Rockaway - New York subway trip 1991

A trip across Jamaica Bay on the world's most extensive subway system.
@ 2:07 Broadway Junction
@ 5:15 Far Rockaway
@ 6:45 Rockaway Park
@ 7:40 bridge across Jamaica Bay
@ 9:45 Broad Channel
@ 13:40 Rockaway Boulevard
(There are no views of JFK Airport in this video)

[@Yolticat]

This was my only trip to New York. What I remember most was how bouncy most of the subway trains were (even more than in London, England); they all looked fairly similar apart from some red & some grey. Also it was the only city I know with long 4-track tunnel sections so an overtaking non-stop train could pass your train between stations underground!

[@scooby641480]

i miss the days when the friends and i would ride the trains for fun

[@NEFeldman]

R44's were done before the R46's because of mechanical issues and were not only fixed mechanically, but the blue stripe was painted over with a silver stripe giving a bit if a difference from the R46! Also when the R46's followed the R44 in GOH, they were given different type of Westinghouse CAM motors than the R44. R44 was also built on a carbon type frame and not stainless steel like the R46, and had to retire prematurely due to the cracks in the carbon frames!!

[@trainluvr]

Great sound! Keeps the memories alive.

[@Yolticat]

29 March 1991

[@joshuakirschenbaum417]

I was born march 21 1991 in Brooklyn hell yeah

[@subwayfantx1608]

Outstanding video!!! I guess you were one of the original railfanners. I grew up in the '80's riding the Rockaway trains to visit my Aunt. Left New York in '87 and that's how I remember the New York Subways. The "C" train used to serve the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. It only used to run on rush hours though. It's hard to believe that every train model that was running on your video is now retired. Are the R160's any good? I've only seen them on youtube. last rode the subways in 2002.

[@joshbenton4080]

The "New Technology" trains that replaced the conventional trains, aren't like the older subways, in terms of being fun to ride in. The New Technology trains have ac traction instead, of dc traction and make annoying sounds whenever the motor person throttles up or down. My personal favorite "B" Division rolling stock was the Budd built R32 type cars. (Sometimes called the "Silverliners") Of course I liked the "Red Birds" that were still on many of the "A" Division (the IRT Lines) until the early 2000's. The older cars had the "Train Fan" window and you could see the tunnel from the train. The New Technology trains, including the R160 type cars, have a full width cab.

[@josef7ark]

I always liked riding the elevated line when it rained. Especially at night when the lights would go out for a few seconds.

[@8avexp]

This was back when rapid transit was still rapid transit.

[@Kareem4692]

Amen to that

[@Kareem4692]

This is when the Subway System Was Fun Now Today it sucks

[@luislaplume8261]

@@Kareem4692 In my time in the 1960s there were more varieties of subway trains and the oldest had light bulbs on the ceiling and propeller ventilation fans for summer and the doors and brakes were operated by compressed air.

[@SubwayFan83]

The very last time I rode R30s on the C train was summer of 1990. I was 7 at the time.

[@williamerazo3921]

Never rode them. 😢. We lived by IRT R 62 half cabs and RedBirds and 4 Ave Brooklyn line R32,R40S and R44 and R68. I do remember Pre GOH R32s but on the G line around my sisters birth June 1990

[@MrRailfan]

wow man , im impressed ! I stumbled across this video by chance and im sure glad i found it. Brings back some awesome memories :) really liked the clip of the r30s on the C and the 40/M on the L

[@williamerazo3921]

R30 C and B trains

[@williamerazo3921]

What year you think this is ?

[@tristanbravo3099]

R.I.P R42 &R40&R40M L trains

[@metroII]

wow....... memories!! awesome video!

[@holzman00]

Thank you for this footage. The system has changed so much since this was taken, it’s unbelievable.

[@simplyo26]

Must've been doing 70 on the flats! How cool! Plus, Grant Av. looks just the same today.

[@yojo7870]

Grant ave still looks exactly the same.

[@meriyinrouss4498]

At 6:00,I saw a Redbird C train

[@jeanetdun]

Ive been searching for a video like this, I always wanted to see how the Rockaways looked back in the 80s/90s, my stop is Beach 25th St. Wavecrest

[@rafaelasuncionXD2000216]

The (L) used to use R40 Slants?

