Secrets of the New York City subway system

The New York City subway system celebrated its 115th anniversary this week, and since its debut it has grown from a single, nine-mile line, to more than 800 miles of track and 472 stations, servicing around five million riders every day. Kris Van Cleave talked with historian Polly Desjarlais about some of the subway's secrets, and with Concetta Bencivenga, of the New York Transit Museum, about a true engineering marvel.
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[@MarloSoBalJr]

They should place human-like mannequins and benches inside the station as if it's in revenue service to get riders spooked

[@christopherfrisco936]

MarloSoBalJr that’s a great idea

[@The_falsetto]

Genius

[@gabri_maybe]

Can We Put Skeletons instead of Mannequins?

[@LennoxAlexanderFrancisJr]

Spooked, really!?

[@ggdebv344]

Many subway drivers are suffering from ptsd. so you don't have to scare them on purpose.

[@JessJ_698]

When that dude said stand clear of the closing doors you have no idea how much daily PTSD I got from that

[@benparker384]

Lol I used to take the subway to school every morning super early cause I went to school on the other side of brooklyn. its like hearing the wake up alarm on your phone. just instant overwhelming dread

[@nycfrank1226]

When you realize that this station is cleaner than some still in use stations

That's probably the reason, though.

[@jasdancer20]

Ofc it is. Theres not thousands of people trekking through it everyday

[@DeathShouldTakeMeNow]

Abandoned and still in better shape than the Chamber Street station, or at least how I remember Chamber st I dunno if its been fixed up by now or not.

[@JL-uq6qe]

Some? Bruh, all.

[@GeneralZap]

It's a museum, duh? Also NYC activity is filth incarnate...

[@kobyschechter8163]

I’m a huge railfan. I was at the abandoned City Hall station with the NY Transit Museum on August 20, 2019. It was an experience I’ll remember forever. It’s beautiful.

[@tyreekmurillo4524]

the train is screaming “no please no! i’m not that flexible!”

[@LennoxAlexanderFrancisJr]

LOL

[@LennoxAlexanderFrancisJr]

Lol

[@brenda1892]

LOL

[@theidioticbunny2979]

LOL

[@emilyevanvlack]

LOL

[@heathermetz6576]

That’s amazing that the 6 train passes through the City Hall Station. Giving riders a glimpse into the past.

[@KrystineBrown]

The biggest secret is how the fare price keeps going up but nothing important ever changes

[@prentissem]

Lots of stuff has changed! Approximately 23% of subway stations are equipped with elevators. I began traveling the subways in a wheelchair in 1992. Luckily I was within a block of an equipped stations. When I first began using mobility equipment, accessible buses were few and far between. Since the buses are 100% accessible and I rarely if ever can't get on a bus because a lift is broken. Unfortunately. The distribution of work on stations is not distributed recently. In addition, the Gov frequently dips into the MTA piggy bank for special interest nontransit projects. Lots has changed they may not be important to you, but are to many others!

[@jess8023]

same in london

[@Plugz11218]

They added so many security guards and a lot of stuff stop cappin

[@Zeebroiger849]

Inflation buddy

[@inlonging]

@@Zeebroiger849 hm this comment aged well 😅

[@joslynn.2849]

Omg. How freaking cool is this ? I got the chills watching this.

[@LennoxAlexanderFrancisJr]

No doubt!

[@timafiggy]

I miss the hell out of it.

[@JuanAD]

I love how this forgotten subway station looks better than Chamber’s station 😬🙄

[@LennoxAlexanderFrancisJr]

Chambers Street needs a big renovation.

[@matthewuzamaki3510]

Lennox Alexander Francis Jr all of them do

[@bostonelevatorsaviation]

The exception to this is the 34 st Hudson yards

[@mrmr4622]

@@bostonelevatorsaviation cause its not even 10 years old

[@yilmanbabilonia]

The subway pisses me off so much everyday but I love it. It wouldn't be new York City without it

[@richernest3359]

Pack of Lucky Strikes I lost in '78 is right there.

[@diliangeshev8509]

Whaaat

[@diliangeshev8509]

Where?

[@maxsilverstone8600]

3:37 "And people sit on these trains as they go through this loop and they don't even know what they're passing through" Yes they do. The only people on the trains that pass through here have intentionally stayed on the train to check out the station. All sitting on the train does otherwise is take you from the downtown platform to the uptown platform.

