ᴴᴰ The System: New York Rapid Transit - A 1966 Subway Film

A Documentary created by John Garetti, documenting the NYC Transit system from the late 1800s to the mid 60s. A rare peek into what made the Transit system run in the 1960s.
Credit to the Original Film Makers
Check Out my Announcement playlist for subway lines and station Announcements:
bit.ly/2XWNJ1V

[@frankiemiller7367]

Wow my Dad is in this documentary#.RIP

[@johntelesca1440]

At what part?

[@davidmccann9811]

It must be great seeing him at work.

[@captainkeyboard1007]

I am displeased to learn that your "Daddy" died. If he would have been with us today, he would be "The Best People Around."

[@bigfatlazydork]

“The time for leisure ends, The time for work ends, And all things come to rest” Thank you for sharing this really delightful video from New York’s congenial past.

[@chuckford5927]

Love these historic videos. Sometimes I wish I could turn the clock back to 1966. New York City was actually livable back then.

[@eastmanwebb5477]

Thank you so much for sharing this! This documentary was created a few years before I was born, but it contains a brief appearance of a family member of mine who died not too long ago. This is the first time I am able to see him on the job (17:51). He absolutely loved trains. He even created a room sized train set that had tunnels and bridges, trees and miniature people. It was amazing the amount of detail he put into it. I miss him, and it’s so great to get to see him in this video doing what he loved so much.

[@eles2147]

Love these documentaries fr the 60s. With the jazz music and narration style.

[@robertbright2057]

I remember that time when I was a kid, the elegance, the classiness and the pride that people had in themselves and New York City which made it the place to be.

[@Mr.Robert1]

Just like what we have going on today. Children having children, rap music, video games with violence, violence in movies, and television. People's Heroes are gangsters that get over on the system this country really went into the toilet. Boy I don't know what's going to happen. I've seen some amazing changes for the worse over the years.

[@anotherview9604]

Great movie looking back into the '60s. Midtown at 7:59 and on... imagine if they had cell phones. Watching the Standards moving around brought back great memories of riding on them.

[@StephenCarlBaldwin]

Very important historical footage. Fans of the Sea Beach lines will be pleased especially. BTW quite a good number of the R-32s featured in this film are still running. Thanks for sharing this!

[@marclandman2225]

Your right. The sea Beach was my home line, as a child. It brought me back.

[@billfeldman2127]

A lot of Brighton Beach Line too.

[@michaelgreene4748]

Obviously, the above comment was written before January, 2022. R-32s last ran that January in regular service.

[@user-ft6yt6xe8z]

I like the old school trains,gotta love that sound the R1-9 make...

[@bk_knight256]

Love these transit history films!

[@Mr.Robert1]

Just watched one yesterday that was from 1949. I can't believe there's that much footage from before that time.

[@nyrmike9841]

Great old footage. Love them old subway cars compared to todays. Keep these footages coming!

[@bdpopeye]

Ever ride on the subway before the cars were air-conditioned in the summer? You would have not liked it. Not at all. Hot and sweaty....

[@misterkefir]

Beautiful piece of history. Thank You for sharing!

[@roberthuron9160]

With the introduction of the R-211T's,the old BMT D types are reincarnated! My,how historical repeats! Those old carbuilders really put out excellent equipment,as they put out,in many cases,50+ years of service,and the museum cars,can still operate,even at 100 years old! Thank you for the reminders of subways,and elevateds past😊! And I was lucky,or blessed to ride on both the Myrtle Ave,and the remnant of the 3rd Ave,up in the Bronx! Thank you,for an railfans nirvana! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@flyingspirit3549]

Fabulous archival footage of the system in the city where I once lived. Thanks for preparing and publishing this!

[@luislaplume8261]

The 6th Avenue El was the most decorative El ever built in AMERICA!