[@KevinCNYC1991]

Yep, I personally rode Slants on the L some sixteen years ago from Broadway Junction to Rockaway Parkway when I was in NYC then. They also had R40Ms (which I also rode on) and I think R42s running on the L back then too.

[@rafaelasuncionXD2000216]

Yeah, the 42s went on the (L) as well

[@KevinCNYC1991]

The train I rode on to Broadway Junction from Rockaway Parkway, it was basically R40M, R40M, R42, R40M as I remembered. I sadly don't have the numbers as I didn't take numbers back then.

[@redphone1438]

rafael asuncionXD yes the L used R40/Ms and R42s. Then the R143s deplaced them all to other lines. R40S-2002 R42-2007

[@MrMiles716]

back then the a ran local during miday no c trains only during rush hour today its different

[@TheSubwayMustango]

Hard to believe I wasn't even born at this time

[@christorpher84]

I worked this line as a conductor and worked the Red Birds which is what this train is

[@8avexp]

This was before the entire system was slowed down following the Williamsburg Bridge accident in 1995. Back then it was rapid transit; now it's leisurely transit. You'll get there - eventually.

[@Yolticat]

Broadway Junction

[@nelson3001perez]

An R40 Slant on the L. That's beautiful

[@meachpieters2457]

Cool video. I remember the slant R40 on the L and the R42 I remember the R30 I rode them when I was a baby I just too small to remember at that time I was two when you made this video going on three that year thanks for the video. If you have more classics please let me know thank you I like trains

[@blacknationalfreedomfighte6682]

Stand clear of the closing doors man I remember riding the A Train to Brookyln but I've never been that far it look like the train is a rollercoaster Ride lol.

[@TransitJoey1997]

You rode in a R30? Lucky. =)

[@MsDenise85]

So much has changed in 12 years!

[@brownhornet1975]

I remember the slant 40’s on the L line

[@joshuakirschenbaum417]

I was born March 21st 1991 in Brooklyn right before this recording.... kinda cool to think about

[@Yolticat]

You're welcome!

[@ArmondoToribio]

If it wasn't for those R68/R68A the R30 would stay with the MTA until 2003 but I still love these train that has a screaming WH motor.

[@galore497eliteganggang7]

@BMT maybe hold them for the cold day they've Could had done....

[@fdnyemsemdemt]

Awesome video what camera did you use back then?

[@nycsubwayproduction3507]

R I P R44

[@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2]

Umm R44s aren’t gone you bum,they still run on the sir,will retire when r211 comes into service.

[@nycsubwayproduction3507]

I thought they was on the A line how did they go from the 207 street yard to Staten island yard

[@qtrainprod]

@@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2 your a bum idiot you dont even know what the aa became when double letters were removed

[@Matthews_Back]

@@nycsubwayproduction3507it was only the nycta r44 that retired

[@theestallion818]

Miss the r30s it was retired too soon!

[@kevinb8881]

The MTA should bring the C back to Rock Park and run the Rock Park shuttle overnight only!!

[@brownguy51]

I think the c should take lefferts

[@redbird1train855]

@@brownguy51 Exactly. All C trains should become Lefferts Boulevard bound and all A trains should become Far Rockaway Bound. It would be easier that way

[@TheKilomoney11]

don't understand why they retired the r30s in 1993 they could of kept them 10 more years

[@TheKilomoney11]

***** Yeah and the r42s are still running even it looks horrible

[@TheKilomoney11]

***** So that's why ENY put r42s back in the L line in 2007 because I was surprised when they came back

[@q21a27]

***** Actually the R42s has been on the L since they first entered service in 1969.

[@TheKilomoney11]

***** Damn I hope the WH R-30 pair at 207th street yard runs for a trip soon

[@TheKilomoney11]

***** its happening again on june 28

[@nelson3001perez]

And I like how The Rockaways weren't developed yet.

[@fnihp30]

If they weren’t developed, I wonder why they built the line in the first place? Who wants to travel to an undeveloped land?

[@theestallion818]

C train rockaway park bound!

[@CodyWinters-ok1uz]

The R30's and SLants i never grew up with the R30's but i did with the slants i miss them so much

[@LovelySteph]

I know it was the 90s, but this camera work is making me nauseous.