[@jasonf7072]

Exactly

[@thanos4959]

Max Silverstone yup

Can confirm, done that.

[@justinlynn6911]

I take this train everyday.. I see tourist stay on the train and everytime I'm thinking they're either idiots or can't speak English.. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ lol..

@@justinlynn6911 So now you know!

[@YarrBr0]

"It's really loud."

[@dododan123]

what ever transplant says

[@mike_404]

Pfff.. tourist

[@theidioticbunny2979]

mike_wyd hi

[@SpaceCommand]

It's not the only way to get their "On a passing Train" at all. There are KZbinrs on here that have walked the track somehow how explored this Station.

[@THEREAL_GZUS]

UNSC INFINITY there a entrance through another station

[@Abyssinian97]

Sounds interesting. Where do you even enter from?

[@dash3226]

Yeah but a lot of their techniques are illegal

[@TheLadMcArthur]

@@THEREAL_GZUS from what station can you enter through?

[@jakeMontejo3272]

It’s easy. Ish. You can access any stop by walking to it from the previous stop.

[@robertlop5]

I don't understand why isn't this a tourist attraction? It's a part of NYC subway history.

[@docbrown2020]

Word of advice for anyone wanting to visit the station: good luck. While the New York Transit Museum does offer tours a few times a year, it's a membership only trip so you have buy a membership IN ADDITION to buying tickets to the tours. Even then, you're not guaranteed that you'll be able to buy the tickets since they sell out as little as 5 minutes.

[@mattdajedi]

Just see it for free on the 6 train

[@docbrown2020]

@@mattdajedi I know. I also said visit. Visiting and Seeing are two different things (kinda)

[@jasongrady2695]

Kamen Rider Den-O lol I just jumped off the train to see it

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Lame... The MTA is so greedy.

[@SameerKhalid.]

Meh still nice going to look from the 6

[@phettumbling9863]

When you pass through this station, it's like being in a time machine

[@Alrucards]

How about doing a story on the unused and abandoned train stations and tunnels all across the city. You could have an entire story even for the old elevated lines.

[@sschlappkohl]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aanCYqOnm7l3m5Isi=KVPgMJxPrIdsemFH

[@windshearahead7012]

When you realize there’s such a job as a subway historian

[@Just-Princess]

The NYC subway is one of the craziest places on earth! It literally needs it's own reality show

[@crazyworld2570]

A lot of weird and crazy people.

[@stifledbabsie]

My sister, husband, and I came out at a station without an elevator days before I was going to NY-Pres for spinal surgery, so I was climbing the stairs super slowly. This old lady started talking to us, asking my sister what was wrong with me and then telling us that I need to get "micro-surgery" and follow Chinese medicine to cure my extreme scoliosis. She was nuts. She's not the craziest person we saw on the subway, but the most memorable. She started following us so my sister and husband ran with me in a wheelchair around the block to get rid of her so she wouldn't follow us to the apartment we were staying at.

[@RJ-lk5pj]

Thank you Canadian broadcasting station for informing us about New York’s historic subway system.

[@RaisedLetter]

Probably the worst kept secret because I hear about it all the time.

[@8avexp]

I stood on that very same platform on the day of the centennial celebration - October 27, 2004 - when the public was allowed to go down there. They reopened a closed entrance.

[@wintersbattleofbands1144]

it's amazing the original light fixtures are still in use. They should get volunteer members in there to really give it a goof cleaning. Even hosing down the walls and ceiling would do wonders for it. It probably hasn't been cleaned since 1945... or longer.

[@devotedcetacean6568]

That subway still looks better than the stations today

[@roachtoasties]

New York City is really loud, not just the subway cars. At 1:37 it looks like they had some subway cars that were like roller coasters. No top. Talk about being loud. :/

[@UnoHuang]

They complete the whole line in 4 years and why are they spending forever building the second avenue line????

[@OpinionesDeJACCsOpinions]

OSHA. You think they cared for their workers back then, when a new one fresh of the boat would come in the morning?

[@metropod]

Aside from labor relations, the line was built all at once in a “cut and cover” method. The second avenue line was deep bored, one track at a time. If a TBM can dig ten feet through Manhattan bedrock in a few hours, you’re having a good day.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Political corruption-simple as that.

