenance debris allowed in the tunnels? Why is sloppiness tolerated? You don't see that in other country's rail networks.

[@landocalrisian2014]

That's EXACTLY why I came to the comments. It's FILTHY 😳😳 I know the tunnels are old but WOW!

[@nyrmetros]

That's a lot of tunnel junk!

[@thts_txc3491]

mainly for future projects and stuff, usually a train comes around and picks it up

[@blanchiep]

It is because of poor management, laziness and incompetence. They could pay the homeless to pick it up.

[@josephweiss1559]

You should not be surprised

[@thecrooklynite2129]

53:19 rest in peace spek

[@Han-wh5ie]

Heel bijzonder !

[@xkramz31]

as a trackworker for NYCT, you help me see all the clear up niches and and no clearance candy stripes of certain lines. thanks lol

[@DJALEXBROWN]

Love your vids man!

[@southernoregoncatmom6519]

Wow. Neat video.

[@iTheRealBigbosceoProductions]

I go to sleep to these. Great stuff

[@visionist7]

Imagine those grimy concrete tunnels when they were brand new

[@TheChicagoL]

At 10:50 - 10:51 just below Astor Place / Cooper Union, it looks like the block signal dropped to "red" even before the first car got into the block. All the other signals past that signal appeared to be "green". That and the fact the motorman is proceeding so slowly toward that signal even though it was green at first got my curiosity up. I mean, was it a possible broken rail, a defect or "glitch" in that signal relay or what???? Just askin'.

[@nyrmetros]

What's the history of this route and tracks and tunnels? What were the 2 abandoned stations? I wish Brooklyn Bridge was still an elevated station. Amazing to see the difference in tunnels below Grand Central and North of GC.

[@jermainebrown8688]

The two abandoned stations are 18th Street and Worth Street. They were closed due to the close proximity of other nearby stations

[@musicforaarre]

Especially notice the twin track round top tunnels just south of Grand Central. It had something to do with extending the route to Lexington Ave and keeping out of the way of an existing subway line while the new one was being built. The connector for the south track of the 42nd st shuttle can be seen on the southbound run. The north shuttle track has it's connector into the Broadway line north of Times Square. I am fascinated with how this separation south of Grand Central was phased in and accomplished, and will one day research it all. I am still working on the DeKalb Ave grade separation of the late 1950's, which continues to be an intellectual thorn in my side; How did they phase it in ???? "... was still an elevated station. " This station platform didn't replace an El station. The old Els were torn down, but this station platform was built in 1904 as an original IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit) station on the first subway line in Manhattan and New York. The Second and Third Ave Els were torn down separately from this station. Does this answer your question to satiety ? Aarre Peltomaa

[@williamerazo3921]

@@musicforaarre Dekalb never had the IRT els go through the junction

[@tyrese3745]

It’s the original 1904 subway route from the City Hall Loop (17:39) stop to 145th Street in Manhattan when the first ever subway line in NYC opened for regular service on October 27, 1904.

[@ncast54]

Anyone suffering from insomnia should try to watch this video in its entirety.

[@tanzania-gl8dz]

1:01:19 hey there little friend 🐿

[@rodneywilliams3762]

need more of front view and how about of all lines

[@levybob1]

Confused. This train going SOUTH from Grand Central, not North to Woodlawn

[@luistheedited]

It took the city hall loop to get to woodlawn

[@DJEcchi]

27:43 What are the reasons for having the express tracks built lower or higher than the outside local tracks?

[@williamerazo1685]

Park ave tunnel

[@kenqwe04]

At one time I thought it was because of the Park Ave Tunnel until I realized the ceiling goes straight across the two express tracks AND the north bound local readily seen in this video. I believe having the tracks drop down is done to have gravity help speed up the trains. Another similar spot that readily comes to mind is on the Westside line where the 2,3 express tracks drop down on the curve at the north end of Houston St.

[@Dezlite]

It helps with acceleration and braking with the trains

[@rogerrabbit1934]

Dezlite you do realize that the name woodlawn is for the cemetery

[@Dezlite]

@@rogerrabbit1934 I already knew that, and that has nothing to do with this conversation.

[@GoaWay4Sanity]

1:51:11 *what is that screeching sound …airbrakes/ wheel flange track friction?!* 🤔

[@Italman45]

I'm used to going through LIRR tunnels. What a disgusting mess the NY subway system is. Filthy, I had no idea it was this bad !

[@kevinhoward9593]

Nice signal violation at the start. NY and Philly are the only two cities that have a 4 track line. (2 local tracks, and two express).

[@DJHammersTrains]

That was an AK signal, not a standard red automatic. The way it was passed was proper procedure.

[@williamerazo1685]

Chicago to

[@kevinhoward9593]

No. the Purple Line Express only uses one track. its only express going one direction. it expresses south in the morning and expresses north in the evening. it doesn't uses two tracks.

[@williamerazo1685]

Kevin Howard nice for the info. Thats stupid why dont they do a super express service with the extra track since they not using that track or regular express both ways

[@W2IRT]

There's an express-style operation in London on the Metropolitan ("Fast Met") and also on the Picadilly line where it shares tracks with the District, IIRC (it's been well over 15 years since I last rode either).

[@musicforaarre]

46:28 & 1:18:40 Underground Through Truss Bridge? What the hell is this thing??? Just north of 149th St/Grand Concourse. I've seen it in many videos. Aarre Peltomaa

[@kevinwong6588]

Crossing the Metro-North Hudson Line (New York Central main line).

[@paulbryan2611]

A deliberate SPAD at the beginning of video. Emergency brakes should have activated and stopped the train.

[@Garythefireman66]

At 1:25 on the left is that abandoned track covered in debris or was there never track layed to begin with?

