NYC Subway: Manhattan Views from the IRT Flushing Line

The IRT Flushing Line runs on an elevated structure along parts of Queens Boulevard in Queens. From here, one has a dramatic view of Midtown Manhattan.
Today’s film mainly shows 46th Street-Bliss Street station, right where the Flushing Line turns from Queens Boulevard onto Roosevelt Avenue. At the time I was filming, there were some large clouds that left only a small strip of deep yellow and red sky directly over Manhattan, which made for a marvellous view.
Enjoy some local and express train action during sunset.
Filmed in the evening of 17 April, 2015.

[@MooseToothProduction]

Okay, after viewing this work of art, I'd like to thank you for filming these videos. It's difficult to find quality subway videos out there and when I see one of yours, I feel endlessly satisfied. My friends all tease me about watching these, but I just find them so inspiring and delightful to experience. I feel like I'm there, watching those sunsets, riding the rails, appreciating the under appreciated subway system of New York City. It's all dirty, grimy, and noisy, but you make it look like a wonder and a treasure. You capture the true essence of the city and for that, I appreciate your work.

[@Luftschlange]

+Addison Knies This is one of the nicest comments anybody has ever posted. Thank you! I'm really glad you like the videos so much. And don’t worry, some of my friends also tease me about filming these videos. ;-)

[@Thelegendofyoutubeking]

+Luftschlange did you filmed india

[@TrainsFerriesFeet]

@@Luftschlange Don't feel bad; when I go to NYC it's mostly for photography. One reason I like to travel alone.

[@running179]

ALL of this person's videos are F***ING AMAZING. Beautiful. I'm from NYC and I now live in London. These videos REALLY capture so much, and the quality is phenomenal. WOW!! Thank you.

[@BellaStratton132]

This is an absolutely beautiful subway video. It makes me WANT to visit these stations and ride these trains.

[@codename617]

The 46th Street- Bliss Street station was always seen in the first shot of the intro of NYPD Blue

[@Official_Kings_Versus]

😎

[@jefflewis4]

Reminds me of the opening shots of NYPD Blue TV series.

[@Ty0688]

The best train line on the MTA. ❤

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

1:26/ There's a structural reason for that. One only needs to view the elevated route along the Far Rockaways. What is the line surrounded by? Bodies of saltwater, an enemy of structural steel. When many of these elevated lines were built, not much real estate surrounded them. The closer an elevated line is to, say, a river or bay, the more likely the girders and beams holding up those train lines needed to be protected from corrosion. That's why the first couple of elevated stops on the IRT Flushing Line were covered in concrete instead of exposed steel. After the Bliss Avenue stop, engineers determined the line was far enough from The East River to cease concrete layering of the stations and elevated structures. 🇵🇷🇺🇸😎

[@ThatMateoGuy]

You make amazing, awesome videos Thank you so much posting them!

[@Luftschlange]

Thanks, glad you enjoy them!

[@user-nm1ov2mr3y]

on this line went the legendary legendary redbird train

[@user-hb8ft3xj6l]

กเเรรนนย

[@bronxboy47]

I'm an ex-New Yorker, very familiar with this line by day and night, and I thank you for this beautifully-filmed chance to look back and reminisce. I left NYC 35 years ago and haven't been back since.

[@CameronLandels]

Great video! :-) I love the view of Midtown Manhattan! Not too long to the 7 subway extension is open!

[@mikef8471]

Interesting that you should pick out this video Cameron. The 7 line was my train when I lived in New York City. When you live around that area you just call it The City (as you do for London). Ah memories. I will have to look up the extension since I didn't know it was being built.

[@CameronLandels]

Mike F​​ Hello Mike. It was a video suggestion on my youtube page and I love the view of the skyline. Im a big fan of NYC. Visited a couple of years ago. NYC is great. I loved the subway! I also went on the ferry to Staten Island. The view of Manhattan was incredible! The 7 line runs from Flushing, Queens to Times Square, Manhattan. It is due to be extended in July to 34th St - Hudson Yards. The city - I believe people from The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island refer to Manhattan as a "trip into the city". I would say - Im going for a trip to the city - London. And actually in 9 hours i'm off to London to see my best friend for the day :-)

[@mikef8471]

Have a good visit Cam.

[@bronxboy47]

@@mikef8471 I'm an ex-New Yorker and this was my line also. I was always thrilled by the night views of Manhattan. I never took them for granted. 40 years later they still thrill me even though the skyline has changed drastically.

Other great job! Nice Video! Night View is perfect!

[@richmaint7444]

Great video great lighting and the city is outstanding thanks.

[@jackmorrison7379]

I'm not a huge train or transit fan (I think RR employees negatively call them foamers) but photography and vistas interest me. This video transcends fandom to something else approaching urban art. Impressive. It almost makes me forget the neglect and decay of too many NY Transit (subway) stations. Before all of you non-U.S. residents engage in schadenfreude (a good German word to compliment Luftschlange), note this. We spent untold trillions of dollars to win the Cold War, and then to fight questionable wars later. Our military budget (and lower taxes than Europe) soaked up all the funds. We could not be like Europeans and Asians spending on new transit systems with modern stations and rolling stock. Our transportation rail system, both intercity and local transit (over 100 years old mostly) simply decayed. Exceptions in some Sun Belt new systems, or in places like California with systems built from scratch. NYC is a system with massive deferred modernization, the Second Ave. subway notwithstanding.

[@visionist7]

The system would have been orders of magnitude more impressive if the Great Depression hadn't happened, and if the Manhattan Els were still present

[@stanleypugh8201]

Great video you do hard work we enjoy the ride much thanks 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@ScottShuster]

Luftschlange U-Bahn- Videos sind die besten U-Bahn- Videos immer filmed..and dies ist die beste bisher . Bravo, Luftschlange , Bravo!!