[@LennoxAlexanderFrancisJr]

When they built City Hall to debut in 1904, how come they didn't think of building the 2nd Avenue line at the same time?

[@metropod]

Lennox Alexander Francis Jr because second avenue already had an elevated line they thought would be sufficient. Replacement with a Subway wasn’t considered for several years afterwards.

[@scharkalvin]

The track is still in use. The Lexington Ave line local trains use the loop to turn around from south bound to north bound. If you fall asleep at the last stop and stay on board, you might get a quick view of the station as the train reverses direction. (assuming you aren't discovered and escorted off the train).

[@sdiamond1998]

I don’t think they actually escort you off the train if you try to do that. Did that once with 2 of my friends on purpose since we wanted to see the station and didn’t get any trouble. We also could’ve been lucky and didn’t have any subway attendants around but u never know, maybe they dont care ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@mercygrrl]

@@sdiamond1998 Same. I wasn't even approached but it was mid-day, & that NYC trip was well before the pandemic. The first time I slunk down in my seat until we took off. After circling back, I exited the first UT stop, crossed the platform to head back DT and repeat several times. It's a great insider way to rest weary tourist toes before heading off to the next destination.

[@JustinChen666]

A beautiful landscape

[@martinrotvig]

That station is literally known around the entire globe, really a stretch calling it secret.

[@NA12495]

It is one thing to see people sneaking into these place, though it is better seeing it all light up and haveing good footage.

[@Tewthpaste]

*many graves were dug to make way for this penetrating machine.*

[@blakemcnamara9105]

So you hate the subway, I take it? Plus there were no graves under the street.

[@imvirgin2744]

Blake McNamara he never said he hated anything you must be replying to the wrong comment

[@whatabouttheearth]

Thats where the Penguins lair is. Thats the secret

[@erik_griswold]

Ripping off the title from Geoff Marshall

[@Nooticus]

Yep exactly ^^^

[@thanos4959]

Erik Griswold yup

[@hx0d]

Yep lol

[@mjanavel]

The original South Ferry had the same problems of being to short and a huge gap. I’m surprised it lasted so long.

[@edrickang2338]

It was because of hurricane sandy trashed the new station

[@pubggamer2022]

@@edrickang2338 it was because the 7 train replaced the 6

[@LennoxAlexanderFrancisJr]

Now, that's what I call EPIC, or the EPICENTER.

[@TheLastLevitan]

Awesome. Answers all my questions about it

[@johneasler9967]

I rode it for a week last year. No problems. Quite unlike I thought it was going to be

[@180_S]

As a New Yorker, the subway is a disgrace. Increasing prices all the time with deteriorating service.

[@mike_404]

Because those people from Harlem always hop the turnstiles, costing the MTA millions of dollars a year. Maybe tell your friends to stop and the MTA will lower the prices

[@Sandwichecubano]

@@mike_404 Just Harlem? 😂

[@carlbowles1808]

City hall Station is a work of art and engineering, I like it 👏👍🇺🇸.

[@wafflez-man-1995]

People aren’t that dumb...I’ve known about this station even since I was a kid. Real NY’s know.

[@jdredman]

It's not a matter of being dumb, this goes out to a national audience so anybody visiting may not have known this.

[@gasaholic47]

Yup. The 6 was my train that I picked up at Pelham Bay, then would ride down to the end, at BB/City Hall. Occasionally, I’d take the loop around for fun.

[@SpoilerAlert__]

You're pretty dumb assuming everyone on KZbin is from new york. Never been to New York but I know I definitely have to ride the public transit system, specifically the trains.

[@chocosidronio]

Spoiler Alert Youll probably get lost faster than a dumb country bumpkin

[@DARKTIGGERinc]

I thought they were gonna tour some more abandoned stations

[@mightyduck311]

Damn. I’m from California and never been on a subway. This is so cool. Lmao I also enjoy reading New Yorkers’ comments

[@davidellis5141]

The " Action Kid " The # 1 YT Vlogger is armed with a 📷 to catch you if you misbehave !

[@notsure6187]

David Ellis love action kid

[@phantomthiefirwin9631]

YEP!

[@gt4sgm304]

Imagine being a “subway historian”

[@mjhmab]

lmao

[@not_funny_1205]

GT4SGM imagine being named GT4SGM

[@hemprope4326]

Imagine having to research the convicting of Jared Foggle

[@ZazzelTheGamer]

whats wrong with that?