[@qjtvaddict]

It should never have been removed for the disgusting subway that replaced it

[@luislaplume8261]

@@qjtvaddict I agree. As it was the first El to have 2 tracks and it was made of iron and it opened in early 1878 before the 3rd Ave. El opened in August 1878.

[@danielwaitzman2118]

The Second Avenue El was built by the same company, and was also very beautiful.

[@luislaplume8261]

@@qjtvaddict I find it hard to believe but back in the 1960s when my family took the F train to 6th Avenue to Radio City Music Hall I enjoyed the ride in the tunnel of the 6th Avenue subway! I was a boy in my old hometown of NYC in those days.

[@gasaholic47]

Brings back memories of my youth, living in Rockaway before we moved to the Bronx. We'd take the A train into Manhattan when I needed to see my opthamologist at NY Eye and Ear Hospital, or just to go in for something special. Riding it while going over the train bridge on Jamaica Bay. Always a little scary. The motorman once let me into the cab, and put my hand on the controller while he operated it. Closest I ever got to driving one. I always loved being in the first car and looking out the window.

[@anthonynancydelarosa6781]

Excellent Documentary on the New York City Subway system.

[@luislaplume8261]

The 6th Ave. El was the most beautiful el train line ever built.

[@kennyadvocat]

30 mill on electric a year in 1966. Today its over 200 mill and I bet the system is way more efficient.

[@Railsmoke03]

Holy snap new MTA history films thank you for posting this

[@Railsmoke03]

i am the holy

[@GeneralTsaoKitty]

I remember the chocolate vending machines (and the gum machines). As a kid they were irresistable.

[@blakemcnamara9105]

What a grim way to end it foreshadowing the end of the Myrtle Ave. El' and the "Q"-Type cars. What a mistake it was to decrease the size of system instead of expanding it.

[@billfeldman2127]

The whole thing had a kind of "film noir" vibe to it. What a weird way to end it.

[@1575murray]

The Q cars were unique as was the line they served but it was not practical for the TA to continue operating it.

[@qjtvaddict]

@@1575murray upgrade the EL then ugh

[@casanova419]

The opening I expected to hear the theme song The Taking of Pelham One Two Three 1974.

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Yesss! 🚇

[@captainkeyboard1007]

That was played during [good] old times.

[@paulculler3800]

That was the best transit video ever! Congratulations on doing a great job

[@almodovar251]

This is like going backwards in time. Amazing.

[@kingoftrainz]

Really enjoyed this, thank you for sharing!

[@jamesmack3314]

Working a summer job at my grandfather company on Wall st 1976 I can remember the wooden turnstile at the Wall st subway station…and I ducked under it more than a few times😁

[@edwardoalvarez5566]

This video brings back good old memories.

[@anthonyriche552]

The beginning scene of this film are the exact memories I have that made me fall in love with the city subway trains. I used to lean over the platform to watch those two dingy lights emerging from a dark tunnel (this was the 70s) getting closer each moment and then blowing it's horn once it pulled into the station. It was such a delight for a 5 yr old from the Bronx. However, subway cars from earlier eras have always intrigued me more so this film was a real treat.

[@omegakong6847]

Great documentary

[@tubblescousine257]

Very cool!

[@TuneStunnaMusic]

OMG the dumping grounds for the old cars, thats crazy! I wish there was more vintage foiotage on which cars they were in 1966.

[@user-vo9ne1cl2k]

especially q type only one car is at transit museum.

[@billfeldman2127]

Some sightings of "fallen flags," route designations that disappeared after the Chrystie St connection in 1967: T, the Broadway-West End Express (9:05); QT, the Broadway-Brighton local, shown at Parkside Ave. (12:26); and the QB, the former weekend Brighton Local via Bridge, which typically ran from Coney Island to Astoria. It was accurate of the film to portray this in the "leisure time" segment, and the two QB's (one in each direction) are shown between Avenue H and Newkirk Avenue (18:52). The historic Avenue H station house appears at 15:53. The LIRR's Bay Ridge Branch can be seen adjacent to the Sea Beach (18:45) and the catenary of the BRB/NY Connecting RR can be seen behind the BMT Standards nearing Metropolitan Avenue on the Myrtle (21:12).