[@Luftschlange]

Thanks, I'm glad you are enjoying them!

[@CyborgRua23]

Particularly the best movie! Greetings from Brazil!

[@MrLuvOldies]

Thank you. Great Video,and I love your information subtitles.I always Love the Manhattan Skyline.Mmmmmmmm

[@domingogilberto29]

k

[@sonuchadalavada5193]

One of my favorite (if not my favorite) station in the System.

[@tomasrvigo]

Terrific vid! Oh memories... Thanks for posting them!

[@Luftschlange]

Thanks! I'm glad you like the video. :-)

[@natydelgado1618]

Luftschlange i

[@TheLpbrennan]

Because of the polluted air in New Jersey, New York City is regularly treated to some gorgeous sunsets! A ride over the Manhattan Bridge from DeKalb Avenue can be breathtaking, the dark towers of lower Manhattan lit by tens of thousands of windows against a flaming sunset-- breathtaking, if you care to look up from your paper.

[@isunlloaoll]

people take for granted just how beautiful the city is. I always look out the window to see the city from every angle no matter how many countless times I've seen it. Other people are just too busy with their phones...

[@grt021965]

Very nice great shots good contrast

[@ejjohnson3060]

Amazing quite a beautiful view

[@rodgiacoleetch6193]

Breathtaking!

[@theofficial1train]

3:43 awesome

[@TheDylanJoyce]

Magnificent Vehicles!

[@marcusminott7493]

Notice the Empire State Building in the background

[@DenverRailFan]

Beautiful!

[@easyremembered]

I agree with another commenter, keep comments to annotations, and then the user has the option to turn them off or on. Your videos are the best ive ever seen of NYC subway. Any other videos id like the comments, but your videos are so beautiful it kind of ruins the mood.

[@ZeNTfsjpteah173hudhi]

Pushed Like button👍👍👍

[@paulliebgott7772]

Nice video

[@conspiracytheorist2181]

Stunning, breathtaking. Are you an MTA guy aspiring to a film career?

[@youredone9654]

Nice video,I'm a new subscriber love this channel:D

[@gamersquad9324]

Sharon Case Said Right 1:37-1:40

[@godwinogabo5122]

nice view beautiful

[@isunlloaoll]

New york is most beautiful at dusk/ Sunset.

[@theofficial1train]

3:10 bro sounds like gunshots

[@Gary0557]

We don’t have ‘express’ trains on the London Underground. Are tickets for your express trains more expensive? I’m Assuming they are or everyone would get on them.

[@zeepee6919]

express trains in the nyc subway arent a separate price, you just have to catch them at the right station. but some, like the 7 train here only run during rush hours where they use the middle track

[@Gary0557]

@@zeepee6919 YesI’ve seen that Express trains use middle tracks. They only stop at busy interchange stations I presume.

[@timothysu5761]

What kind of camera and lens did you shoot this on? just curious...

[@Luftschlange]

Timothy Su Sure, the camera was a Canon EOS 70D. Some of the shots were done with the 18-135mm 3.5-5.6 IS STM lens, and toward the end where it's getting darker I used a 30mm Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM. I also used a RØDE Stereo VideoMic Pro (attached to the camera) for the sound.

[@rhuntington3]

That view at 2:13! Nice!

[@Freyyyr]

Really nice video. Do you use a tripod ? I've always been passionate about trains and subways, i would like to do some videos as well but i'm only an amateur.

[@Luftschlange]

Thanks. Well, I use a monopod, which gives some sort of stabilization but isn't as much in the way as a tripod.

[@Freyyyr]

What do you mean :D

[@Luftschlange]

A tripod takes up significantly more space than a monopod, so I would be more of an obstacle with it for the other passengers on the platform. A monopod takes up way less space since it has only one leg, but it still helps to reduce camera shake well enough. Does that make sense?

[@Freyyyr]

Yes makes sens. And people are never bothered that you film?

[@Luftschlange]

Usually they just ignore me. Sometimes I get asked by the staff to not use the monopod, then I am obeying. But usually people are friendly. :)

[@daveboom7808]

lufschlange do you live in new york ?

[@megamanstarforcemegabuster5424]

Dave Boom not anymore

[@tornadochasing2883]

0:52 Typo?

[@itzmatt5663]

And witch station was that and u can even see the trade center

[@Official_Kings_Versus]

46th Street - Bliss Street (in Queens, NY)👍🏾

[@Gamer_Horse]

Is there any tracks that cross over each other in this whole system?

[@TheLpbrennan]

Casual Keldeo Yes. The L (14th Street-Canarsie) line in Brooklyn crosses over the Broadway-Brooklyn tracks at Broadway Jct., where you can transfer to the J, M, and Z lines. A little further on at Livonia station, it physically crosses the IRT 3 line to New Lots Ave., near the Junius Street station, but there is no transfer between them there. (Been proposed for years.) At West 8th Street near Coney Island, the F (Culver) line comes in underneath the Q (Brighton) line. Queensboro Plaza is a two level station, with 7, N, and W trains serving it, a platform for Manhattan-bound trains on the upper level and outbound trains on the lower level. These are all above ground locations on both lines. There are many places where underground tracks and stations cross at different levels, or and elevated line crosses an underground one.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Larry Brennan At Queensboro Plaza, it’s actually Manhattan bound on the lower level and outbound on the upper level.

[@franklinclinton2998]

GTA IV atmosphere

[@arielgonzalez5296]

Sunset going down?

[@Luftschlange]

Yes!

[@arielgonzalez5296]

cool. by the way, awesome view of Manhattan

[@PinkLaffs]

Magnificent views and camerawork, tainted by the unnecessary and constant commentary at bottom of screen. Do away with that. It ruins each and every shot.