[@williamerazo1685]

Those were the original express tracks

[@Anthony-ls6st]

William Erazo Where they removed?

[@1000man2]

The station was abandoned

[@kevinpatino8708]

Question how would the train go back to shuttle platform is there a way to go back or they have to go to local track reverse back to the station idk how that will work if any let me know

[@williamerazo1685]

I love the lex lower GCT Exp Run

[@williamerazo1685]

Wish the Redbirds can do this run in service again

[@Woodrow3170]

One day, William, one day

[@waldwickperson]

What abandoned station is that at 7:40?

[@OGR-42]

18th Street

[@haroldlaetsch9848]

The old 18th St station. Even before my time!

[@billynage]

There are a few. One is 18th St., the next is Worth St. and finally the old City Hall station that is seen in the loop going back uptown.

[@haroldlaetsch9524]

I remember the Worth St station but the IRT didn't allow you to go around the loop through the City Hall station when I was riding the "6".

[@mr.fallen1486]

waldwickperson yes look it up there is a cool video about it

[@williamerazo1685]

DJ get philly Broad St Express during Rush Hour

[@retroguy9494]

I don't know what ANY of this has to do with the 1910's? Except perhaps the train whistle.

[@BrysonBaibusu]

Buddy the entire train is from 1910's

[@dogmannz]

The motors sound like the star ship Enterprise

[@BenjaminEsposti]

Yeah, it's because the pinion gears are old and they are not the helical type, so they're noisier.

[@dpbl9931]

What is that for a former station between minute 7:33 and 7:46? The subway in NYC is really horror! Except aboveground stations, the stations under the earth are terrible, dirty, scary, in short catastrophic!

[@feverspell]

18th Street.

[@JerichoWhiskey]

Oh damn, this wasn't just from Grand Central, this was on the former mainline.

[@nyrmetros]

What former mainline?

[@JerichoWhiskey]

@@nyrmetros The original subway ran from City Hall to Lexington Ave up to 42nd Street and then went west onto the Broadway line going north from Times Square. So people had a sliver of what it was like to do that when this excursion left from the Grand Central shuttle platform.

[@bobvandiver9395]

What is meant bt "low-V"? Voltage? Velocity?

[@everettthepetractionguy4222]

"Voltage".

[@ltg_chaotic]

I can see my school MS331 between 176 and burnside

[@r42productions69]

1:00:27 and 1:06:33 My school Bronx Science is next to that building and Jerome Yard! :D And now people who see this know what school I go to. :/

[@abudiyan]

Then why did you posted it here

[@morganlimes]

doesnt really matter if people know where you go to school

[@tahasinrahman2984]

Lucky! You go to a specialized high school! I am taking the test this October!

[@pgchase4578043026]

What do the blue lights signify? Phone box? (Not from NYC.)

[@DJHammersTrains]

They signify the location of an emergency telephone and third rail power shut off switch.

[@pgchase4578043026]

@@DJHammersTrains Thanks. I've just started getting into your videos. Appreciate your work.

[@wilkinsrodriguez5703]

Nice.

[@gilnieves9878]

👍

[@Dezlite]

Who else had the video on 2X speed?

[@Anthony-ls6st]

Not me bc 2x speed is super laggy...

[@randyyounger8931]

Me

[@randyyounger8931]

Me

[@musicforaarre]

2:01:35 Wakey, wakey !!! Look at the people trying to get onto a museum train, as if it was in regular service; what planet did they come from ?? Aarre Peltomaa

[@trainboy1580]

How do the 42 street shuttle go to the (4) (5) and (6) line

[@Anthony-ls6st]

BC of this track 0:51 That soon connects to the Brooklyn bridge bound 6 train at 2:55

[@xstremz7116]

17:03 where does the track merging to the left lead to?

[@narcisasanchez2680]

Eric Extremly to the (4) and (5) lines to brooklyn

[@Anthony-ls6st]

6 train tails tracks which is what mta store some trains.

[@chriswalker2562]

Where did the train start?

[@chriswalker2562]

nevermind, it was the 42nd street shuttle station.

[@メメ口尺乃工匕丹爪モ]

How many stops from woodlawn to 138 street

[@888jerm888]

14

[@Ibigoo]

15:40 what could be the reason behind such a sort signal distance? great video anyway :)

[@Conrailfan2596]

Do you pronounce it low v or low 5

[@charlescrowell915]

It's low v.

[@michaeldunetz90]

Toot Toot Toot!

[@r42productions69]

1:00:04 I can see my school clearly.

[@jeremiahewing5396]

DJ Hammers why u didn't do the new 7 train why u do the old train the new won is nice

[@Woodrow3170]

DJH does have a video of the 7 train leaving the Main St. Flushing station and coming outside showing Citi Field in the distance on the right...look it up.

[@drizzydre2678]

When was this?

[@waldwickperson]

Read the description.

[@markkelly8837]

It's a great video...but...it would have been nice to actually see the train itself. Looking out at the tracks and tunnels it could have been any train, from the earliest to the newest. If you do this again try including shots of the exterior of the train and the interior not just the view from the front of the train.

[@parker580]

I spy a rat at 1:21:18.

[@jamesburrelljr.8561]

well that was a slow-moving express train

[@cherylgaston479]

Nice video train horn is very annoying

[@tommytruth7595]

We have to say motorperson today.

[@BenjaminEsposti]

XDDD

[@visionist7]

Bunch of weirdos these days I say machinist

[@midnightteapot5633]

We don't have to, we are just bullied into it by the " tolerant and fair" lefties. For me it will always be an engineman or motorman regardless.

[@nereidaflores7721]

WHAT A BORING RIDE!

[@carlos666dantas]

Thomas & Friends???