[@user-vo9ne1cl2k]

At last, trains fall asleep. It's the final station of their life.

[@jppagano3215]

24 minutes of “mere to sheer “ metaphor of New York & life “thru & thru” ...dank you as we said on the double LL or under the “el” (old New Yorkers will understand !!) 💙🧡

[@Mr.Robert1]

NYC NEVER SLEEPS! Trains restaurants anything you want 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I never realized what that was until my mid 30s when I had a job in Washington DC. I moved into the suburbs of Baltimore. When things would just close down. Including Transit would just stop at a certain time. Stores would close at a certain time. Took a long time to get used to the crazy schedules and how slow things were. Everyone moved in slow motion according to what I was accustomed to. Born and raised in Brooklyn New York always had a job in Manhattan.

[@keitho.sylvan1137]

We should have kept some of the ELs my parents and grandparents rode on em and remember them greatly

[@kollusion1]

A really nice, informative documentary, nice relaxing music etc, trashed by modern day, meaningless commercials! Cheers.

[@LukeWarmwater-yb5lx]

Great Video.

[@tobygoodguy4032]

Even riding in rickidy unairconditioned wooden cars, back through the mid-'60's, the 8M sized city for the most part was a concentration of civility. (In other words - not any more. Nothing or no one could get me to descend back down into those tunnels.)

[@mtasubwaymartasubway]

I could, by force

[@tobygoodguy4032]

@@mtasubwaymartasubway As a card carrying delusional Marxist you think you might. But I got the 2nd Amendment to work with.

[@Supervillainmc]

Awesome

[@luislaplume8261]

The el train we see is a rebuilt el train with open platforms removed and sliding doors installed in 1938, 939 for the NYC World's Fair of 1939, 1940 called Q type.

[@user-vo9ne1cl2k]

Q type…

[@luislaplume8261]

@@user-vo9ne1cl2k The 1200 series were built in 1904 and the 1400 series were built in 1907. Originally with open platforms at the ends.

[@user-vo9ne1cl2k]

understood.

[@IPULCOLUMBIA]

$100 million a year…in 1966 is like A GA-JILLION DOLLARS TODAY!!!! 😮😮

[@autumn_b905]

8 million people even in 1966 🤯

[@acidmax572]

I can't believe they did an infill for the third track, on the Myrtle Line THAT long ago. Damn, what was it for

[@luislaplume8261]

It wafor express train service that began during World War 1 and was discontinued in 1942. The lower half to Downtown Brooklyn remained with the 2 original tracks. I should know, my late father used to work in Bushwick Brooklyn and took us to Downtown Brooklyn on the Myrtle Ave El and back for the whole length. The El ended in October 1969.

[@nyctransitrailfan]

-8th Avenue Independent subway- I wonder how people went home just seeing the lines name and not the letters. You know now a days we have (A)(C)(E). 😂😂

[@DavidGolden99]

I love the '60s avant garde jazz soundtrack.

[@captainkeyboard1007]

It is an excellent film, especially for those who do not know anything about the history of the New York City rapid transit system. It is more than a subway. It is a way to get around with just one fare. As a native New Yorker, the subway was my first favorite place, since I was a child.

[@Interscope100]

I think that you just contradicted yourself 🤔

[@captainkeyboard1007]

@@Interscope100 There are some lines that have connected transfer structures, underground and above-ground that permit free transfer between routes. Such transfers are free and make travelling by train with just one fare. That slogan, "Good for one fare," appeared on many subway tokens. This show reveals some historical scenes that are unshown in other movie films. I enjoyed this movie myself. Thank you for typing to me.

[@luiszuluaga6575]

It’s still exciting for me, when I’m not avoiding the literal crazies traveling on it nowadays. No one line is free of such things.