[@GeneralHawk505]

Merilyn Those arent Redbirds i mean they are red yes but those are called R30s

[@Mari_Jordan]

That is a Redbird They were called BMT Redbirds

[@GeneralHawk505]

Indeed True at the time i posted this comment i forgot they were called BMT Redbirds lol.

[@redbird1train855]

In my opinion, the real Redbirds are the ones on the IRT lines lol

[@meriyinrouss4498]

At 6:00,I saw a redbird C train.

[@Yolticat]

@fdnyemsemdemt Thanks. It was a JVC camcorder but I don't remember any more than that except it was new back then.

[@Bklyny718]

TRANSIT POLUCE .. ( 94L subway shuttle bus, why in year 2024 .. ) FOR HIM BAR....

[@CameronLandels]

Hi. Cool video! :) What is the location at around 3 minutes into the video??

[@williamerazo3921]

Yup my around the first time I went to the Rockaways and Jackson Heights

[@captainhines]

That's the LIRR East New York station. Atlantic Ave is right above it. Looks like the shot was taken from the south end of the Canarsie bound platform at Broadway Junction on the L line.

[@redbird1train855]

Yea, I'm just wondering if that lirr model was a M1 or a M3

[@MattAttack54]

Very Nice Footage Espcially the R-30's

[@robotx9285]

Huh, IND/BMT used to have Redbirds too.

[@jeanetdun]

man i miss the R40s and R42s on the L. :(

[@williamerazo3921]

Wait a non GOH R44 in 1991. This have to be earlier

[@gusalthorp6138]

Goes to Riis

[@CMSINFAMOUS]

No more red trains

[@redbird1train855]

Sadly. Only as garbage trains now currently:(

[@marcberland7935]

A train takes me home to far Rockaway where I grew up

[@johnpastore7685]

What happened to the Howard Beach station?

[@charlesdominguez4245]

@6:21 Sunshineeee!!! where Sunshine at? lol

[@techvidz5251]

Warning: if you have nausea don’t watch this

[@Progamer8012]

I wish the r160's were taken back to that time without NO ONE knowing and it being a surprise and I cant even imagine peoples faces...

[@NEFeldman]

Pitkin to this day mishandles their R46 fleet in which half of Jamaica Yards fleet was transferred over to, and 207 which has pretty much all of their R32 fleet! The C in most cases always has the oldest fleet except now where some R160's were transferred on a temporary basis from East New York Yard!

[@KINGTO101]

L line didnt have switching tracks between Bway Junction and jus before inside the tunnel to/from Bushwick-Aberdeen station back then

[@pbatommy]

Starting from the only stop on the L in Queens.

[@dang5297]

+pbatommy L doesnt go to queens

[@thomasponzio8345]

the L does briefly dip into Queens look at the map

[@pbatommy]

Wilson Avenue station is physically in Queens.

[@icebergslim3707]

pbatommy Halsey St.

[@F40PH-2CAT]

I was about to post how sad it was to see that all these cars are now retired, but then I realized this was 30 years ago :(

[@Yolticat]

Looks like, but I think it was probably just a random squiggle ;-)

[@CMSINFAMOUS]

Was that the J and M train collision?

[@redbird1train855]

Yes, the M followed the J from Myrtle Avenue to Broad Street then the M continued its way to Bay Parkway

[@hyperxx99]

I miss the Red Birds. Those things were speed demons.

[@N91stormbreaker]

its so weird seeing this but in a good way. brings back some good memories :]

[@Yolticat]

@GhettoKarter1992 I don't remember, sorry!

[@wingfly7498]

cool what poster they show at the video time 5:09

[@junjun798]

At first he was on an R40 Slant L then on an R30 C the R27s retired in 1988 with the arrival of the R68s the R68A retired the r30s

[@galore497eliteganggang7]

1990 actually

[@CMSINFAMOUS]

Can somebody explain to me what happened to the trains with the blue stripe across the whole train? It can be seen @ 11:40. We're those R44s?

[@redbird1train855]

Yes those were r44s, those retired long ago but their are still r44s on the staten island railway

[@Yolticat]

@MrRailFanBVE thanks!

[@Faupeshop]

gta four!

[@wingfly7498]

what month was this in 1991

[@redbird1train855]

March

[@buntik1687]

Very nice. A++