[@beforereal8662]

I DOUBT THERES VERY MANY WHO CAN KEEP UP WITH THE HISTORY OF NYC TRANSIT B4 OR AFTER WILLIAM PARSONS DESIGNED IT. I ADMIRE HER.

[@careenafarmer1336]

I’m so gonna check it out ASAP !!!!!

[@justageneraluser]

Misleading title

[@anna_m59]

To catch more viewers 😉

[@imvirgin2744]

Anna M. Lol

[@hassansamer5949]

Awesome

[@giovannimta6634]

My man I love city hall loop

[@targettwentyone]

Cool Video

[@whatdidido3838]

Good to know that the green line ( 6 train ) was the first train line in NYC subway 🚊

[@Alrucards]

No true. In fact half of the Lexington line past 42 too Brooklyn bridge/ City hall while the 7th ave line from 42st to either 242nd/145th/180th was the original subway

[@m3lgar582]

Green Line? You mean the Lexington Ave Line.

[@whatdidido3838]

M3lgar 5 from 125th to 42nd st you are right But downtown Manhattan and Bronx has different names of Avenues

[@pubggamer2022]

The 1 train was the first line, that’s why it’s called a 1 train 😁

[@sergeyw8864]

Beautiful

[@lianalonge1984]

I wish they would restore it to it’s original setting and make it into a museum.

[@jusrarsh4109]

So that’s where the Ninja Turtles live. Amazing.

[@Bellachaow-p5m]

Good

[@doney1996]

Why doesn't anyone talk about how the train system is being so underdeveloped and noninnovative due to the big oil companies wanting more oil being used. We need more info and exposure on this.

[@robertebooker]

Super cool

[@Batticia]

They should have those old brown trains. I remember it . And it used to expel dark smoke

[@erichurst2496]

nice story.

[@VariTimo]

You know they still build sets for movies? The station in Fantastic Beasts wasn’t CGI.

[@realAutoman]

u can also see this by buying the ticket for the tour but its like $30 and a subway ride is $2.75

[@leticiamarques479]

amen

[@geoboe84]

Subway Historian: Hello dream job!

[@GeebyTeenyBooper]

Bruh I’d they turned this as a historic train museum they could make a pretty penny off it

[@Revolver1981]

That station should be restored and reopened.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Revolver Not for revenue service. I’d rather keep that station for tours and whatnot rather than use it for a subway station.

[@nickl4974]

If you illegally go in between the cars safely while it’s goin through the loop it really feels like 1920-30’s

[@stickjwr1]

Great history

[@kingarchnyc]

Reminds me of the London tube a little

[@jewelkhan9431]

Wow nice

[@ruzzelladrian907]

Had they made the station straight, it would still be in operation today.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

There are plenty of straight stations that are out of service since they are in proximity to other nearby stations, which are busier. Even if City Hall Loop was a straighter platform, the station would’ve still been closed due to proximity.

[@user-dk6le9yr9p]

I lived in NYC 3 years and never knew this existed 😢. Ninja turtles 🐢 that’s so cool

[@Flash_Warn1ng]

Great now everyone is going be on the (6) train just to see the city hall station

[@pubggamer2022]

Lmao

[@ro19891012]

I wonder how much MTA has paid to get this kind of softball informercial coverage on network tv. One thing is for sure, MTA would do gimmick and publicity stuff before they actually fix the international embarrassment known as the New York subway, if ever...

[@metropod]

It’s called “turning 115 years old”

[@ro19891012]

metropod You dropped that number like I am supposed to be impressed, but truth to the matter is, London and Pairs subways are both older than New York’s. And they do not have the kind of ridiculous schedule issues that NYC has, albeit their older subways actually much cleaner...

[@wheneggsdrop1701]

But does it work

[@paytonlondon]

I’m from the Bronx

[@ericagrant6260]

Second Wow good info.

[@ninjapirate123]

I dont live in the US but I've heard that most stations in NY subways are very dirty

[@Trainfan1055Janathan]

Um, they offer tours of this station...

[@diamantefigueroa7297]

Trainfan1055 yes its called the 6 train

[@Trainfan1055Janathan]

@@diamantefigueroa7297 The New York Transit Museum also offers tours of it.