[@captainkeyboard1007]

@@luiszuluaga6575 I find that the rapid transit system is not as exciting as it was in the past years. For instance, there are some more slow-speed sections of tracks, especially the express tracks: Track E3 was removed between 8 Avenue and Kings Highway [on the N Line], as well as the poor spirits from the passengers and some of "The Best People Around" who roll the big wheels abound. Yes, I call the transit workers "The Best People Around." People are people, wherever you go, whether Black or White, old or young. Everyone changes either for the best or for the worst. Life is what we make it. I have been a subway buff since I was a small child [in age]. Thank you for typing to me.

[@litlgrey]

Sonny Sharrock.. Byard Lancaster... holy COW!!!

[@BK_718]

5:35 that’s Myrtle and wyocff. In the distance you could see Roosevelt projects in bed-stuy.

[@Nocturnal_Ke]

This music makes me wanna go watch Westside story

[@geoffreyhansen8543]

Interesting about the boxed in locomotives.

[@luislaplume8261]

They are actually called box motors. Many of these subway trains I rode as a boy in 1960s NYC Mad Men era.

[@evan12697]

@@luislaplume8261Box Motors are electric, the locomotives they showed were steam powered Trams

[@grazz7865]

Excellent documentary! I learned something today. Alcohol was used to keep ice from forming on the third rail and switches. LIRR uses gas heaters to keep the switches from icing today. Not sure about 1966. Interestingly enough, the same basic concept is used today in train operation. Sure, the technology improved, but the basic operation remains the same. Same can be said about automobiles. The technology is amazing, but the basic concept is the same (air/fuel/spark).

[@Mr.Robert1]

Yeah like when the rotary engines were invented that was completely different than when Toyota came out with the hybrid that was completely different today we have full electric automobiles 100% Electric nothing has changed.

[@eovsegmentridon4626]

And now the train is 100 years old

[@alexanderglazman3209]

The New York B subway Line should go to Whitehall street on the R subway Line

[@qolspony]

The end of the video is sad. I never rode those cars because I was born in 1970. My son and daughter never rode the R10s/16s they were born in the 1990s.

[@eles2147]

Those R10s were such old beasts. I didnt ride them enough

[@luislaplume8261]

Some of these vintage trains ate in the New York Transit Museum and the Electric Railroad Association charters these for fantrips on weekends. Ask the token booth attendants for a form to signoff that in the museum in Downtown Brooklyn.

[@qolspony]

@@luislaplume8261 Thank you.

[@michaelgreene4748]

From 18:28 to 18:36. the way GOD meant for a subway train to sound...

[@doof4072]

8:04 bruh that walk 💀

[@nealingtypeshi]

lol didnt think another young person would watch this

[@jamielessey153]

Oh shit is that the old time Parkside Av station?

[@MrRailfan]

Yep

[@stephendeluca4479]

@@MrRailfan Wonderful seeing the Brightliners on the Q Broadway Express there.

[@harveyklatzko3461]

At the 7 minute mark, what are those big metal boxes...... ???

[@eles2147]

I would think signal relays. Or batteries of switches.

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

Slowly getting outdated as CBTC is replacing the signaling and towermen. 1

[@JeromeAv1206]

Decades later 2022

[@eovsegmentridon4626]

This was 100 years ago and 100 years ago

[@meepmeepvroom2200]

I love this, thank you. But jeez do I not like whoever chose the backing music. It's the shits.

[@alexanderglazman3209]

The New York City F subway line should go to upstate New York

[@qjtvaddict]

Lol

[@alexanderglazman3209]

The F subway Line should use R142 subway cars

[@johnalbanese30]

You don't know what the hell you're talking about. Before you write something, know what you are talking about!

[@robotx9285]

Those cars are too small, there will be a large gap between the train and platforms

[@GeorgeStar]

I practically lived on the BMT L between Bedford Ave where I lived as a kid and Manhattan.