Uptown/Downtown: A Trip Through Time on New York's Subways

by Stan Fischler

The story of the New York City subway system from it's first elevated line (the IRT Ninth Avenue Line) in 1870 to the first underground line opened on October 27, 1904, to the present system (in 1976) of 710 miles of trackage. Illustrations by Ray Judd. 271 pages; 40 pages of b&w photos plus text illustrations; 6.25 x 9.25 inches.

Genres: Nonfiction, New York, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historian Stan Fischler published Uptown Downtown: A Trip Through Time on New York’s Subways in 1976. I am sure the subway has changed since 1976. Abraham Beame was the mayor of New York City. The city of New York was facing a fiscal crisis (Brinkley 136-140). Fischler's love of the Subways of New York City comes through in the book. Fischler writes that “for cleanliness, Toronto is tops. Montreal’s rubber-tired Metro is quieter. Moscow’s subway is unquestionably more ornate and beautiful. When the mechanisms are right, no subway is faster (top speed, fifty-five mph), more exciting, more complex, more diverse, and more colorful than New York City’s subway. It’s still the best bargain in transit. What better proof than the fact that a rider can travel from 241st Street and White Plains Road in the Bronx to Coney Island, a total of 29.31 miles, for a lower price than a five-block cab ride?” (Fischler 186). This passage was written in 1976. The book explores various aspects of New York City's subways in 1976. In 1974, the movie entitled The Taking of Pelham One Two Three was filmed in part of the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) line and on the Independent Subway (IND) line “at the Court Street station” (Fischler 179-180). The movie The Taking of Pelham 123 was remade in 2009. The book has appendices. The book has a section entitled “chronology of the elevated subways” (Fischler 251-260). The book includes black and white photographs. The book has an index. The book covers every aspect of New York City in 1976. The book offers a glimpse into New York City’s subways from the mid-1970s to the reader.
Works Cited:
Brinkley, Douglas. 2007. Gerald R. Ford. New York: Henry Holt and Company. Henry Holt and Company. Kindle.
Sony Pictures Entertainment. “Taking of Pelham 123 - trailer.” Sony Pictures Entertainment. June 15, 2009. Taking of Pelham 123 - trailer
Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers. “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Official Trailer #1 - Walter Matthau Movie (1974) HD.” Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers. October 5, 2012. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Official Trailer #1 - Walter Matthau Movie (1974) HD