[@diamantefigueroa7297]

Trainfan1055 you can tell NY & LA are the Meccas of the USA , only place I know where people would VISIT a subway station . That’s like people visiting the first BUS STOP SIGN ever

They said so in the video.

[@farrockqns2577]

Ppl not even supposed to stay on the train once it reaches the last stop even if it’s turning around going back to other direction

[@amandah2454]

How amazing and beautiful.

[@DaViLiVe1]

Da' Vi Perez I’m gonna take the 6 train today. Just to see this marvel. 📰👀

[@uhhhivan5180]

Where are the ninja turtles??

[@MultiWayland]

new york is just the best place in the world ( yew I am from ) queens new york

[@benjaminromanelli2760]

Isn't that ticket kiosk at the Wall Street 4/5 stop now? If not it looks identical

[@Nick-wt1no]

Reminds me of the subway from RE3 remake

[@albertthepeacock8020]

*Gunshots explosions and screams* NYPD officer:I sleep *Some random kid hops the subway* NYPD officer:Now this is an Avengers level threat

[@ironparadise9296]

Pay your $2.75!!! Its not free brah

[@mnunezhk]

now fix the damn trains, make then come on time, fix the metrocard machines, and lower the fare. we dgaf about this!

[@gerryo25]

Thank you! Particularly the train delays the whole system needs to be redone!

[@gerryo25]

@Savage Diana If the corruption with the MTA wasn't so bad those changes could be made. The fare goes up signals are still out of date causing delays.

[@nmasolanmasola]

You can’t fix the trains with less fare revenue

[@gerryo25]

@@nmasolanmasola It's not getting fixed with more they keep increasing it and the service gets worse. I'm sure most people wouldn't care if they increased it if the service wasn't bad. All these signal problems SMH 😤.

[@gerryo25]

@Savage Diana I don't know when that day is going to come. I do know it's guaranteed the fares will go up regardless.

[@clowchan]

what they don't tell you is the only way to tour is to be a member of the transit museum and that costs money. And the tour itself is around $50 and the tickets sell out quick

[@aninternetuser7548]

A free way without being bothered by a bunch of other people is jumping off the train into the station lol

[@samayuhhhh]

They have an event every year to go on the old trains, but why not allow people to come to this station? They still have trains from that time in the museum. I would love to see this station.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

The station is not open to the public via any accessible entrance.

[@jason01101]

Too bad Brooklyn Br City Hall station doesnt look like that now smh

[@SilverSlayer23]

It took you 8 years to show something already posted on KZbin?🤔

[@imvirgin2744]

Yes

[@calvinfan6330]

Still beautiful

[@joshh.2159]

I've actually been there and it's outstanding

[@tyreekmurillo4524]

Josh H. did u go in legally or did u sneak in 👀 i wanna go there myself

[@joshh.2159]

@@tyreekmurillo4524 I actually live right by the city so me and my friend scheduled for one of The tours which was very difficult to do but if you plan properly then you can do it and it was the most magical thing ever this video does do it justice but it's not as good as in person

[@tyreekmurillo4524]

Josh H. gee i was thinking i’d sneak off into the tunnel at the neighboring station and get to it that way😂 but that’s probably not a good idea

[@joshh.2159]

@@tyreekmurillo4524 You can't!! All entrances are closed off but if your on the 6 train ask if there doing the loops if so you can look out and at least see it

[@Mrbeahz1]

There's a guy on KZbin named Wonder who'll show you how to walk there. On the tracks.

[@soukkhanhsila134]

When did the turtles move in?

[@oceanic_airlines]

The City Hall Station appears in the videogame Crysis 2.

[@syndicatecruze5981]

Interesting,,......very interesting

[@mike_404]

Title: Secrets of the NYC subway system Video: Only shows one secret that’s not even a secret

[@SpitPridorohnayaTrava]

Why it is not restored ?

[@stevesmith1383]

Lack of money, lack of need

[@xxliam_030xx3]

Kinda wish they addressed the hundreds of other abandoned stations

[@pubggamer2022]

There is a lot of abandoned subway stations, one is in Myrtle Avenue, you’ll see an abandoned elevated subway station. Another one can be found in Hoyt-Schermerhorn on the A line. An abandoned platform that is visible to public but you can’t enter.